Misplaced Pages

Swiftfox: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 12:39, 29 March 2007 editKilz (talk | contribs)1,368 edits Revert to non vandalised version of the article← Previous edit Revision as of 19:22, 29 March 2007 edit undoWidefox (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers107,071 edits This is a reasonable edit, which is unjustifiably being called vandalism. Please use the talk page before reverting.Next edit →
Line 14: Line 14:
}} }}
{{Firefox TOC}} {{Firefox TOC}}
'''Swiftfox''' is a freely downloadable, partially ] ] ]. Created by Jason Halme, it is a ] optimized ] of the ] ] for ]. To optimize for each of the supported ]s, separate specific builds are created. The current version of Firefox is available as well as the development versions, each having specific builds. Firefox ] and ] are fully compatible with Swiftfox. '''Swiftfox''' is a freely downloadable, ] ] ]. Swiftfox is a ] and settings optimized ] of the ] ] for ] made by Jason Halme. An optimized build is created for each of the supported ]s. The current version of Firefox is available as well as the development versions. Firefox ] and ] are fully compatible with Swiftfox.


== Optimization == == Optimization ==
Line 34: Line 34:
'''Increased Security''' '''Increased Security'''
*Better protection from buffer overflow attacks<ref name=fortify>{{cite web | url=http://www.redhat.com/magazine/009jul05/features/execshield/#checks | title=redhat.com | Limiting buffer overflows with ExecShield}}</ref> (Swiftfox 2.0 uses -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2; Firefox 2.0 uses gcc 3.x, which does not support this).<ref name=build20>Using url of ''about:buildconfig'' to check the details of the 2.0 builds</ref> *Better protection from buffer overflow attacks<ref name=fortify>{{cite web | url=http://www.redhat.com/magazine/009jul05/features/execshield/#checks | title=redhat.com | Limiting buffer overflows with ExecShield}}</ref> (Swiftfox 2.0 uses -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2; Firefox 2.0 uses gcc 3.x, which does not support this).<ref name=build20>Using url of ''about:buildconfig'' to check the details of the 2.0 builds</ref>
'''Removed or disabled features''' '''Reduced binary size'''
*] is not included.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://builder.com.com/5100-6375-5136890.html | title=Open Source Awards 2004: Pango}}</ref> This means that ] remain supported (see ]), but without certain extra features provided by ].<ref name=pangoexample>{{cite web | url=http://www.pango.org/ScriptGallery | title=Script Gallery - Pango }}</ref> *] is not included.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://builder.com.com/5100-6375-5136890.html | title=Open Source Awards 2004: Pango}}</ref> This means that ] remain supported (see ]), but without certain extra features provided by ].<ref name=pangoexample>{{cite web | url=http://www.pango.org/ScriptGallery | title=Script Gallery - Pango }}</ref>
⚫ *] ] lookups are disabled.<ref name=change15>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/releases/changelog | title=Swiftfox 1.5.0.7 changelog}}</ref><ref name=change20>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/mozilla_1_8_branch/changelog | title=Swiftfox 2.0pre changelog}}</ref>
'''Changed default preference values''' '''Changed default preference values'''
*] is enabled by default.<ref name=change15>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/releases/changelog | title=Swiftfox 1.5.0.7 changelog}}</ref><ref name=change20>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/mozilla_1_8_branch/changelog | title=Swiftfox 2.0pre changelog}}</ref> Note that ] provides a ] to adjust these settings. *] is enabled by default.<ref name=change15>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/releases/changelog | title=Swiftfox 1.5.0.7 changelog}}</ref><ref name=change20>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/mozilla_1_8_branch/changelog | title=Swiftfox 2.0pre changelog}}</ref> Note that ] provides a ] to adjust these settings.
⚫ *] ] lookups are disabled.<ref name=change15>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/releases/changelog | title=Swiftfox 1.5.0.7 changelog}}</ref><ref name=change20>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/builds/mozilla_1_8_branch/changelog | title=Swiftfox 2.0pre changelog}}</ref>
*For full details, see . *For full details, see .


==Speed== ==Speed==
⚫ {{Content}}
Swiftfox has been evaluated in the context of the fastest browsers.<ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref> It is central to evaluate the claim of Swiftfox being faster than Firefox,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} as implied by its name.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} No explicit claim of speed or speedup is made at the Swiftfox site, but simply that it is an "optimized build". Swiftfox has been evaluated in the context of the fastest browsers.<ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref> The name Swiftfox implies a faster browser than Firefox. No explicit claim of speed or speedup is made at the Swiftfox site, but simply that it is an "optimized build".


===Firefox speed=== ===Firefox speed===
⚫ Firefox has been criticised for slow startup compared with other browsers, a criticism confirmed by Firefox speed tests<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Mozilla-Firefox-Review-13677.shtml | title = Mozilla Firefox Review | work = Softpedia | accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref><ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>. A speed comparison of various Linux (and other) browsers has been done<ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>. In this 32bit only test (of pre- Firefox 2.0 versions), Firefox was slower than both ] and ]<ref name=benchgeneral><ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>.
⚫ {{Content}}
⚫ Firefox has been criticised for slow startup compared with other browsers, a criticism confirmed by Firefox speed tests<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Mozilla-Firefox-Review-13677.shtml | title = Mozilla Firefox Review | work = Softpedia | accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref><ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>. A speed comparison of various Linux (and other) browsers has been done<ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>. In this 32bit only test, Firefox was slower than both ] and ]<ref name=benchgeneral><ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref>.


===Swiftfox speed=== ===Swiftfox speed===
No definitive speed comparison has been reported, but an unspecified faster startup time together with a 1.7% webpage rendering speedup has been reported<ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>. The details of this test are a page rendering in 4.79 seconds for Firefox and 4.67 seconds for Swiftfox, both 32bit on 64bit system. There is a bigger speed advantage of Opera and Konqueror over Firefox<ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref><ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>, than Swiftfox over Firefox<ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>. There was no benchmarking on different processors, so builds optimized for different processors were not evaluated, nor discussed. No definitive speed comparison has been reported, but an unspecified faster startup time together with a 1.7% webpage rendering speedup has been reported <ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>. The details of this test are a page rendering in 4.79 seconds for Firefox and 4.67 seconds for Swiftfox, both 32bit on 64bit system. There is a bigger speed advantage of Opera and Konqueror over Firefox<ref name=benchgeneral>{{cite web | url=http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html | title=Browser speed comparisons}}</ref><ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>, than Swiftfox over Firefox<ref name=benchswift>{{cite web | url=http://www.apcstart.com/node/3097 | title=APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser| accessdate = 2006-10-30}}</ref>. There was no benchmarking on different processors, so builds optimized for different processors were not evaluated, nor discussed.


==Additional options== ==Additional options==
Line 63: Line 63:


== License == == License ==
⚫ Similar to Firefox, the Swiftfox source code is ], with the source code under ] except for parts relating to branding<ref name=license/>.
{{POV-section|Summary of factual problems and fixes|date = November 2006}}
⚫ Unlike Firefox, the Swiftfox binaries have a proprietary license<ref name=license>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/LICENSE | title=Swiftfox license}}</ref> which does not allow redistribution. According to the author, this is to prevent the possibility of any confusion with tainted versions (see the branding argument below). The name Swiftfox is trademarked by Jason Halme, and can not be used on any other 3rd party Firefox builds without his permission.
⚫ The Swiftfox source code is partially ], with some of the source code under ]. However, according to the Swiftfox license<ref name=license/>, parts of the code relating to branding are withheld.<br>
⚫ The binaries are distributed under the Swiftfox license<ref name=license>{{cite web | url=http://getswiftfox.com/LICENSE | title=Swiftfox license}}</ref>, which is proprietary. Unlike the ] that Firefox and the Swiftfox code distributed under, the Swiftfox license does not allow redistribution. According to the author, this is to prevent the possibility of any confusion with tainted versions. But Swiftfox is trademark Jason Halme, and could not be used on any other 3rd party Firefox or Swiftfox build or version without his permission.


==Branding: Swiftfox vs. Firefox== ==Branding of 3rd party Firefox builds==
⚫ All 3rd party Mozilla Firefox builds or versions must use the ]. Additionally, Mozilla uses trademark law to prevent 3rd party builds like Swiftfox and ] from using its name and logos<ref name=policy>{{cite web | url=http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/trademarks/policy.html | title=Mozilla trademark policy}}</ref>. The aim of this is to reduce confusion and increase brand recognition.
<!-- {{Content}} better? -->
⚫ Firefox and its code, which Swiftfox is based on, use the ]. Mozilla uses trademark law to prevent unauthorized 3rd party builds like Swiftfox and ] from using its name and/or logos<ref name=policy>{{cite web | url=http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/trademarks/policy.html | title=Mozilla trademark policy}}</ref>. The purpose of this revolves around reduced confusion and increased brand recognition. Swiftfox cannot use the Firefox branding in any way, nor any other Firefox derivative produced outside of Mozilla.


== Alternatives == == Alternatives ==
* Firefox source code is freely available for download, as are the Swiftfox changes. * Firefox source code and Swiftfox changes are freely available for download, allowing anyone to create their own build.


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 19:22, 29 March 2007

Swiftfox
Stable releaseBased on Firefox 2.0.0.3 / Mar 20, 2007
Preview release4.0.0 [±]
Operating systemLinux
TypeWeb browser
Licensebinaries: proprietary
source: MPL 1.1
Websitegetswiftfox.com
Related articles
Origins and lineage
Category

Swiftfox is a freely downloadable, open source graphical web browser. Swiftfox is a binary and settings optimized build of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for Linux made by Jason Halme. An optimized build is created for each of the supported microprocessor architectures. The current version of Firefox is available as well as the development versions. Firefox extensions and plugins are fully compatible with Swiftfox.

Optimization

Swiftfox is optimized using the following methods:

Binary code optimization

Increased Security

  • Better protection from buffer overflow attacks (Swiftfox 2.0 uses -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2; Firefox 2.0 uses gcc 3.x, which does not support this).

Reduced binary size

Changed default preference values

Speed

The relevance of particular information in (or previously in) this article or section is disputed. The information may have been removed or included by an editor as a result. Please see discussion on the talk page considering whether its inclusion is warranted.

Swiftfox has been evaluated in the context of the fastest browsers. The name Swiftfox implies a faster browser than Firefox. No explicit claim of speed or speedup is made at the Swiftfox site, but simply that it is an "optimized build".

Firefox speed

Firefox has been criticised for slow startup compared with other browsers, a criticism confirmed by Firefox speed tests. A speed comparison of various Linux (and other) browsers has been done. In this 32bit only test (of pre- Firefox 2.0 versions), Firefox was slower than both Opera and KonquerorCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page)..

Swiftfox speed

No definitive speed comparison has been reported, but an unspecified faster startup time together with a 1.7% webpage rendering speedup has been reported . The details of this test are a page rendering in 4.79 seconds for Firefox and 4.67 seconds for Swiftfox, both 32bit on 64bit system. There is a bigger speed advantage of Opera and Konqueror over Firefox, than Swiftfox over Firefox. There was no benchmarking on different processors, so builds optimized for different processors were not evaluated, nor discussed.

Additional options

Swiftfox contains the following Firefox plugins and extensions:

  • XForms extension is installed and enabled
  • libunixprintplugin.so plugin is installed

Downloads available

  • Current version of Firefox:
    • Builds for both both Intel and AMD processors - a different build is available for each processor type.
  • Development versions of Firefox:

License

Similar to Firefox, the Swiftfox source code is open source, with the source code under MPL 1.1 except for parts relating to branding. Unlike Firefox, the Swiftfox binaries have a proprietary license which does not allow redistribution. According to the author, this is to prevent the possibility of any confusion with tainted versions (see the branding argument below). The name Swiftfox is trademarked by Jason Halme, and can not be used on any other 3rd party Firefox builds without his permission.

Branding of 3rd party Firefox builds

All 3rd party Mozilla Firefox builds or versions must use the MPL 1.1. Additionally, Mozilla uses trademark law to prevent 3rd party builds like Swiftfox and IceWeasel from using its name and logos. The aim of this is to reduce confusion and increase brand recognition.

Alternatives

  • Firefox source code and Swiftfox changes are freely available for download, allowing anyone to create their own build.

References

  1. "Swiftfox Forum".
  2. ^ Using url of about:buildconfig to check the details of the 2.0 builds
  3. "Optimize Options - Using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC)".
  4. ^ "Swiftfox 2.0pre changelog".
  5. "Swiftfox Forum".
  6. "redhat.com". {{cite web}}: Text "Limiting buffer overflows with ExecShield" ignored (help)
  7. "Open Source Awards 2004: Pango".
  8. "Script Gallery - Pango".
  9. ^ "Swiftfox 1.5.0.7 changelog".
  10. ^ "APC Magazine: What's The Worlds Fastest Browser". Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  11. "Mozilla Firefox Review". Softpedia. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  12. ^ "Browser speed comparisons".
  13. ^ "Swiftfox license".
  14. "Mozilla trademark policy".

See also

External links

Categories: