Firefox as free software

Mikas · 07-21-2008, 03:52 AM

Hello people,

I have read that mozilla firefox is totally free and open source. I have downloaded it and I'm very pleased.
However, I don't understand how it is possible that good software be free especially when there is user support? Who is paying for this?
I doubt there are good developers and programmers who use their spare time working for nothing in order to create free software.
Since there is no ads in firefox, I wonder how they finance it.

Thanks

**koala** · 07-21-2008, 05:12 AM

From http://www.webannoyances.com/firefox.html

Quote:

Why is Firefox free?

Because the Mozilla foundation, the makers of Firefox, are a non-profit organisation, funded by public donations, and by some of the biggest computer companies in the world, including AOL and IBM.

From http://techtalkblog.wordpress.com/20...ie-to-firefox/

Quote:

Why is Firefox free?

Firefox is an “open source” project. What this means is that anyone world-wide - me or you or anyone - can download the interworkings of the program (the "source code") and alter the browser to our liking. We can add our own features or get rid of the ones we don’t like, as long as we know the programming langauge that the browser was written in. Okay, so that excludes most of us, but still, you get the picture: you can do whatever you want with this browser. It is 100% free forever.

The open source concept is the reason Firefox is so secure - with a virtually limitless number of people avaliable to test the product for bugs and errors, more get weeded out.

Mikas · 07-22-2008, 03:46 AM

Thank you koala,
but it is very hard for me to understand that programmers made firefox in their spare time and that they even have support. Many people contribute it, but there must be group of people who coordinate that. They must be paid. Since it is free software I'd expect that income comes from advertising, but that's not the case.

Really strange...

**ssj4Gogeta** · 07-22-2008, 06:02 AM

They get a lot of money from google, which is set as the default search engine in firefox. Not only firefox, but there are other free open source softwares too, like the operating system Ubuntu (Linux based).

**Fox** · 07-22-2008, 06:09 AM

The Mozilla corporation (it is an actual company, after all) does have a paid development team. That's not to say that there isn't an active community that helps them in a big way, but the browser isn't 100% volunteer work even though it may seem that way because of the philosophy.

**ssj4Gogeta** · 07-22-2008, 06:37 AM

Mozilla Corporation is a for-profit branch of the non-profit Mozilla Foundation.

**Mack** · 08-02-2008, 06:13 PM

I personally like firefox as its tidy and has some nice addons. It's my default browser and I use it 99% of the time

However, the talk of activex being a vunrability confuses me because in internet explorer you have the option to install activex or not. So I don't see the problem or am I missing something?

Is all this talk of activex simply propaganda? A common aspect of internet is the fast spread of mis.. and disinformation. We read something and assume truth without proof. I'm not suggesting that that's the case here, however possible it might be.

For example, the above articles were without substance. Some mention of pop-up blocker being deficient in IE (My IE pop-up always worked) and activex which was "ActiveX isn’t inherently evil as it does have some good uses (Windows Update requires ActiveX, for example) - but it can become evil very quickly."

That was prity much the argument. So now we all walk away thinking Internet explorer is evil and can't block adds and Firefox is soo much safer for us and we better just run and get it.

Has anyone searched for vulnerabilities in Firefox?

Before you get too comfortable:-
http://secunia.com/advisories/19631/
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Ze...la-Scrambling/
http://dvlabs.tippingpoint.com/blog/...lla-firefox-30

Ok rant over sorry for bump but I am interested in this.

07-21-2008, 03:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mikas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14 OS: win Xp	Firefox as free software Hello people, I have read that mozilla firefox is totally free and open source. I have downloaded it and I'm very pleased. However, I don't understand how it is possible that good software be free especially when there is user support? Who is paying for this? I doubt there are good developers and programmers who use their spare time working for nothing in order to create free software. Since there is no ads in firefox, I wonder how they finance it. Thanks

07-22-2008, 03:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mikas Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 14 OS: win Xp	Re: Firefox as free software Thank you koala, but it is very hard for me to understand that programmers made firefox in their spare time and that they even have support. Many people contribute it, but there must be group of people who coordinate that. They must be paid. Since it is free software I'd expect that income comes from advertising, but that's not the case. Really strange...

07-22-2008, 06:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
ssj4Gogeta TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: India Posts: 851 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista My System	Re: Firefox as free software They get a lot of money from google, which is set as the default search engine in firefox. Not only firefox, but there are other free open source softwares too, like the operating system Ubuntu (Linux based).

07-22-2008, 06:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fox Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,730 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Firefox as free software The Mozilla corporation (it is an actual company, after all) does have a paid development team. That's not to say that there isn't an active community that helps them in a big way, but the browser isn't 100% volunteer work even though it may seem that way because of the philosophy. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

07-22-2008, 06:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
ssj4Gogeta TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: India Posts: 851 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista My System	Re: Firefox as free software Mozilla Corporation is a for-profit branch of the non-profit Mozilla Foundation.

08-02-2008, 06:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mack I Don't Know Yet.. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ireland Posts: 327 OS: Vista Home Premium sp1/Xp Pro sp3 My System	Re: Firefox as free software I personally like firefox as its tidy and has some nice addons. It's my default browser and I use it 99% of the time However, the talk of activex being a vunrability confuses me because in internet explorer you have the option to install activex or not. So I don't see the problem or am I missing something? Is all this talk of activex simply propaganda? A common aspect of internet is the fast spread of mis.. and disinformation. We read something and assume truth without proof. I'm not suggesting that that's the case here, however possible it might be. For example, the above articles were without substance. Some mention of pop-up blocker being deficient in IE (My IE pop-up always worked) and activex which was "ActiveX isn’t inherently evil as it does have some good uses (Windows Update requires ActiveX, for example) - but it can become evil very quickly." That was prity much the argument. So now we all walk away thinking Internet explorer is evil and can't block adds and Firefox is soo much safer for us and we better just run and get it. Has anyone searched for vulnerabilities in Firefox? Before you get too comfortable:- http://secunia.com/advisories/19631/ http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Ze...la-Scrambling/ http://dvlabs.tippingpoint.com/blog/...lla-firefox-30 Ok rant over sorry for bump but I am interested in this.