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Let me pay for Firefox

(discourse.mozilla.org)
802 points csmantle | 3 comments | 13 Jul 25 08:38 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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DoctorOW ◴[13 Jul 25 11:19 UTC] No.44549454[source]▶
I don't understand what these comments are actually criticizing in terms of side projects. They got rid of stuff like Rust, Firefox OS, Pocket, etc. Mozilla has streamlined to make web browsers and web browser accessories. VPN/Relay are both profitable projects that inhibit surveillance, so clearly that's not the issue. Do you want, not just these projects gone but the CEO gone? That happened already too, https://fortune.com/2024/02/08/mozilla-firefox-ceo-laura-cha...
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1. nabakin ◴[13 Jul 25 14:10 UTC] No.44550581[source]▶
I keep seeing comments on HN that misunderstand what's happening with Mozilla and it's kind of frustrating.

Right now, if you were to take away Google's money, Firefox would not be able to compete with Chromium and Safari. It would die.

All these side-projects are attempts to find a source of revenue aside from Google and are necessary to Firefox's survival. So saying they should stop doing them, completely misses the point.

Unless we want Firefox to die, we should understand Mozilla's situation and encourage this exploratory process, not hate on it.

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2. stefan_ ◴[13 Jul 25 18:36 UTC] No.44552442[source]▶
If you had put all the money Mozilla executives have spent on buying then winding down bizarre startups, occasionally connected to them, in index funds instead, you would probably have an actual revenue stream to support Firefox, other than what they have now, which is nothing, because like their leadership, these purchases never amounted to anything other than damaging their brand.
3. kbelder ◴[13 Jul 25 19:33 UTC] No.44552894[source]▶
>Right now, if you were to take away Google's money, Firefox would not be able to compete with Chromium and Safari. It would die.

I think the only way for it to prosper is to take away Google's money. I firmly believe it could do better browser development on 5% of the income it's currently receiving.

It'll be a heck of a culture shock at the foundation, though.