Firefox was doomed decades ago
They had a lot of market share and then promptly lost it
this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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And with it the open web.
If (and it's still a big if) Google is forced to sell Chrome they'll sell it to either Facebook, AltmanAI, Microsoft (lol), or else some shady tech company that has no reason to want to own it but is an even thinner rubber mask for the CIA/FBI/etc.
This is why I'm sure it'll happen (dooming hard). The US government wants web control and censorship and one big thing standing in the way is the open web Firefox fosters. Kill that off and the rest falls in line for corporate/government surveillance, control, and the end of anonymity and anything resembling free speech to the disliking of the aforementioned parties.
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God please don't let Firefox die.
I can't handle any more slop. I can't go back to chrome.
Dont worry im sure mozilla the ad company will be able to figure out a way to keepntheir CEO well paid.
Open source aint going anywheres, no worries here
The code is one thing. 300 skilled developers is another. Most of those could be full-time too.
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They need to get the fuck rid of that executive. Whoever has been running FF the last couple years has done a terrible job in picking directions for them to go, IMHO.
The problem lies in the board and the company culture
They've gone though enough CEOs for me to suspect that there is a bigger issue.
Despite those choices, I'm not sure there were many other directions that could ever bring in the profits that Google does.
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I have to imagine competing with a de-Googled Chrome is also a concern. I wouldn't think this apples to the majority of users, but a lot of people currently using Firefox today are only doing so because of a dislike of Google (and Microsoft), who might be willing to go back to a responsibly-managed/truly FOSS Chrome.
Personally I have just always really liked the firefox icon
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I sometimes wonder if this really would be the case or if people would step up. Realistically I'm afraid you need a big team to develop a browser that can do everything from videocalls to online docs and 3d games (not very good but it's kinda amazing).
Large team? Yes. hundreds of millions in operating budget per year? No.
Nah there is no way that Mozilla isnt 90% bloat at this point. The google deal needs to go if Mozilla wants to survive long term.
Who else would work such magic as making sure there is an AI integration panel, or a cool new logo.
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Is that the executive paid 10 million a year? Or maybe one of the few millions a year ones?
Muhlheim, the finance chief for the organization’s for-profit arm — which in turn helps fund the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation.
But Plohman (via the last link) is. According to this (PDF warning), that's $415,519 total.
On the for-profit side, who knows! It's anybody's guess.