this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2024
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Firefox

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Why is compact mode 'not supported'? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 5 months ago by john89@lemmy.ca to c/firefox@lemmy.ml
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I use it all the time and have for years. Just seems like a weird feature to lock behind about.config and say it's not supported while they still support things like Pocket.

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[–] cyrus@sopuli.xyz 30 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It is essentially just extra maintenance of a feature in Firefox that (statistically) not many people use

As such, it's marked as "unsupported" to make clear that if any issues arise, Mozilla won't help you with those issues.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 25 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Not many people use it because it is hidden away and not default.

Firefox in compact mode is about as compact as Chromium, so no issue here.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I think I have it enabled too and just forgot about it. It really should be a checkbox next to themes or something.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

True, a lot of things are too inaccessible so that people even think they dont exist. Like the task manager or profiles.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yup, and I use both. I only use profiles for checking stock Firefox to help support people without my setup.

Containers are also awesome and not advertised well enough, it completely replaced profiles for me.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I use an "insecure" profile (basically just RFP etc off) for Netflix and other sucky sites.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Eh, container tabs and disabliing strict checks per site seems to solve my problems.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But no

  • random Netflix addons
  • DRM enabled

I mean, I have my custom app desktop entry, so why not use a separate profile for that crap?

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 1 points 5 months ago

Interesting, I need to try that out.

[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

it used to be visible as an option in 'customize toolbar'. it was deprecated and deemed 'unsupported' way back around v89, but at least they kept it available as a 'hidden' setting.

i use it on every pc i have firefox installed on (which is, well, all of them that aren't 'terminal only').

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah, I remember it being there too. I really can't stand the default UI of any browser, everything is just so... big and bright. I use dark theme and compact mode where possible.

[–] cyrus@sopuli.xyz 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

It's hidden away behind a flag now because it hasn't been actively used for years on end.

Not the other way around.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hm, yes but active usage doesnt mean it was not used?

I never thought of doing that and for sure didnt see that button in the bottom left.

Thats like removing profiles because nobody used them, while they are hidden away behind an about:. The solution is add a button, see if it is used and then decide.

Especially as the compact mode saves a lot of screen space and is likely no maintenance effort at all.

[–] cyrus@sopuli.xyz 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

yes but active usage doesnt mean it was not used?

If their criteria was "at least 1 person uses it at all, sometimes" then it would not have been removed 🤔

likely no maintenance effort at all.

The maintenance comes less from the code and more from making sure that every single menu added or changed in any way continues to behave correctly in three different sizes with themes and everything.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 1 points 5 months ago

Firefox extremely reduced theming.

And as I said, nobody knows this exists because it is not promoted well, and now even hidden.