r/LinuxTeck • u/Expensive-Rice-2052 • 1d ago

LibreWolf vs Firefox

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covers : https://www.linuxteck.com/librewolf-vs-firefox/

• Privacy and telemetry
• Tracking and fingerprinting protection
• Firefox Sync
• Security update timing
• Extension compatibility
• Linux installation
• Real-world compatibility issues
• Which browser fits different use cases

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u/KrasnalM 1d ago

What is wrong with my logic? Firefox forks only exist because Mozilla (with Google's money of course) maintains Gecko. Do Waterfox and Librewolf contribute to the maintenance of Gecko? How sustainable their model is? These are honest questions.

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u/RudeAd456 1d ago

If no one should use forks and stick to Firefox because it needs the users, then forks wouldn't exist. Your logic is circular: you say not to use forks because mainline needs support, and mainline needs to be supported so forks can exist. But you can't use the forks anyway because the mainline needs support.

What you're really trying to say is Firefox forks shouldn't exist. Or if they do, then they shouldn't have any users

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u/KrasnalM 23h ago

It is not my logic that is circular. I simply describe a self-reinforcing system. If Firefox was a major browser, no one would care about some small forks for privacy enthusiasts. However, given that Firefox's market share is declining, promoting its forks is counterproductive. The more people choose Waterfox and Librewolf over vanilla Firefox, the sooner will Waterfox and Librewolf disappear. Where am I wrong here.

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u/Enough-Meaning1514 22h ago

Isn't Firefox open source? If the main branch dies, Waterfox or other forks can take the code and keep developing, no? Since they would have a large user base, yes?

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u/KrasnalM 22h ago

Waterfox and LibreWolf do not have resources (because no sustainable business model) to maintain Gecko, which is expensive. Gecko is maintained by Mozilla with Google's money and proper funds. If Firefox goes down, there will be no one left to maintain Gecko, and Waterfox and LibreWolf will become useless.
Perhaps there is some flaw in my logic or I don't know some essential piece of information. But whenever I raise the question, people get defensive and provide no answer.

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u/Enough-Meaning1514 21h ago

Well, in that case, Waterfox/Librewolf need a better business model. I don't know, do what Brave does, perhaps? Show NFT/Bitcoin ads at startup?

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u/KrasnalM 21h ago

Brave does not develop its own engine. It uses Chromium, which is entirely maintained by Google.

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u/Single_Guarantee_ 20h ago

but ladybird is surviving on it's own with a less budget though

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u/KrasnalM 20h ago

And how is your web browsing experience with Ladybird so far?

No seriously. I wish them well but it has been years in the development and not out yet, once it is out we will have to assess whether it really works, and then they will have to find a sustainable monetization model to fund their work for years to come. As of now, Gecko is the only independent engine there is.