[FEATURE REQUEST] Proposed solutions to the Firefox Container Tabs unexpected localStorage cleanup

[WAZAAAAA0]

Acknowledgements

• I acknowledge that I have read the above items

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

So here's the problem in a nutshell that's been encountered by users numerous times (#211 #347 #952 #1395 #1427 #1468 etc.)

• deleting cookies of website X only on 1 container: works
• deleting localStorage of website X only on 1 container: doesn't work, all containers deleted
• bad workaround: disable localStorage cleaning entirely and never ever let the extension touch them :-(
• better workaround: whitelist website X on all containers and not just 1

As far as I know this localStorage flaw also applies to the other storage types: Cache, IndexedDB, Plugin Data, Service workers... EXCEPT COOKIES which behave correctly. This is due to WebExtension API limitations as stated here #1395 (comment)

Describe the solution that you'd like

Until the Firefox devs implement it properly, some safeguards can be tried to limit that frustrating global cleanup:
SOLUTION 1: when container support is enabled, pressing the + Whitelist button should add the rule to ALL containers instead of just 1
SOLUTION 2: this was proposed by @SpaceClicker here and it's probably a more elegant solution #1427 (comment) basically add a check that goes something like this: if www.example.com localStorage whitelist rule exists in ANY container -> DO NOT cleanup

The idea is that if the user went out of his way to WHITELIST a website on 1 container, it's better user experience to be overcautious and let that data survive on all containers than it is to be too overzealous and delete that data on all containers.

[Exagone313]

I don't understand the workarounds you propose.

Currently, if I have LocalStorage Cleanup, I have a host allowed that still has its local storage cleaned up at a random time. I tried allowing the host in the default container, but it still happens.

I have to keep this setting disabled until the extension is fixed, but this doesn't block tracking using local storage on other websites.

[WAZAAAAA0]

I don't understand the workarounds you propose.

I tried allowing the host in the default container, but it still happens.

Almost there; you need to allow the host in EACH container (Default, Personal, Work, Banking, Shopping etc.)

[Exagone313]

It seems like I have another extension that removes my local storage, because even when LocalStorage Cleanup is disabled, my keys are still getting removed. Or CAD is misbehaving. I'll make more tests.

EDIT: I had Firefox set to remove offline data when it closes.