news
Firefox is fixing a 21-year old problem on Linux
Quoting: Firefox is fixing a 21-year old problem on Linux —
This bug fix will arrive with Firefox 147, which I anticipate to arrive in January 2026. As someone who uses Firefox on Linux computers daily, I'll be looking for it to it. I'm glad to see Mozilla making its software more organizationally efficient for us Tux fans.
Still, I can't help but notice Mozilla is throwing us this bone at the same time Firefox is getting annoying, invasive AI tools. The Firefox web browser appeals to folks using Linux because they tend to be privacy-conscious, and Firefox has a less problematic history of data collection and bloat than the likes of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. I, of course, appreciate a home directory that's a little less cluttered, but I think Mozilla has bigger issues with Firefox it needs to address if it wants to stay within Linux users' good graces.
Linuxiac:
-
Mozilla Resolves 21-Year-Old Bug, Adds Full XDG Directory Support
The upcoming Firefox 147 will introduce a long-requested change for Linux users by finally adopting the XDG Base Directory Specification, closing a bug that has been open for more than 21 years.
The update modernizes how the browser stores files on Linux systems and aligns its behavior with that of most desktop applications, which have been doing so for years. Here’s what I’m talking about.
Until now, Firefox placed nearly all of its user files—settings, profiles, data, and cache—inside a single folder called ~/.mozilla in the user’s home directory. This approach worked, but it also contributed to the familiar clutter many Linux users see when applications each create their own hidden folders.