Also supported by the European Commission’s continuous stance on the matter interoperability between platforms from different manufacturers and the provisions contained in the DMA (Digital Markets Act), Mozilla has decided to make the technical challenges it faces in integrating the browser Firefox on Apple, Google and Microsoft platforms.
Platform Tilt is a web page containing the limitations imposed by iOS, macOS, Android and Windows which directly impact the functioning of Firefox. Mozilla developers, in most cases, consider the limits set from a technical point of view to be an unacceptable restriction on the freedom of action that should instead be guaranteed to alternative products. Like Firefox.
iOS and macOS don’t mix well with Firefox
Mozilla has raised several issues related to iOS and macOS. According to Apple App Store guidelines, all browsers must use the framework WebKit. This prevents Firefox from using its rendering engine, Gecko, on iOS. Mozilla asks Apple to update the guidelines to allow the use of third party engines.
Multiprocess architecture and JIT compiler
Safari on iOS uses amultiprocess architecture not accessible to third-party apps. Mozilla requires a mechanism to effectively create and communicate with isolated child processes, so that Firefox can be placed on equal footing with Apple’s browser.
Furthermore, according to Mozilla developers, browser processes can use writable memory regions (and have the ability to execute code directly there) to ensure a high-performance JavaScript/WebAssembly engine. iOS does not allow the creation of such regions, limiting the performance of the JavaScript engine. In short, for Firefox, Mozilla hopes for the introduction of JIT support (Just-In-Time).
Accessibility, browsing history and extensions
Among other issues, Firefox project leaders dispute iOS documentation on Accessibility API: Incomplete, makes it difficult for third-party browsers to support web accessibility standards. Additionally, Safari on iOS allows viewing of links received in the apps of messaging, but third-party browsers do not have access to this data. Here too, an API would be needed to implement similar functionality.
Still, third-party browsers on iOS cannot access browsing data as chronology, bookmarks and cookies. Mozilla suggests implementing a feature import data with the user’s consent. In this regard, Mozilla reports that there is no feature on iOS that allows browser other than Safari to be set as predefined.
Apple should also open up the possibility for third-party programmers to enable password autofill and use Apple Pay; should also open up the use of extensions for the browser and allow easier access to the beta program.
Mozilla’s complaints against Android
Even on the platform Android, third-party browsers cannot access browsing data such as history, bookmarks and cookies. Mozilla suggests implementing a data import function similar to the one available on desktop.
Following a practice common to many operating systems, on Android some system features open resources using Chrome rather than the default browser.
Furthermore, according to Mozilla, the experience of research in Firefox su Android it would be inferior to Chrome in terms of amount of information displayed and quality of design.
Platform Tilt also points the finger at Windows
Despite Microsoft’s repeated interventions on the functionality that allows set the default browser in a Windows environment, changing the default navigation program is decidedly more complicated than on macOS and Android.
Furthermore, according to Mozilla, Microsoft continues to promote Edge as a recommended browser through various notifications. This would hinder the free choice of users, especially those who might be interested in using alternative software.
Some Windows features, such as the Start menu search box, Copilot, and the widget News and interests shown on the taskbar, they open destination URLs in Edge rather than your default browser. This, however, is already changing (at least here) because in compliance with the provisions of the European DMA, by March 6, 2024 Microsoft will allow you to uninstall Edge and modify Windows search by opening up third-party browsers.