7mo ago

Why is compact mode 'not supported'?

I use it all the time and have for years. Just seems like a weird feature to lock behind about.config and say it's not supported while they still support things like Pocket.

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37 comments

It is essentially just extra maintenance of a feature in Firefox that (statistically) not many people use
As such, it's marked as "unsupported" to make clear that if any issues arise, Mozilla won't help you with those issues.
- Not many people use it because it is hidden away and not default.
  Firefox in compact mode is about as compact as Chromium, so no issue here.
  
  I think I have it enabled too and just forgot about it. It really should be a checkbox next to themes or something.
  
  True, a lot of things are too inaccessible so that people even think they dont exist. Like the task manager or profiles.
  
  Yup, and I use both. I only use profiles for checking stock Firefox to help support people without my setup.
  Containers are also awesome and not advertised well enough, it completely replaced profiles for me.
  
  I use an "insecure" profile (basically just RFP etc off) for Netflix and other sucky sites.
  
  Eh, container tabs and disabliing strict checks per site seems to solve my problems.
  
  But no
  random Netflix addons
  DRM enabled
  I mean, I have my custom app desktop entry, so why not use a separate profile for that crap?
  
  Sure, why not?
  
  Interesting, I need to try that out.
  
  it used to be visible as an option in 'customize toolbar'. it was deprecated and deemed 'unsupported' way back around v89, but at least they kept it available as a 'hidden' setting.
  i use it on every pc i have firefox installed on (which is, well, all of them that aren't 'terminal only').
  
  Yeah, I remember it being there too. I really can't stand the default UI of any browser, everything is just so... big and bright. I use dark theme and compact mode where possible.
  
  It's hidden away behind a flag now because it hasn't been actively used for years on end.
  Not the other way around.
  
  Hm, yes but active usage doesnt mean it was not used?
  I never thought of doing that and for sure didnt see that button in the bottom left.
  Thats like removing profiles because nobody used them, while they are hidden away behind an about:. The solution is add a button, see if it is used and then decide.
  Especially as the compact mode saves a lot of screen space and is likely no maintenance effort at all.
  
  yes but active usage doesnt mean it was not used?
  If their criteria was "at least 1 person uses it at all, sometimes" then it would not have been removed 🤔
  likely no maintenance effort at all.
  The maintenance comes less from the code and more from making sure that every single menu added or changed in any way continues to behave correctly in three different sizes with themes and everything.
  
  Firefox extremely reduced theming.
  And as I said, nobody knows this exists because it is not promoted well, and now even hidden.

37 comments