Why is there no Firefox in Debian?

[Soul Singin']

OK everyone! Last time ...

This is the ONLY difference between Firefox and Iceweasel:




Iceweasel is WAY cooler!

Na-nah na-nah na-naah! Debian's got a cooler browser!


. .
.

[kr4ey]

Sorry this tells a different story.

Iceweasel



Firefox



Looks like Firefox wins hands down to me. These are two different browsers.

[AdrianTM]

You either have different settings or most likely the site detects the user string and serves a different page for "other" browsers.

[bugsbunny]

Nope - it's brain dead browser detection on the part of the site. If they were simply checking for a gecko-engined browser rather than parsing on the browser name they'd be fine. Change your User Agent string (in iceweasel) to firefox and you'll see that they render identically.

Here's the link if anyone wants to check out the difference.
http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

[kr4ey]

Thanks. Yes I see that now. But the debate still goes on. Iceweasel is not Firefox. Or should I say why should we have to change the user string in Iceweasel it should be the same as Firefox (at least look the same on some websites). So they are different.

[AdrianTM]

Why the life is unfair and why some people are stupid? (this is how your questions sound to me)

There's a clear explanation why they had to come with Iceweasel instead of Firefox -- that's explained pretty well in this thread and anywhere else were this issue is discussed, why ask again? What's not clear about it?

Second no, they are not the same they have different names and different icons, otherwise they are pretty much the same (save for some patches that Debian keeps the liberty to add)... so... why ask dumb questions? It was already explained why they can't be the "same", and it has already been explained that they are as alike as they can be, what remains unclear?

[kr4ey]

Yes I know all about the Iceweasel Firefox debate. I've been using Linux for more than 10 years. Just trying to be a little sarcastic

As long as this debate has been going it will never end anytime soon.

[AdrianTM]

I don't see any debate... Mozilla has some principles, Debian has some principles that's the solution that lets both follow their principles, what's the debate about?

[BioTube]

The real problem is that UAs are used to detect browsers deemed compatible, rather than those known not to be.

[kr4ey]

what's the debate about?

The title of this thread. Why is there a Iceweasel. There is a difference between the two. I could go on and on.

[AdrianTM]

what's the debate about?

The title of this thread. Why is there a Iceweasel. There is a difference between the two. I could go on and on.

Again, what's not clear, it has been clearly explained why there's Iceweasel and what are the differences...

[lancelot]

I prefer the firefox icon. I even took the pain to change it on my desktop (it's painful if you want to do it completely, doesn't work the standard way).

But I prefer konqueror anyway.

[Quantum]

I use konqueror, except when it can't handle the javascript on certain sites, so am forced to iceweasel.

[Frannie]

I've found, after nine days of using Debian 5, it's best to use the programmes supplied in Add/Remove as they are specially configured for easy installation.

Also, I've found that trying to install any Third Party Linux compatible software, is difficult on its own and usually needs a suitable command string inserting in root terminal.

[gomsb]

Here's another name for you to throw around:

I downloaded the source for firefox--which was all mozilla of course, and
built the binaries (on a powerpc), they run as "Bon Echo".

Whether it is the same as Iceweasel, or not, i have no idea.

[dbbolton]

The minor patches had nothing to do with the rebranding - the fact that the artwork violated DFSG meant that it couldn't be used and Mozilla refuses to allow use of the name without use of the artwork.

Then iceweasel is violating Mozilla's terms. You will notices that its process id still shows up as firefox-bin. I filed a bug (518569) on this a long time ago but it was ignored:

http://groups.google.com/group/linux.de ... 7bcb91fe80

[BioTube]

Mozilla's own unbranded versions run as 'firefox-bin'. Calling that infringement is like saying wodim's cdrecord symlink violates Schilling's rights.

[dbbolton]

Mozilla's own unbranded versions run as 'firefox-bin'. Calling that infringement is like saying wodim's cdrecord symlink violates Schilling's rights.

I don't get your analogy, and I guess unbranded versions are like Bon Echo. But what I really don't get is why it is all right for one arbitrary part of the program to keep the name "firefox" while other equally arbitrary parts (imho) like WM_CLASS, the binary, and so on must be renamed.

[Deja-Vu]

Firefox is open source, it's the logo thats the problem and thats why debian uses the iceweasel name. The other problem was mozilla wanted to have the debian code for all fixes and updates before debian implemented the code, was the way it was explained to me. My thoughts on the matter is if it's open source then anyone who desires to modify it should be allowed to as long as they stay within the gudelines of the GPL. As for the logo well the logo doesn't have any bearing on the way FF or iceweasel operates. (It's just an icon)

[tombom62]

I don't think it's the same. Firefox is better. In iceweasel, you need to click the tab then close it using the x that only comes up in the tab you're in. I got firefox from the ubuntu repos *Prepares bullet proof suit*