troubleshooter.js: clean up prefs list

[Thorin-Oakenpants]

• [x] finalize list
• [x] put most common breakage prefs at the start
• [x] group items for possible dependencies
• [x] find a permanent home for video
• [x] update troubleshooting wiki page

[earthlng]

Good work on that list mate, thanks! I've gone over it and removed most of them: https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js/commit/a3bffb83bd2e34dc0881692559c28b2e120f95d2 Down to 79. Some of the ones I didn't remove can't break pages but they are standalone prefs and there's no harm to leave them in the list IMO.

I've also removed ...

• all GMP + EME prefs because multiple prefs need to be reset to enable that shit
• all media.peerconnection.* + the 2 media.navigator.* prefs (=WebRTC) for the same reason.
• captivedetect.canonicalURL + network.captive-portal-service.enabled

[earthlng]

I kinda disagree with some of the stuff kept

yeah but it's kinda neat that the script can also help someone narrow down on those things as well. And since we are most likely not gonna get it down to below 64, it doesn't really matter that they're in the list too.

do we have a list of inactive at non-default?

based on the master user.js and compared against FF57.0.4 default values:

inactive prefs by category

```js // hidden, future-proofing and whatnot: pref("browser.cache.memory.capacity", 0); pref("browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2", true); pref("browser.tabs.remote.force-enable", true); pref("font.system.whitelist", ""); pref("general.appname.override", "Netscape"); pref("general.appversion.override", "5.0 (Windows)"); pref("general.buildID.override", "20100101"); pref("general.oscpu.override", "Windows NT 6.1"); pref("general.platform.override", "Win32"); pref("general.useragent.override", "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/52.0"); pref("geo.wifi.logging.enabled", true); pref("permissions.memory_only", true); pref("privacy.resistFingerprinting.block_mozAddonManager", true); pref("privacy.window.maxInnerHeight", 900); pref("privacy.window.maxInnerWidth", 1600); pref("security.insecure_connection_icon.pbmode.enabled", true); pref("security.nocertdb", true); // non-default: pref("accessibility.typeaheadfind", true); pref("app.update.enabled", false); pref("browser.cache.memory.enable", false); pref("browser.chrome.favicons", false); pref("browser.chrome.site_icons", false); pref("browser.download.autohideButton", false); pref("browser.privatebrowsing.autostart", true); pref("browser.safebrowsing.allowOverride", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.blockedURIs.enabled", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.downloads.enabled", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_dangerous", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_dangerous_host", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_potentially_unwanted", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.downloads.remote.block_uncommon", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.malware.enabled", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.phishing.enabled", false); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.google.gethashURL", ""); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.google.updateURL", ""); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.google4.gethashURL", ""); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.google4.updateURL", ""); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.mozilla.gethashURL", ""); pref("browser.safebrowsing.provider.mozilla.updateURL", ""); pref("browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers", 0); pref("browser.startup.homepage", "https://www.example.com/"); pref("browser.startup.page", 0); pref("browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInTabs", true); pref("browser.tabs.remote.autostart", true); pref("browser.urlbar.maxRichResults", 0); pref("dom.event.contextmenu.enabled", false); pref("dom.indexedDB.enabled", false); pref("dom.ipc.plugins.sandbox-level.default", "donotuse"); pref("dom.ipc.plugins.sandbox-level.flash", "donotuse"); pref("dom.ipc.processCount", 4); pref("dom.storage.enabled", false); pref("dom.vr.enabled", false); pref("extensions.e10sBlocksEnabling", false); pref("extensions.screenshots.disabled", true); pref("extensions.systemAddon.update.url", ""); pref("extensions.update.enabled", false); pref("font.name.monospace.x-unicode", "Lucida Console"); pref("font.name.monospace.x-western", "Lucida Console"); pref("font.name.sans-serif.x-unicode", "Arial"); pref("font.name.sans-serif.x-western", "Arial"); pref("font.name.serif.x-unicode", "Georgia"); pref("font.name.serif.x-western", "Georgia"); pref("full-screen-api.warning.delay", 0); pref("full-screen-api.warning.timeout", 0); pref("general.autoScroll", false); pref("gfx.direct2d.disabled", true); pref("javascript.options.baselinejit", false); pref("javascript.options.ion", false); pref("media.flac.enabled", false); pref("media.mediasource.enabled", false); pref("media.mediasource.mp4.enabled", false); pref("media.mediasource.webm.audio.enabled", false); pref("media.mp4.enabled", false); pref("media.ogg.enabled", false); pref("media.ogg.flac.enabled", false); pref("media.opus.enabled", false); pref("media.raw.enabled", false); pref("media.wave.enabled", false); pref("media.webm.enabled", false); pref("media.wmf.enabled", false); pref("media.wmf.vp9.enabled", false); pref("network.dns.disableIPv6", true); pref("places.history.enabled", false); pref("plugin.state.flash", 0); pref("privacy.clearOnShutdown.openWindows", true); pref("privacy.cpd.openWindows", true); pref("privacy.trackingprotection.annotate_channels", false); pref("privacy.trackingprotection.enabled", true); pref("privacy.usercontext.about_newtab_segregation.enabled", true); pref("privacy.userContext.enabled", true); pref("privacy.userContext.longPressBehavior", 2); pref("privacy.userContext.ui.enabled", true); pref("reader.parse-on-load.enabled", false); pref("security.sandbox.content.level", "donotuse"); pref("security.sandbox.logging.enabled", true); pref("security.ssl.require_safe_negotiation", true); pref("security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_128_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_256_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.ecdhe_ecdsa_aes_128_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.ecdhe_rsa_aes_128_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.rsa_aes_128_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.rsa_aes_256_sha", false); pref("security.ssl3.rsa_des_ede3_sha", false); pref("services.blocklist.addons.collection", ""); pref("services.blocklist.gfx.collection", ""); pref("services.blocklist.onecrl.collection", ""); pref("services.blocklist.plugins.collection", ""); pref("signon.rememberSignons", false); pref("svg.disabled", true); pref("toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled", false); pref("urlclassifier.trackingTable", "test-track-simple,base-track-digest256,content-track-digest256"); pref("xpinstall.signatures.required", false); // matching default value: pref("browser.stopReloadAnimation.enabled", true); pref("clipboard.autocopy", false); pref("dom.ipc.processCount.extension", 1); pref("dom.ipc.processCount.file", 1); pref("dom.presentation.controller.enabled", false); pref("dom.presentation.discoverable", false); pref("dom.presentation.discovery.enabled", false); pref("dom.presentation.enabled", false); pref("dom.presentation.receiver.enabled", false); pref("dom.presentation.session_transport.data_channel.enable", false); pref("extensions.webextensions.remote", true); pref("media.mediasource.webm.enabled", false); pref("media.wmf.amd.vp9.enabled", true); pref("network.cookie.lifetime.days", 90); pref("network.cookie.lifetimePolicy", 0); pref("network.dnsCacheEntries", 400); pref("network.dnsCacheExpiration", 60); pref("network.http.fast-fallback-to-IPv4", true); pref("offline-apps.quota.warn", 51200); pref("privacy.cpd.downloads", true); pref("privacy.trackingprotection.lower_network_priority", false); pref("privacy.trackingprotection.pbmode.enabled", true); ```

[earthlng]

Sure why not, it's easy to implement.

[earthlng]

Note: we should also update the troubleshooting wiki page with link to the video (is that going to stay there forever?) and script

Absolutely. You're the wiki wizard - what are you waiting for? :smile: "is that going to stay there forever" - IDK but probably not

// hidden, future-proofing and whatnot: // these three are problematic

I agree. It's possible that they require a restart but regardless of that ...

• font.system.whitelist - people messing with this should also know where to look in case of breakage
• permissions.memory_only - I don't think this can cause any site breakage
• security.nocertdb - shouldn't cause breakage but more importantly I don't want to mess with this if someone decides to use it

// non-default: I agree with most of it except for these:

• gfx.direct2d.disabled probably restart required and is risky because it used to be in combination with the other HW-accel pref
• javascript.options.baselinejit + javascript.options.ion very unlikely to cause breakage - performance impact only and not messing with this because people using this, explicitly don't want the potential risks
• privacy.userContext.enabled - risky and shouldn't cause any breakage anyway
• signon.rememberSignons - can't cause breakage because if someone set it to false they won't have any passwords stored
• urlclassifier.trackingTable - blocking tracking stuff shouldn't cause breakage
• media.mediasource.* stuff - probably needs more than 1 pref cleared to un-break something.
• reader.parse-on-load.enabled - impossible to break something
• media.ogg.flac.enabled - relies on media.ogg.enabled
• media.wmf.vp9.enabled + media.wmf.amd.vp9.enabled - rely on media.wmf.enabled

[earthlng]

I'll add these: 'dom.event.contextmenu.enabled' 'dom.indexedDB.enabled' 'dom.storage.enabled' 'dom.vr.enabled' 'media.flac.enabled' 'media.mp4.enabled' 'media.ogg.enabled' 'media.opus.enabled' 'media.raw.enabled' 'media.wave.enabled' 'media.webm.enabled' 'media.wmf.enabled' 'plugin.state.flash' 'security.ssl.require_safe_negotiation' 'security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_128_sha' 'security.ssl3.dhe_rsa_aes_256_sha' 'security.ssl3.ecdhe_ecdsa_aes_128_sha' 'security.ssl3.ecdhe_rsa_aes_128_sha' 'security.ssl3.rsa_aes_128_sha' 'security.ssl3.rsa_aes_256_sha' 'security.ssl3.rsa_des_ede3_sha' 'svg.disabled'

and remove these: 'media.getusermedia.screensharing.allowed_domains', // webrtc, right? 'media.getusermedia.screensharing.enabled', // webrtc, right? 'permissions.manager.defaultsUrl', // only affects addons.mozilla.org and only in a minor way

ran it in my ESR with these changes and with the new code that reduces the list to non-default values and it detects 66 prefs. Damn sooo close! what else can we get rid of?? :smile:

[earthlng]

yeah fuck altsvc + vibrator. thx :smile: how about webchannel.allowObject.urlWhitelist that's some shit that only a few mozilla domains are allowed to use anyway. and the 3 dom.push.* also rely on each other.

[earthlng]

I say remove it from the list

removed. https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js/commit/d1ab8fd10cec818c3def5dbe06b114fcb17c654f

[earthlng]

we haven't looked at the hidden and default ones from the active list. Still have that file I sent you?

[crssi]

FYI: I have 'dom.event.contextmenu.enabled' 'dom.serviceWorkers.enabled' set to false and Outlook, maps, street view works flawlessly. IDK for twitter, since I am not using it.

[crssi]

But I had breakage when 'security.mixed_content.block_active_content' was set to true. Same goes for 'security.mixed_content.block_display_content'.

[crssi]

OMG... wrong copy paste 2 posts back.

I meant 'dom.serviceWorkers.enabled' instead of 'dom.event.contextmenu.enabled'. Edited that post now.

[earthlng]

new version is up. It can now somewhat narrow down on more than 1 troublemaker. To help with that I reorganized the list and created groups. It's now also better when the problem is fixed more often during the test runs and therefore the list is ordered from most to least likely culprits.

removed from the list:

• accessibility.force_disabled - restart required
• camera.control.face_detection.enabled - is not used anymore [1], not even in ESR [2], and pref was removed in 59 [3]

[1] https://dxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-release/search?q=face_detection [2] https://dxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-esr52/search?q=face_detection [3] Bug 1416703 - Part 7: Remove some dead prefs in all.js

[earthlng]

• full-screen-api.enabled - this should be a no-brainer to identify, without needing the script, no?
• intl.accept_languages' - do we really need this? we can keep it but then we should probably move it near RFP (+ same for wifi.uri)
• network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly - this shouldn't cause any problems or only after a restart, right?

[earthlng]

I wondered why you had it back to front

I explained why, here

network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly makes all 3rd party cookies session only ie they get deleted when you close FF. This pref can't break sites at all, I'll remove it from the list.

[earthlng]

why you would want fixes over failures

because it makes a difference when we try to narrow down on more than 1 culprit.

Lets say there are 100 detected prefs. For the first test the 1st 50 prefs are reset to their default values. If the problem re-appears now, we only know for sure that at least ONE problematic pref is within the 2nd half. While looking for a single culprit the script will now set the array to the 2nd half and continue the halfing. But to find all culprits the script can only narrow down the list whenever the problem does not happen, because only then can it be sure that all problematic prefs are within the group that just got reset for this testrun.

[earthlng]

network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly - apparently sessionOnly can mess with service workers. FFS!

https://github.com/ghacksuserjs/ghacks-user.js/issues/326#issuecomment-357291615

let's just keep it for now.

[earthlng]

https://anonfile.com/faq - "How long will my files be online?"

[earthlng]

A lot could be written about it but I think we can keep it relatively short.

Before you go on to the laborious task of manual troubleshooting we recommend to try the script first. In many cases it should be able to either directly identify the culprit or at least narrow it down to a more manageable number of prefs for the manual troubleshooting. You can just run the script and follow the instructions but we strongly recommend to watch the demo video first.

edit:

put the scratchpad section before the manual section

yes