Firefox Electrolysis/56是否有类MATE替代？有无电解前设计的Firefox分支？
Great question—let’s break this down clearly, since Firefox’s switch to Electrolysis (e10s) in version 56 really upended the legacy add-on ecosystem for a lot of users who relied on powerful XUL/XPCOM extensions.
类似MATE/GNOME 3的对应关系
Absolutely, projects exist that fill this exact niche. Just like MATE preserved GNOME 2’s core experience when GNOME 3 shifted directions, these alternatives retain Firefox’s pre-e10s architecture specifically to maintain compatibility with the old plugin ecosystem.
持续维护的pre-electrolysis Firefox分支项目
Here are the most active and reliable options:
- Waterfox Classic: This is the closest match to what you’re looking for. It’s built directly from Firefox 56’s pre-e10s codebase, receives regular security patches, and fully supports legacy XUL/XPCOM extensions. Its entire purpose is to give users a no-compromise alternative to modern Firefox, keeping the plugin compatibility that e10s eliminated.
- Pale Moon: Forked from Firefox 52 ESR, Pale Moon never adopted the e10s architecture. It’s evolved its own extension ecosystem but still maintains compatibility with most old Firefox XUL extensions. The team releases frequent security updates and minor feature improvements, making it a popular choice in the pre-e10s community.
- SeaMonkey: An all-in-one suite combining a browser, email client, and IRC chat, SeaMonkey is based on legacy Firefox and Thunderbird code. It has never implemented e10s and continues to support traditional Firefox extensions. Updates are less frequent than the other two, but the project remains actively maintained.
关于插件生态的反对行动
Your frustration about the broken plugin ecosystem is totally valid, and these projects are exactly the "pushback" you’re thinking of. When Mozilla prioritized e10s performance over legacy extension support, many developers and users rallied to preserve the old architecture for those who couldn’t migrate critical tools to WebExtensions. These projects have active communities and ongoing development precisely to serve that unmet need.
内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者J. Doe
