bobbyratliff

Creating structures that automate things people do every day.

Posts Tagged ‘extensions’

Free software Firefox extensions

As a follow up to my previous post about free software, I decided to look at another type of software: browser extensions. Ubuntu 10.04 has Firefox 3.6.18 on it, and I added some extensions to bring the browser’s features a little up to date. I wanted to see if these extensions that I use are under a free software compatible license. The majority of them were, but some took more hunting than others to confirm this.

  • Advertising Cookie Opt-out Apache License 2.0 (Google code)
  • CookieCuller Mozilla Public License (mozdev.org)
  • Download Statusbar This and CookieCuller stumped me until I looked at the legal notice at mozdev.org where it states “All code for each project hosted on the Site must be made available under the Mozilla Public License (MPL) unless otherwise noted on the project pages.”
  • Firebug From the extension home page, go to “Get Involved,” then to the page on google code. It uses the New BSD License.
  • FlashGot The only mention I could find is on the features page, where they say “Alternatively, since FlashGot is open source (GPL)…” This license could be more clearly stated.
  • GMarks Mozilla Public License version 1.1 (addons.mozilla.org)
  • Hide Menubar Mozilla Public License version 1.1 (addons.mozilla.org)
  • HTTPS-Everywhere GNU GPL version 2
  • New Tab JumpStart Mozilla Public License version 1.1 (Google code)
  • SQLite Manager Mozilla Public License version 1.1 (Google code)
  • Stop-or-Reload Button The developer’s home page is no longer active, but the extension’s page on addons.mozilla.org states the license as BSD license. In newer versions of Firefox, this extension is no longer needed because the functionality is built in.
  • Ubuntu Firefox Modifications

Extensions without a free license:

  • Personal Menu (can’t find any documentation on the license, though the source code is publicized here)
  • Resizeable Textarea Trying to visit the home page on this one locks up the Add-ons window. In newer versions of Firefox, this extension is no longer needed because the functionality is built in.

Free software on my computer

I am intrigued by Richard Stallman’s free software philosophy, and while I would not consider myself a free software fanatic, I wanted to see how much non-free software I have on my primary computer.

My primary computer is an HP Compaq dc7900. I’m running Ubuntu 10.04 LTS as my main operating system. Right now I have the following non-free software programs on it, and I think this is a representative list for many GNU/Linux enthusiasts:

  • Graphics driver
  • A few games (Sauerbraten, Urban Terror, Assault Cube)
  • Skype
  • Flash plugin
  • Microsoft fonts

These packages can be easily found by using “Virtual RMS” (ubuntu package vrms), which basically gives advice that Richard M Stallman would give if he looked at the list of software on my computer.

Web browser extensions

Then I thought I should examine the list of web browser extensions I use regularly to see if they are open source.

Chrome

Lately Chrome has been my main browser. I like Chrome’s default feature set, and I’ve only needed to add 3 extensions to it.

  • RSS Subscription Extension (by Google). I guess this really is by Google, because all the bug links on the extension info page link to crbug.com, which redirects to the chromium google code project. This doesn’t make clear which license is used.
  • Super Full Feeds for Google Reader. This extension is simple. As soon as you visit the developer website, you can see that the code license is GNU GPL v3
  • Yet Another Google Bookmarks Extension. This developer page does not make clear what license is used.