We need to have a conversation about the way the Mozilla implements changes to FireFox

[Pazuzu]

I've been a FireFox user since 2005 and I've witnessed the many changes and iterations the browser's gone through. I understand the drive for innovation and new features. However, some of these changes are in detriment to the overall user experience, especially to the established user base. I get the drive to make the UI simpler, but sometimes this comes at the expense of the UX. But what bother me the most is the complete removal or addition of features with no way of reverting back to what we're used to.

Things get changed in a whim because some dev thought it's a frivolous feature and that's it. The removal of the "press enter on an empty search bar" feature is an example of this. It feels like some dev wanted to make some "contribution," removed the feature and that's it. To me, this screams of mediocrity, because there was no thought about the user or any research on its usage. This could perfectly be a toggle. But no, it was just removed because who cares about users.

Another example is the downloads library. There used to be a button you clicked and you got the download history, but now it's hidden behind an additional click. Looks good, but adding more clicks to achieve the same goal is poor UX.

Computers are powerful enough that things can become a toggle in about:config. Not everything needs to be permanently added or removed.

I guess I just want to say that any changes should become a toggle for the sake of the user, because even with telemetry enabled, you don't see the full picture of your users' browsing habits.

[Ninetails]

At one point, every time I downloaded the FireFox updates, you kept changing the menus to double spaced. I would then spend my time searching the web for the answers to change it back as there was no setting in FireFox to do so easily.

It was getting so annoying that I started to look at other browsers. Then for a time you left the menus alone.

Then with FireFox 130, you did it again (double spaced menus which I abhor) along with changing the folder where my downloads were sent and opening .pdf's instead of downloading them. I am sure I'll find more things you changed as I go along.

I had spent time setting FireFox up more to my liking and you go and change everything to how you think they should be. So now I spending more time setting it back to my preferences. Could you please keep it in mind to not change peoples personal preferences.

Oh, I see another update (131) is ready to download. What will you have changed this time that I will have to readjust? You want to change something? How about something that helps FireFox stop using my hard drive 100% thereby slowing my computer down.

[ThePillenwerfer]

The Downloads Library is something I have no use for but a similar thing applies to the un-removable extensions icon.  If clicking it opened about:addons it would be useful but as it stands that involves a second click so has no advantage over hamburger > Add-ons and themes.

[ThePillenwerfer]

I can't recall what version I was on when I reduced the space between menu items but 'up-grading' to 131 hasn't effected it, or any other of my chrome tweaks.  My userChrome.css file has grown with fixing the Show All Tabs thing and userContent.css to put the logo and wordmark on the Home Page and new tabs back to their correct size.

[Ninetails]

Yea update to 131 had no surprises and like you I can't remember what updates kept causing the double spaced menus and thanks to userChrome.css I was able to fix them. But I don't understand why I had to go that route. FireFox should have given a choice in their settings.

BUT Update 130 did cause the 3 changes I had mentioned before - double spacing, my choice of where to have my downloads go and how to handle .pdf's. This time I only had to go into about:config to fix the menus.

[Kayayayaya]

I totally agree.

Your example of not being able to press enter in the blank search bar anymore is one that has personally irked me, as it is something I have been doing for as long as I can remember. The developer who made the call to remove the "press enter in a blank search box" feature was also the one who made the post to walk it back, but with an even worse solution. I appreciate them listening to feedback, but what was the point if it can be so easily reinstated? Why remove something so inconsequential? Stop making "improvements" just to justify your job or position and think about your users first.

I would love to participate in direct user feedback request. Send me a trillion surveys every single day and I will take them all to let you know how I feel and what I want. STOP RELYING ON USER TELEMETRY FOR EVERYTHING. As someone who prizes their privacy highly I have this all disabled! I have been using Firefox since version 2 and I HATE the direction it is taking. The latest "tab image preview" feature is proof that the devs seem to just want to chase Chrome all day instead of maintaining their own special browser. It's very saddening.