Top APIs missing on Firefox for Android?

Hey Folks.

Our Engineering team just wrapped up a large effort to make add-ons on Android work, but we realize there is still plenty left to do.

Please let us know about your developer experience around our Android support. Is there something missing you need for development, an API or some functionality that exists on Desktop that you cannot live without on Android?

Please share any feedback in the comments section - we value your input!

Ed Sullivan

6 Likes

Hello Ed! :slight_smile:

The one I miss the most is the storage.sync - to synchronize addons data between desktop and Android.

When this is implemented, I can release my “Private Notes” and “Send note to device” addons to Android.

Plus my already released “Auto Highlight” would also start to synchronize highlights with desktop which would be nice to have!

6 Likes

Thank you for your input!!

2 Likes

To port my Cast Kodi extension to Android, I need the API menus / contextMenus. The extension sends video links to the Kodi media player. The user right-clicks on the link, then selects Cast to Kodi in context menu.

8 Likes

To port Container Tab Groups we are developing, contextualIdentities API is needed. As soon as it becomes available, we will develop an Android version.

1 Like

As a developer of two add-ons for organizing bookmarks, I would like to see the support of the Bookmarks API in Android. Especially Keep or Delete Bookmarks would work excellently on a smartphone in terms of user experience, as people are used to this concept from other popular apps. The user experience could be even more enhanced with swipe gestures for smartphone users, then it’s really the “Tinder way for organizing Firefox bookmarks”. :smiley: It would be a fun project to implement for Android.

4 Likes

Duly noted, @regseb!

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Thank you for the feedback, @metastable!

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Thank you for the feedback, @cadeyrn!!

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I confirm being able to use the contextMenu/menu API would be a real game changer. I maintain an addon allowing one to “clean up” links by removing any tracking code in it. Being able to long press a link and choose an action on it would be great!

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Not an API, but I would like to see more instructions on the page: Set up your computer and Android emulator or device.

Following the Android instructions to install the Android SDK Command-Line Tools for Linux misses a step or two. And took some googling to get it to work.

I found this: which helped me https://dev.to/mesaquen/android-sdk-command-line-tools-only-4g6e.

Glad to see Omnivore addon finally onboard. Thanks! :smiley:

Wish there was an alternative for
QuoteURLText2 extension (works for desktop).

Missing on Firefox Android:

  • storage.sync.
  • A way to create private tabs. On desktop we use windows.create({ incognito: true }), but there is no way to achieve a similar behavior on mobile.
  • openOptionsPage that actually works. When I tried, it opened a new tab moz-extension://…/options.html, but it was blank. Instead, I had to go to â‹® → Extensions → Extensions Manager → my extension → Settings.

I wanted all of these for my URI Splitter extension.

2 Likes

Bug 1795449 has been opened for this problem.

1 Like

glad to see ommivore addon finallon onboard, thanks :grinning: :grinning: wish there there was an alternative for quote was an altetnative for Quoteurlt exension works fos desktop

Thank you fohtthank you for your input!!ps://discourse.mozilla.org/guidelinesr your input//we are developing, contextualIdentities API is needed. As soon as it becomes available, we will As a developer of two add-ons for organizing bookmarks, I would like to see the support of the Bookmarks API in Android. Especially Keep or Delete Bookmarks 8 would work excellently on a smartphone in terms of user experience, as people are used to this concept from other popular apps. The user experience could be even more enhanced with swipe gestures for smartphone users, then it’s really the “Tinder way for organizing Firefox bookmarks”. :smiley: It would be a fun project to implement for Android.develop an Android version.

I confirm being able to use the contGlad to see Omnivore addon finally onboard. Thanks! :smiley:

Wish there was an alternative for
QuoteURLText2 extension (works for desktop).extMenu/menu API would be a real game changer. I maintain an addon allowing one to “clean up” links by removing any tracking code in it. Being able to long press a link and choose an action on it would be great!