Add-ons/Firefox57
< Add-ons
This document is to clarify on the myriad of choices for loading extensions in Firefox and what will happen in Firefox 57. There is a bug for this. This document expands it.
The main goal is prevent the running of legacy add-ons in Firefox Desktop and Android release. Update: All of the following apply to Android and Desktop.
Reference: list of add-on types
Compat. Table
This is what things will look like when Firefox 57 hits release.
| Type | Status | Nightly | Beta, Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| WebExtension | Signed by AMO | YES | YES |
| Signed by Mozilla internally | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned | YES with pref | NO | |
| Unsigned loaded temporarily | YES | YES | |
| Legacy Extension (bootstrapped, overlay, XUL etc) | Signed by AMO | YES with pref | NO |
| Signed by Mozilla internally | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned | YES with pref | NO | |
| Unsigned loaded temporarily | YES | NO | |
| WebExtension Experiment | Signed by AMO | YES | NO |
| Signed by Mozilla internally | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned | YES with pref | NO | |
| Unsigned loaded temporarily | YES | NO | |
| New style static theme | Signed by AMO | YES | YES |
| Signed by Mozilla internally | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned loaded temporarily | YES | YES | |
| Telemetry Experiments | Signed by AMO | YES | YES |
| Signed by Mozilla internally | YES | YES | |
| Unsigned | YES with pref | NO | |
| Unsigned loaded temporarily | YES | YES | |
| Legacy lightweight theme | Signed by AMO | YES | YES |
| Complete Themes | Any combination | NO | NO |
| Multiple item package | Any combination | NO | NO |
| Language Pack | Any combination | YES | YES |
| Dictionaries | Any combination | YES | YES |
Nightly leading up to Firefox 57
To assist with performance analysis leading up Firefox 57, in Nightly only we are turning off add-ons that require shims. For more information please see shims on nightly. The pref will default to false.
| Type | Status | Nightly | Beta, Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| WebExtension | YES | YES | |
| Legacy Extension (bootstrapped, overlay, XUL etc) | MPC=true | YES | YES |
| MPC=false | YES with pref | YES | |
| MPC not stated | YES with pref | YES |
An extension must pass both tests to run. Example:
- A XUL overlay extension that is signed by Mozilla and is MPC=false, *will not run* on nightly unless the user changes the pref.
- A XUL overlay extension this is signed by AMO and is MPC=true, *will run* on nightly.
- A WebExtension that is unsigned *will run* on nightly but not on release.
Notes
- Nightly will need to flip prefs
- For unsigned the appropriate signing pref must be flipped.
- For legacy add-ons the appropriate pref must be flipped.
- Both of these will default to false.
- AMO will stop signing legacy add-ons for version of Firefox greater than 57. Old signed add-ons will remain on servers and people's hard drives, so although AMO will stop signing them, we still need an explicit block in Firefox to prevent them loading.
- "Signed by Mozilla internally" refers to add-ons signed internally and might include Test Pilot, Shield and other add-ons.
- If we support loading unsigned temporarily, it’s assumed we load signed temporarily too.
Updates
- Removed Aurora from this chart.
- Added in the Nightly MPC=True changes.