Preface

Welcome to Firefox Hacks, the book about the browser. Firefox is the web browser that upholds the highest principles of the World Wide Web. It supports and defines the Web as a good place to bea place where all people can freely and safely participate, without having to tip their hat to anyone. Those are fighting words.

The Firefox product is made by the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation and its legion of helpers. Firefox is open source software: software that is free and fully exposed to independent scrutiny. Firefox is a poster-child of the open source trend and the one of the first open source products that average computer users try. If you find yourself liking Firefox, then open source has worked for you.

Firefox is more than just a TV screen for the Web, though. It contains extra technical goodies of all kinds. Whether you're a crusty hacker, a bored web surfer, a contemporary designer, or a frustrated IT professional, Firefox has features to offer you that will make your life easier and more ornamented. Hacking Firefox to meet your needs is what this book is all about.