changelog: v59-alpha

[earthlng]

• date: 17-March-2018
• foreword: These are all the changes since the last changelog (v58-alpha).
• note: the comments in the code blocks below are for this changelog's commentary

---

changelog: [all changes]

• all user.js updates for Firefox v59 are detailed in our ToDo: diffs FF58-FF59 issue
  • includes links to the commits made for each pref, links to bugzilla tickets, our discussions etc.
• revamped section 5000: PERSONAL SETTINGS
  • after discussions (discussion: move section 5000 (personal) to a separate js file #338 + discussion: revamp 5000 (personal) #360) about what to do with this section we removed a lot of it (everything in the removed from the user.js block) and made what remained inactive (see commented out below)
• Mozilla continues to work on privacy.resistFingerprinting and some improvements landed in FF59
  • search meta: tor uplift: privacy.resistFingerprinting #7 for FF59 (thanks @Thorin-Oakenpants for keeping that list updated!)
• [REMINDER] use our scratchpad script to troubleshoot broken sites
  • don't waste 3 hours when the script can help you do it in (less than) a few minutes
  • Any + all feedback / results / experiences with the script would be very much appreciated! Like ...
    • did or didn't it find the problematic pref(s)?
    • which sites were or weren't you able to fix with it?
    • did the script fail to narrow it down to a manageable number of prefs?
• for all the rest see the full list of pref changes below

---

all pref changes:

• new active prefs:

user_pref("dom.w3c_pointer_events.enabled", false);
user_pref("network.http.referer.defaultPolicy", 3);
user_pref("network.http.referer.defaultPolicy.pbmode", 2);
user_pref("security.csp.enable_violation_events", false);
user_pref("toolkit.telemetry.hybridContent.enabled", false);

• new in 59alpha but commented out by default:

//user_pref("identity.fxaccounts.enabled", false);

• moved back up to 02xx from 46xx because RFP will soon no longer disable Geolocation:

user_pref("geo.enabled", false);
//user_pref("permissions.default.geo", 2);

• changed values:

user_pref("browser.aboutHomeSnippets.updateUrl", "data:,"); // 58alpha: "https://127.0.0.1"
user_pref("toolkit.telemetry.server", "data:,"); // 58alpha: ""

• commented out:

//user_pref("browser.backspace_action", 2);
//user_pref("browser.bookmarks.max_backups", 2);
//user_pref("browser.ctrlTab.previews", true);
//user_pref("browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab", false);
//user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnClose", false);
//user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnCloseOtherTabs", false);
//user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnOpen", false);
//user_pref("browser.urlbar.decodeURLsOnCopy", true);
//user_pref("layout.spellcheckDefault", 2); // previously active with value: 1
//user_pref("network.manage-offline-status", false);
//user_pref("view_source.tab", false);

• removed from the user.js:

//user_pref("browser.stopReloadAnimation.enabled", true);
user_pref("browser.tabs.insertRelatedAfterCurrent", true);
user_pref("browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground", false);
user_pref("browser.tabs.loadInBackground", true);
user_pref("browser.tabs.selectOwnerOnClose", true);
user_pref("browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll", true);
user_pref("browser.urlbar.doubleClickSelectsAll", false);
//user_pref("media.flac.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.mediasource.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.mediasource.mp4.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.mediasource.webm.audio.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.mediasource.webm.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.mp4.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.ogg.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.ogg.flac.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.opus.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.raw.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.wave.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.webm.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.wmf.amd.vp9.enabled", true);
//user_pref("media.wmf.enabled", false);
//user_pref("media.wmf.vp9.enabled", false);
user_pref("ui.submenuDelay", 150);

• moved to 4600: RFP (4500) ALTERNATIVES:

user_pref("media.ondevicechange.enabled", false);

• moved to 9999: DEPRECATED / REMOVED:

user_pref("camera.control.face_detection.enabled", false);
user_pref("datareporting.healthreport.about.reportUrl", "data:text/plain,");
user_pref("dom.disable_window_status_change", true);
user_pref("dom.flyweb.enabled", false);
user_pref("dom.idle-observers-api.enabled", false);
user_pref("general.useragent.locale", "en-US"); // replaced by intl.locale.requested
user_pref("intl.locale.matchOS", false); // replaced by intl.locale.requested
user_pref("media.getusermedia.screensharing.allowed_domains", "");
user_pref("network.http.referer.userControlPolicy", 3); // replaced by network.http.referer.defaultPolicy
user_pref("security.mixed_content.send_hsts_priming", false);
user_pref("security.mixed_content.use_hsts", true);
user_pref("security.xpconnect.plugin.unrestricted", false);

---

Any and all help, suggestions, recommendations, links, tips and tricks, questions, thank you's or whathaveyou are welcome - signup/login and start typing - thanks

[earthlng]

np :)

wanna do a scratchpad cleanup script with all the "commented out/removed/moved to 4600/moved to 9999" prefs and link to it?

[earthlng]

ghacks-user.js 59alpha in numbers (4600+9999 not included):

• 346 active user-prefs
  • 25 prefs not found in FF59's default prefs files (hidden prefs, future-proofing, etc)
  • 230 prefs changing FF59's default values
  • 91 prefs matching FF59's default values
• 118 inactive user-prefs
  • 15 prefs not found in FF59's default prefs files (hidden prefs, future-proofing, etc)
  • 92 prefs not matching FF59's default values
  • 10 prefs matching FF59's default values
  • 1 duplicate (urlclassifier.trackingTable)

[grauenwolfe]

• new in 59alpha but commented out by default:

//user_pref("identity.fxaccounts.enabled", false);

This is not active yet though in v59 is that correct or is it active and hidden?

Speaking of Sync, is anyone randomly getting a weave folder generated in their Profile folder. The "weave" folder always contains these two folders:

• failed folder containing a tabs.json file which contains {"ids":[]}
• toFetch folder containing a tabs.json file which contains {"ids":[]}

Weave is Sync related isn't it, or does it iclude a broader scope? FYI, I don't use Sync. In fact I've never used it anywhere, not even been curious about it or tested in the past, nothing. Not the end of the world, just curious.

[grauenwolfe]

It's noted as FF60+.

Yeah, saw that. Since it's in the v59 user.js, was hoping it was integrated already just not visible yet or something. Thanks Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror.

[grauenwolfe]

FYI - I figured out that the "weave" folder is created when Preferences is opened.

edit: to be more clear - it is created any and every time Preferences is opened. Delete it and then open Preferences and it gets created instantly. This explains why it was seemingly so random.