About the future (Firefox 57+) & new WebExtensions: HCTP WON'T DIE in any case! :

[Javier-DarthPalpatine]

IMPORTANT! About the future: In short: This addon (HCTP) WON'T DIE in any case! I'll for sure continue to use and update it!

About Mozilla's announcement (at least for the time being) to end supporting addons that fully extend the UI and experience using Firefox (Fx 57 announced for this November and later), I want to say:

I can assure that I won't stop using HCTP by myself and of course I'll continue to maintain it.

We -the collective that uses this addon and especially others addons so useful and popular, that truly enhances the browsing experience- will have several alternatives even in Firefox's future worst case scenario: We can continue to use the (future) latest compatible Firefox (56 or Fx ESR 52) while deciding which will be the best Firefox alternative (clone, fork) to use! That's the beauty of open source code!
So I am confident that the large addon community will come with very nice alternatives, We have already some pretty popular Fx clones!
Among the people that won't be willing to stop using their favorites addons, We have many capable coders that can release/collaborate for having very good alternatives that includes the new technologies without ditching full UI enhancement!

I, of course, will be updating info here about the best course of action when the time comes.

Just saying, at absolutely last resort, I (or anyone capable) can even compile and distribute my/his/her own compatible browser, but I'm sure that won't be necessary.      About Fx future changes: the ditching of XUL is not a real problem, It's just a technology change, and of course the new WebExtension tech. are very welcomed! The problem is created by the (announced at least for the time being) policy to just end support for fully enhancing Fx UI & UEx announced from Fx57+.

So, HCTP will be available as a WebExtension if and when full UI enhancement support is back after Fx 57!, but again, HCTP will be maintained and updated anyway!

More details and thoughts to come ... In a while, I'll post the main part of this in the main addon page (AMO) also.

Any info, ideas are welcomed here!, even any suggestion about changes in this message for better communicating the alternatives that We have as a community. (English isn't my primary language)

[Javier-DarthPalpatine]

PS: I'm also polishing a lot of improvements for releasing an exciting new feature that I use since a while ago and can't live without it: "Floating Toolbars/Toolbox", and I expect to release it soon!

[lukaszpolowczyk]

There is a rescue, at least unofficial (though supported to some extent by Mozilla).

Add-on developers can create their own experimental APIs for WebExtensions: http://webextensions-experiments.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

For example, I created my own API that allows you to load the script for each browser window. This script then has access to the entire XPCOM. Everything is low-level. XPCOM is also supposed to be replaced sometime, but you can still access it some time, thanks to the API for experiments.

The only requirement is to use Firefox Nightly or Firefox Unbranded (stable Firefox) with the appropriate flags in about: config.

I dream of creating a base of add-ons, based on the experimental API. This would be better than creating a separate browser, with outdated Interface.

Alternatively, Firefox Unbranded could be modified so that the user does not have to manually change the flag in about:config and add that version to the base page of the more add-ons.

What do you think about experiments?

What do you think of building a base of add-ons that can more?

[Madis0]

What about turning HCTP into a project consisting of userChrome.css tweaks, a base add-on (for something) and a set of sub-addons for different buttons?

Also, this bug seems to get some progress, so Linux users hopefully won't be disappointed when XUL access deprecates: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=513159

[Javier-DarthPalpatine]

Hi! Just A Quick notice about Firefox Developer Edition & Beta !

Today, Firefox Developer Edition offered already an update to the (incompatible) version 57beta! So for anyone using it and also Firefox Beta, and want to continue using all the great addons We have at our disposal, I recommend to turn-off immediately the automatic update! Just go to:   about:preferences#general   Firefox Developer Edition (or Beta Edition) updates: and check:   Never check for updates!

Thanks!

PS: just saying, be prepared to do the same for your 'main' Firefox (in release channel), and also to make a BACKUP of your Fx profile directory in case you accidentally do the update to 57. I'll post instructions to how do that backup and such in a while. And/or search sites that are already dealing with all this. Please let me know if any of you already found one!

[Javier-DarthPalpatine]

BTW, I'm trying to overcome all this headache & finishing to publish some great HCTP features that I'm using already! All before this and other many addons won't be able to be updated anymore in Mozilla's site. (but will continue to be updated elsewhere)

So sorry for not answering all requests for the time being. Thanks you all for your supporting! Javier

[Javier-DarthPalpatine]

Also, I'm trying already latest HCTP in PALEMOON!, have some bugs yet. I'll open a separate thread for this.

[surajmandalcell]

When will it be compatible with firefox 57?

[kubrickfr]

@surajmandalcell Read the first post, it will not be compatible with FF57 However, it says "HCTP will be available as a WebExtension if and when full UI enhancement support is back after Fx 57", which may or may not happen, ever.

[surajmandalcell]

sad