Rethink Cachy Browser

[ptr1337]

Cachy Browser currently makes following changes:

• Apply some librewolf patches
• Apply Gentoo patches
• Add a more privacy friendly config

Generally, most of these are already covered by the librewolf browser and therefore this is not really special.

We think about on working on following:

• Find a better mix between privacy and speed of the browser, as well as usability (Dont delete cookies on close, and such things)
• Optimize the browser with the config
• Make it more user friendly

[sirlucjan]

I think deleting cookies is a bad idea. Provide a reasonable dose of security + good ad blocking and that will be enough.

[1Naim]

Cleaning cookies is a good idea, it provides good sanitization and mitigates some of the cookie-based tracking websites use, provided that users set exceptions for the sites they mainly use of course to save logins. While it is a good idea, I do agree that it is not a good default to have, especially if the browser is shipped as the default browser on most systems.

• Find a better mix between privacy and speed of the browser, as well as usability

We can start doing this by working off of the great arkenfox project. It provides a very nice template. Currently, the defaults are pretty lax but we can further make it more user friendly without compromising too much on security.

[vnepogodin]

There is also other possibility at using chromium as base for browser, and applying some fixes,telemetry,built-in ads blocker – patchset

[ilikenwf]

Honestly at this point we may gain more momentum if we become the neutral, just a private *fox browser - Librewolf has become political for some reason, or their leadership has, Mozilla has become evil, and most other forks are owned by corporations or are no longer maintained...

We wouldn't have to necessarily build and package for other distros or Windows, but giving a way of doing so (which is really just patch and build mozilla normally for the most part) could get more interest in us...

I think most people just want a browser that doesn't give a crap about being anything other than a good and private browser.

[ilikenwf]

In addition, other forks do have interesting patches too...Waterfox icecat/iceweasel, Floorp and others...

There's of course https://github.com/arkenfox/

Floorp lists where they pull stuff from.

https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox

For waterfox we'd have to git diff...I'm not sure what exactly gives it an edge beyond some extras like extended jpeg-xl support amongst others, but Alex there has done a lot of optimization for speed/performance so it may make sense to diff their repo and either turn the stuff we like into patches or cherry pick it into the mozilla repo when we build...

https://github.com/BrowserWorks/Waterfox/

[RainOfPain125]

In addition, other forks do have interesting patches too...Waterfox icecat/iceweasel, Floorp and others...

There's of course https://github.com/arkenfox/

Floorp lists where they pull stuff from.

https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox

For waterfox we'd have to git diff...I'm not sure what exactly gives it an edge beyond some extras like extended jpeg-xl support amongst others, but Alex there has done a lot of optimization for speed/performance so it may make sense to diff their repo and either turn the stuff we like into patches or cherry pick it into the mozilla repo when we build...

https://github.com/BrowserWorks/Waterfox/

Hello,

I'd agree.

If I had to assume, the best settings/flags for security or privacy is mutually exclusive in some ways with the best settings/flags for performance. If it is possible, then I think you could provide the best OOTB experience with different "presets" to choose from, just like the CachyOS "Kernal Manager" has many kernals to choose from.

I think the default "preset" should be optimized for performance with as much no-brainer security as it can have without compromising on performance. And then another preset for "hardening" or "privacy" with no compromises on security.

Although, ultimately I'd imagine it would be best if you can find some magical middle ground so that everyone has the same configs and extensions, for the sake of preventing fingerprinting ie with unique browser setups.

Trying your best to take inspiration and notes from other Firefox projects is good. Something I'd die to see, is if you implemented the "workspaces" feature that Floorp has. Floorp with tree-style tab WITH workspaces makes the browser experience feel blissful. Sadly Floorp's workspaces thing is not an extension, so I can't just "install" it onto Cachy Browser. :(