this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2025
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If you are keen on personal privacy, you might have come across Brave Browser. Brave is a Chromium-based browser that promises to deliver privacy with built-in ad-blocking and content-blocking protection. It also offers several quality-of-life features and services, like a VPN and Tor access. I mean, it's even listed on the reputable PrivacyTools website. Why am I telling you to steer clear of this browser, then?

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[–] ripcord@lemmy.world -1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

We've already seen many other browsers stop development, like (...) LibreWolf, due to lack of resources.

Wait, what?

Two things:

  1. When did Librewolf stop development?

  2. On funding, they say in their FAQ:

If we don't need funding, we won't risk becoming dependent on it. And also: no donations means no expectations. This means that people working on LibreWolf are free to move on to other projects whenever they want.

Librewolf seems to very consciously not looking for "resources" from advertising or donations, or etc. The only resource they seem to want is motivation.

Which I think is one of the big issues with OSS projects - many are based around a very small number of people being motivated to work on something for free. And it dies if that stops.

I think that having expectations and funding to continue is important, like you say.

But I'm still confused about what you mean by the "resources" comment re: Librewolf.

[–] AbnormalHumanBeing@lemmy.abnormalbeings.space 0 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I can somewhat understand the overall criticism, because Librewolf - as far as my understanding goes - would be in trouble without the work being done on the code upstream.

Personally, I know that this does not exist (yet), and to some people that put privacy above everything else with a more libertarian slant, this might sound like the worst option imaginable, but my "dream" way to handle it within the current economic system would be:

Have an open source, FOSS base, web-engine and all, developed with public funds similar to public broadcasting in many countries (Bonus if carried by international organisations instead of just national. Think a UN institution like UNESCO or WHO, but focused on making the internet accessible neutrally and to all). On top of that code, projects that want to put privacy above all else could still feasibly built projects like LibreWolf (an even Brave), relying somewhat comfortably on secure fundamentals.

I know, sounds like a dream, which it is at this point. But every other solution within the current economic status quo I personally thin of, I see no chance of enshittification not always encroaching and creating crises, if not outright taking over.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world -1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

But that didn't answer my questions

[–] AbnormalHumanBeing@lemmy.abnormalbeings.space 0 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh, yes, it wasn't a direct answer, also, I'm not the person you answered to. Ultimately, my comment was more meant as an overall addition to the discussion, building on the idea of what a solution to:

Which I think is one of the big issues with OSS projects - many are based around a very small number of people being motivated to work on something for free. And it dies if that stops.

might be.

But as answers to your two points. #1 - I have no idea where they got that from, myself #2 - I think you answered that one yourself rather well, and I wanted to build on that one.

Sorry if that was confusing, my brain is also good at confusing myself at times, can't imagine how that is for others at times.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world -1 points 4 weeks ago

I missed you weren't the person I responded to. Thank you.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 0 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

When did Librewolf stop development?

https://github.com/arkenfox/user.js/issues/1906

"Hey all, I'm on the LibreWolf team, and it's true that since the departure of @fxbrit the project has taken a total nosedive when it comes to keeping up to date with Arkenfox and settings in general. We're still making releases, but settings did not get updated."

"As @threadpanic said, since fxbrit left we have been in a kind of "maintenance" mode in terms of settings. Mainly because we are really only three people left"

"LW since fxbrit left/died/who-knows has gone to shit - I worked with him behind the scenes to make the right choices and while he would do his own analysis, we always agreed, and his voice influenced them. Now they don't know what they are doing, and in fact have compromised security and make really stupid decisions. Same goes for all the other forks - really dubious shit going"

Which I think is one of the big issues with OSS projects - many are based around a very small number of people being motivated to work on something for free. And it dies if that stops.

Exactly.

But I'm still confused about what you mean by the "resources" comment re: Librewolf.

"Resources" can refer to many different things, in this case it is motivation/prioritization.

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world -1 points 4 weeks ago