The Complicated Story of Mozilla Firefox | Tech History

What really caused the fall of Mozilla Firefox? After all, from its initial beta in 2002 to its peak in 2009, it played a huge role in dethroning Microsoft’s browser monopoly, and has continued to be an incredibly influential browser for the internet as a whole. However, for the past 13 years, Firefox’s marketshare has been on a slow but concerning decline. Why did this happen? Find out in this video.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:55 Chapter 1: Backstory
3:31 Chapter 2: The Beginning of Firefox
5:22 Chapter 3: The Golden Age of Firefox
6:54 Chapter 4: Google Chrome
7:42 Chapter 5: Faliure, Controversy, and Stagnation
11:08 Chapter 6: Firefox Quantum
12:03 Chapter 7: Where does that leave us now?
14:16 Outro
15:54 Credits

Socials:

Music used:
Something New - Kubbi
Nocturnal - LEMMiNO
Weekend in Tattoine - Unicorn Heads
Heaven and Hell - Jeremy Blake
Blade - Sugar95
Church of 8 Wheels - Otis McDonald
Encounters - LEMMiNO
Gates to Hell - BlueWolfProduction
Heaven and Hell (Part 2) - Jeremy Blake

#DistroHopper39B #Firefox #RiseAndFall

[Chumela]

Excellent video. I am still a Firefox user to this day and I have 0 complaints about using the browser. I love the fact that's it's not chromium based like you mentioned in the video. I also noticed that Firefox is the default browser on lots of Linux distros -- I wonder why?

[ultrasoft]

You didn't mention the great loss of function that the introduction of Quantum caused. The coolest add-ons suddenly got lost forever due to the limitations of the new add-on API. By this, Firefox lost it's most unique advantage, the limitless customizability.

[Sugar]

I'm not the biggest fan of the newer changes in Firefox. But I've used it since the Firebird days (used Netscape before that) and still do. The not so good changes are not enough to get me to join Googles monopoly in the browser market.

[pulsarz]

Firefox's golden age is long gone but it's still a decent browser, open-source and privacy oriented. And i'm impressed at how they butchered the Firefox icon over the years. On the bright side, the ETP improved.

[Lila_UrarakaYT]

I am a Firefox user, and I personally think it is the best browser on the market

[kirpich]

for a small channel like your, you have a top-tier quality of your video montage, sound, etc. well done dude, keep it going

[louies]

Thank you for speaking our minds. From ubuntu to Firefox, we have seen the glory of software UI design until now. It is really impossible to express in words. Thank you for your hard work to make this video.
Fox is dead long live the fire

[marinoceccotti]

I switched to Phoenix as soon as it was available and stable. Then Firebird. Still using Firefox. I remember the "Acid test", to test the CSS compatibility. so many memories.

[notreallyasloth]

Great vid. Did you record all the footage of the old versions of Netscape

[PiddeBas]

Dude, you're getting really good at this. Keep at it!

[TheJoebus]

In my opinion Firefox 3.x had the best user interface, but ever since Firefox 4 they've been in a downward spiral of pointless Chrome-copying changes that do nothing but alienate their existing users. Still, I use Firefox for the same reasons you do. I also can't stand Chrome's font rendering

[abgzulkifli]

I don't want to care, next time I care

[jakubtrzpis]

And naive users gave money to the Mozilla foundation and none of it went to Firefox

[bIametheniIe]

Mozilla doesn't listen to its users and loyal users. They remove features their users use. They redesign the UI every few years supposedly to make it easier to use, but in reality it makes the browser less accessible. When they make unnecessary changes, Mozilla displays the attitude of "if you don't like the changes, then use another browser" So, people do. I wonder if Mozilla even cares about their users as long as they're getting that sweet Google money each year.

[NottJoeyOfficial]

I'm watching this on Firefox for Android right now. Back in 2016 the Android version was terrible, so I went to Edge instead. I still use Edge on Android, but Firefox is actually amazing now on Android. Extensions make the experience far better, especially browser scripts. I love it.

[humanetiger]

No word.about addons and the disruptive changes that happened over the years? Popularity of FF was all about certain addons for many users. When their addons broke, they turned away. And so did the addon devs.

[AshNonokPlays]

I like the seamonkey alternative, becuase of the complete suit features. I don't need a separate app in my Manjaro Linux for an email client, like thunderbird. Its all-in-one if mozilla could merger firefox and thunderbird I'll think about it? But right now I'm sticking with my seamonkey browser.

[momo.ru-kun]

I remember using Phoenix back in school when everyone was curious about what I was using being very different to their defaults.

[thebeaconnetwork]

Can't judge a product by "market share." Otherwise, there would be no hope for open source or Linux. I don't choose products/services based on popularity. I try really hard to choose on the basis of what I need and how well that product or service fills that need. Chrome is dominate and its spyware. "Markets" today don't really function the way we are taught they work.

I have a great deal of respect for the Mozilla Foundation. Its funny to me that most of the people making videos like this use Firefox or a variant. Its hard out here when you are not a trillion dollar company. Let's make more videos showing how to support the Mozilla and other projects who are struggling to maintain people centered values in a market based industry.

At this point (2024) these videos seem to be punching down.

[ZombieFX]

CEO's salary increase $6, 900, 000. That is happened.