Mozilla takes another stab at elusive multiprocess Firefox

Internet Explorer does it. Chrome does it too. Now Mozilla is trying -- again -- to make Firefox run multiple processes at the same time.

Firefox may offer a lot of competitive features in a tight browser marketplace, but one thing it lacks is the kind of sandboxed, multiprocess architecture under its hood that other browsers have had for years.

Changing to a multiprocess architecture for Firefox would result in numerous benefits, wrote Firefox engineer Bill McCloskey on Thursday, in the three key areas of performance, security, and stability. A multiprocess architecture splits various browser functions into multiple tasks on the computer, instead of bundling them all together as one process for the browser
.

Read more at: Mozilla takes another stab at elusive multiprocess Firefox | Business Tech - CNET News
 
Interesting news, I feel this was the last thing missing from Firefox. Since its main advantage lies in the plethora of extensions, a way to easily sandbox them is good news indeed.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 8.1 (x64)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
As a long time FF user I would really like to see that change. Should also be able to run more add-ons without slowing everything down but would probably make a larger memory footprint.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
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    16GB Kingston 3600
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    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
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    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
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    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
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    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
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    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
I have been using FF for quite a long time. The one thing that always bugged me was the start up time when you are using the Adblock+ extension. Some guy came up with a preloader extension that loads a bunch of the needed files into memory so it was much faster on startup even with the Adblock+ installed. A couple of revisions ago the preloader just quit working and I am back to the slow startup time. 8-10 seconds with the Adblock+ installed and just 2-3 seconds without it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro 32 bit and 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo and Dell
    CPU
    Intel i3
The first benefit that comes in mind about a multiprocess version is that by crashes due to plugins, it will only crash the respective plugin instance (tabs or window or just hidden plugin) and not the entire fleet of tabs that will ask for a major restore on launch.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
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    multiple resolutions
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    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
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    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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    That's basically it.
I have been using FF for quite a long time. The one thing that always bugged me was the start up time when you are using the Adblock+ extension. Some guy came up with a preloader extension that loads a bunch of the needed files into memory so it was much faster on startup even with the Adblock+ installed. A couple of revisions ago the preloader just quit working and I am back to the slow startup time. 8-10 seconds with the Adblock+ installed and just 2-3 seconds without it.
:ditto:
I wonder how that works... Chrome has an adblock too but it loads way faster. Must be that multiprocess initialization where it loads multiple instances simultaneously.

Simple look-and-see tests with exotic x64 versions below (they usually use more memory per process).

1.
chrome64.png
Chromium 33 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 100mb per tab + some adblock instances, load time faster than Firefox.

2.
ffox64.png
Pale Moon 24 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 280mb all-in-one process + adblock instance?, load time slow as usual.

Notice the number of threads per process, if you count all Chrome (Chromium here) threads they will exceed Firefox's (Pale Moon here). This will have an impact too depending how much the CPU will be used.

All in one seems to be limited indeed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
New or Restored

I have been using FF for quite a long time. The one thing that always bugged me was the start up time when you are using the Adblock+ extension. Some guy came up with a preloader extension that loads a bunch of the needed files into memory so it was much faster on startup even with the Adblock+ installed. A couple of revisions ago the preloader just quit working and I am back to the slow startup time. 8-10 seconds with the Adblock+ installed and just 2-3 seconds without it.
:ditto:
I wonder how that works... Chrome has an adblock too but it loads way faster. Must be that multiprocess initialization where it loads multiple instances simultaneously.

Simple look-and-see tests with exotic x64 versions below (they usually use more memory per process).

1.
Chromium 33 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 100mb per tab + some adblock instances, load time faster than Firefox.

2.
Pale Moon 24 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 280mb all-in-one process + adblock instance?, load time slow as usual.

Notice the number of threads per process, if you count all Chrome (Chromium here) threads they will exceed Firefox's (Pale Moon here). This will have an impact too depending how much the CPU will be used.

Is this happening with new sessions (clean) starts or previous sessions restores?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD6450
    Sound Card
    Realtek?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
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    Tower
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    Wired Optical
    Other Info
    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
I have been using FF for quite a long time. The one thing that always bugged me was the start up time when you are using the Adblock+ extension. Some guy came up with a preloader extension that loads a bunch of the needed files into memory so it was much faster on startup even with the Adblock+ installed. A couple of revisions ago the preloader just quit working and I am back to the slow startup time. 8-10 seconds with the Adblock+ installed and just 2-3 seconds without it.
:ditto:
I wonder how that works... Chrome has an adblock too but it loads way faster. Must be that multiprocess initialization where it loads multiple instances simultaneously.

Simple look-and-see tests with exotic x64 versions below (they usually use more memory per process).

1.
Chromium 33 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 100mb per tab + some adblock instances, load time faster than Firefox.

2.
Pale Moon 24 x64, 4 tabs open
Memory footprint... about 280mb all-in-one process + adblock instance?, load time slow as usual.

Notice the number of threads per process, if you count all Chrome (Chromium here) threads they will exceed Firefox's (Pale Moon here). This will have an impact too depending how much the CPU will be used.

Is this happening with new sessions (clean) starts or previous sessions restores?

New sessions, clean starts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
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