Firefox Sync/Accounts Server

[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...

[subven]

As of now, Manifest v2 will no longer work unless you hack your Chromium-based browser into managed mode, which is very tedious.

I can host my own syncstorage-rs instance but I still belive it would be a nice and handy tool in addition to Cloudrons app portfolio.

Does it really not matter to anyone to own and protect their and others critical data, such as passwords, browsing history, and sessions? How do you guys handle that besides using the build in Firefox sync function?

[jdaviescoates]

@subven vaultwarden for passwords, Firefox Sync for tabs

[subven]

@jdaviescoates I also use Vaultwarden (thanks to Cloudron). Just saw that with Firefox Sync, you can control what to sync. I don't want Mozilla to save my sessions, passwords, or confidential data, but I don't care about bookmarks ^^ Maybe this could work.

[Neiluj]

I would find this helpful.
Currently, I am using Syncthing to sync Librewolf portable between devices. However I still encounter regular conflicts - Nothing major, but just some annoyances I could do without. My biggest pain in this setup is the heavy limitation for cross platforming.
And so Firefox Sync would alleviate these pain points however minor or major they are. So would be welcome.

[brerlapn]

@Neiluj If you're concerned about privacy issues using Firefox Sync, there's also https://github.com/xbrowsersync/api which was recommended to me by some friends when I was looking for a service I could self-host.

Clients are available at https://www.xbrowsersync.org/

[josephcosta]

@subven Hello, I use vaultwarden for passwords and floccus + nextcloud-bookmarks to sync my bookmarks on different browsers (floccus has an extension for all of them).

• https://floccus.org
• https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/bookmarks

[Neiluj]

@brerlapn @josephcosta Thanks for your suggestions - while I am aware of xbrowsersync / floccus, it does not quite fit what I am after and the gap that Firefox Sync Server would fill for me: Syncing browser parameters/extensions and session.
Hence my appreciation if ever Firefox Sync Server ever comes to Cloudron.