Firefox Sync/Accounts Server

[M-arcus]

Awesome Idea!

[nebulon]

From my perspective the main issue is the way to use the custom sync server on a firefox instance, which so far still involves setting urls in about:config which is very cumbersome.

[girish]

This was asked on reddit recently - https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/896uex/open_question_how_can_mozilla_improve_their/ . I think the auth is still tried to mozilla servers but I am not sure.

[jimcavoli]

@girish Looks like accounts is now able to be run self-hosted as well now: https://mozilla-services.readthedocs.io/en/latest/howtos/run-fxa.html

[yusf]

What's the difference between above and this? Regardless, this repo looks up to date and includes a Dockerfile for easier Cloudron inclusion.

[yusf]

https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/2159/firefox-auth-server-w-fcs-fss

[d19dotca]

Interesting read here with instructions: https://homegrowntechie.com/self-host-your-browser-data

[subven]

This would be a great addition to help ease the decision to move away from Chromium based browsers when they move to manifest v3 in january 2023.

[fbartels]

Unfortunately the current sync server is discontinued:

Note that this repository is no longer being maintained. Use this at your own risk, and with the understanding that it is not being maintained, work is being done on its replacement, and that no support or assistance will be offered.

Source https://github.com/mozilla-services/syncserver

The replacement is https://github.com/mozilla-services/syncstorage-rs, but skimming through the readme it seems deployment of it is coupled to the Google Cloud?

[subven]

@fbartels said in Firefox Sync/Accounts Server:

skimming through the readme it seems deployment of it is coupled to the Google Cloud

More detail on that.

[timconsidine]

@subven what's happening with Chromium browsers in v3 ?
Does it affect Brave Opera etc ?

[subven]

@timconsidine click my link from two posts above. AFAIK it affects all Chromium based browsers so Edge/Brave/Opera are affected as well.

[timconsidine]

@subven yes, I read but didn't fully understand.
Understand a bit more on 2nd read.
I use Librefox https://librewolf.net as my preferred browser

[subven]

Pushing this topic! Google (again) postponed the rollout of manifest V3 in Chrome (and therefore every other Chromium based browser). I hope/think with the introduction of manifest V3 there will be a big shift in browser market share towards Firefox. By the time of writing, Chrome (and Chromium based browsers like Edge/Opera etc.) has a combined market share of >70%! Having the opportunity to easily host your own sync server at Cloudron would convince more users to migrate to Firefox and I would really appreciate that.

[RazielKanos]

unfortunately, the fact is, most people use the browser that was preinstalled. They aren't concerned about their data security or anything, probably don't even understand the issues at all...