Transition to WebExtensions (aka compatibility with Firefox 57+)

[dralley]

As I'm sure you know, in November 2017, the Firefox 57 release will disable all addon APIs with the exception of the new WebExtensions API. Are there any plans for undertaking this transition, or auditing whether it is possible at all, or would require Mozilla extending the WebExtensions API to provide the necessary functionality?

[anewuser]

See all the other open bugs about compatibility: https://github.com/Infocatcher/Private_Tab/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3Acompatibility

@Infocatcher has devoted a lot of time on this, but Mozilla isn't cooperating.

[yfdyh000]

Any privilege is requirements more than https://github.com/mozilla/testpilot-containers/blob/master/webextension/manifest.json?

[Infocatcher]

Required API for private tabs or access to browser internals...

[Infocatcher]

OK, let's see: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1358058

Implement WebExtensions API for private tabs

[anewuser]

@Infocatcher check these out:

mozilla/multi-account-containers#47
mozilla/multi-account-containers#419
mozilla/multi-account-containers#429

[Infocatcher]

mozilla/multi-account-containers#47
mozilla/multi-account-containers#419
mozilla/multi-account-containers#429

Interesting, thanks! Also "private containers" will solve issue about only one global private storage/container.

[Infocatcher]

OK, let's see: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1358058

Implement WebExtensions API for private tabs

And, probably, that's all.
Nothing about any feedback, lack of discussion.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1358058#c12

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

[Infocatcher]

Also to inherit private state of opener tab:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1238314
Implement browser.tabs opener functionality

[bastadur]

Maybe a noob question (don't judge me I know nothing about coding 😫) - how come Brave has private tabs and it's based on Chromium/Blink?

[anewuser]

@bastadur That's a question you should ask the Brave developers.

[Infocatcher]

Some tests around WebExtensions: https://github.com/Infocatcher/Private_Tab_WE
Actually does nothing for now, only have a dummy menu item in page context menu.

[Infocatcher]

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1354602
Not yet fixed, user should set privacy.userContext.enabled = true manually.

Still missing really private containers, but
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1353726
Consider extending browsingData.RemovalOptions to allow removal by cookieStoreId
(not implemented)

Not implemented:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/onSuspend
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/runtime/onSuspendCanceled
So, as I see, there is no way to perform some cleanup, if extension was disabled/uninstalled.

Also I not see any way to create configurable keyboard shortcuts, only hardcoded ones:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/manifest.json/commands
And limited:

ERROR Loading extension 'privateTabWE@infocatcher': Reading manifest: Error processing commands.openNewPrivateTab.suggested_key.default: Value "Ctrl+Alt+P" must either: match the pattern /^\s*(Alt|Ctrl|Command|MacCtrl)\s*+\s*(Shift\s*+\s*)?([A-Z0-9]|Comma|Period|Home|End|PageUp|PageDown|Space|Insert|Delete|Up|Down|Left|Right)\s*$/, match the pattern /^\s*((Alt|Ctrl|Command|MacCtrl)\s*+\s*)?(Shift\s*+\s*)?(F[1-9]|F1[0-2])\s*$/, or match the pattern /^(MediaNextTrack|MediaPlayPause|MediaPrevTrack|MediaStop)$/

[Infocatcher]

Also I not see any way to create configurable keyboard shortcuts, only hardcoded ones

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1303384
UI for re-assigning command shortcuts
(not implemented for now)

[Infocatcher]

No easy way to inherit browser.tabs.insertRelatedAfterCurrent = true behavior, only ability to set tab position
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/tabs/create#Parameters

browser.tabs.create({
	url: …,
	cookieStoreId: …,
	active: true,
	index: …
});

No ability to inherit browser settings to open in active/background tab.

[anewuser]

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/10/containers-for-add-on-developers/

[Infocatcher]

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/10/containers-for-add-on-developers/

Thanks!
So, it's possible to do something like before, but "private" container should be removed manually after closing of last private tab.

[anewuser]

This one says that it can remove them automatically: https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/containers-on-the-go/ . It's a shame that its developer hasn't posted it on a public repository though. You could work together.

You may get inspiration from this too: https://github.com/totallymike/contextPlus

[inoyakaigor]

Тут много всего написано и не всё я понимаю. Можно резолюцию: есть перспективы у этого расширения для переезда на Firefox 57 или нет?

[Tallefer]

@inoyakaigor никто пока не понимает. :) Но уже есть прототип https://github.com/Infocatcher/Private_Tab_WE
и там внизу таблица тикетов, которые надо разрешить, чтобы все заработало

[Infocatcher]

This one says that it can remove them automatically

Yes, that's easy (and now implemented), but the most important part is about private containers: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1353726 or (and better) private flag for container itself.

@inoyakaigor
По-прежнему со стороны браузера не реализована основная часть: нет ни возможности удаления истории, привязанной к контейнеру (https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1353726), ни (тем более) настоящих приватных контейнеров.

[Infocatcher]

mozilla/multi-account-containers#47 Disable history per-container setting

Edit: oh, already listed some posts above...

[MurzNN]

From https://github.com/Infocatcher/Private_Tab_WE#issues

Ability to move tab into another container (for “Private Tab” checkbox in tab context menu), to restore not only URL

This can be implemented via Context Plus extension.

[Infocatcher]

This can be implemented via Context Plus extension.

As I see, this is only about browser.tabs.create({ cookieStoreId }) to create new tab in desired container (and preserve only URL, tab position and active/inactive state) + browser.tabs.remove() to close initial tab:
context_plus-0.5.0-an+fx-windows.xpi\contextPlus.js

    const onClickedHandler = async function(info, tab) {
      if (contextStore.hasOwnProperty(info.menuItemId)) {
        const moveTab = !(info.modifiers && info.modifiers.includes("Ctrl"));
        const cookieStoreId = contextStore[info.menuItemId];
        const { active, index, pinned, url, windowId } = tab;

        const newTabPromise = browser.tabs.create({
          active,
          cookieStoreId,
          index: index + (moveTab ? 0 : 1),
          pinned,
          url,
          windowId,
        });
        if (moveTab) {
          await newTabPromise;
          browser.tabs.remove(tab.id);
        }
      }
    };
    browser.contextMenus.onClicked.addListener(onClickedHandler);

[anewuser]

There's a new related extension:

https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/temporary-containers/

https://github.com/stoically/firefox-add-on-temporary-containers/

Check it out and see the comment I've left on stoically/temporary-containers#17

[ShalokShalom]

Firefox 61 allows to interact with Tabs via WebExtension, is that any help?

[anewuser]

If you guys use the stable version of Firefox and are still interested in private tabs, I recommend this new lightweight extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/open-in-temp-container/ .

You need to go to the Firefox Add-ons Manager to see its options and make the toolbar button open new tabs. You can also give it permission to access your browsing history to prevent new URLs from being stored.