Mozilla's new Firefox Linux package for Ubuntu and Debian derivatives

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Mozilla is launching an official APT repository to provide its own Firefox .deb packages for Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, bypassing distro-maintained builds and Ubuntu’s controversial Snap packaging. Commenters welcome easier access to an up-to-date, “vanilla” Firefox with Mozilla’s build optimizations and better control over update behavior, while weighing it against existing options such as distro packages, Flatpak, and manual tarball installs. The move also raises broader questions about Snap’s usability, security update timing, and whether users should prefer Mozilla’s own channel or Debian’s ESR packaging.

Official APT Repo vs Existing Packages

  • New repo provides Mozilla-maintained .deb packages for Ubuntu/Debian derivatives, distinct from the long-standing community “Ubuntu Mozilla Team” PPA.
  • Some users of that PPA are unsure whether to switch; others argue the official repo is preferable and expect community PPAs may eventually stagnate.
  • The repo is positioned as giving quicker access to upstream releases, with Mozilla’s own build/optimization pipeline.

Escape from Snap and Other Packaging Formats

  • Many welcome this as a way to avoid the Ubuntu Firefox Snap and even fully purge snapd, which some report as unstable or slow.
  • Strong anti-snap sentiment: complaints about startup time, odd file dialogs, poor desktop integration, cluttered mounts/processes, and Canonical’s ecosystem lock-in.
  • Others say Snap has improved and handles Firefox updates smoothly, but this is disputed.
  • Flatpak, AppImage, and direct .tar.gz Mozilla builds are frequently mentioned as alternatives.

Update Behavior and Forced Restarts

  • Past distro .deb packages sometimes updated Firefox in-place, triggering “about:restartrequired” interruptions or crashes when opening new tabs.
    -Several comments note the tarball build uses Mozilla’s own updater, which stages updates and asks for restart without breaking current browsing.
  • New .deb packages reportedly use a “forkserver” approach to avoid mid-session breakage; users still need to restart to get the new version but can delay it.
  • Workarounds discussed: disabling unattended upgrades, blacklisting Firefox from auto-updates, or using Flatpak/Nix which swap versions on next launch.

ESR vs Latest Release

  • New repo appears focused on stable/latest Firefox, not ESR; ESR is currently provided by distros (e.g., Debian).
  • Debate over ESR benefits: some favor ESR for stability and fewer changes; others argue it delays security fixes and is mainly for locked-down enterprise environments.

Migration, Profiles, and Installation

  • Moving from Snap/other builds: copy the Firefox profile directory (paths differ for Snap) rather than manually redoing bookmarks/passwords.
  • Guide steps for adding the Mozilla repo are seen by some as more involved than a simple apt install, though others point out this is normal for third‑party repos.

Other Notes

  • Desire for official Linux/aarch64 builds (e.g., Asahi, ARM Chromebooks); current lack is noted as a limitation.
  • Some minor issues raised: KDE native file picker integration, repo mirroring problems, and past Mozilla blog posts about deplatforming affecting trust.