Browser extension developers are dissatisfied with Google and Mozilla

Recently, due to the imperfect appreciation of browser extensions, developer Armin expressed dissatisfaction with Google and Mozilla in a blog post, saying that they are not good enough to support developers.

Armin said that it is common for developers to sell their extensions, and the rewards they receive may significantly improve or even change their lives. “Purchase offers for browser extensions usually range between $0.1 and $0.3 per user, depending on factors such as the geographical distribution of users, and monetization offers are also frequent. Accepting such an offer may significantly improve one’s life, and it can be potentially life-changing. It feels like a just reward for all those years of free labor, and it’s uplifting for someone to value your work and propose to buy your project.”

He believes that browser vendors are currently failing to recognize the value of the workforce and fail to recognize the important role that this plays in a healthy browser ecosystem. Armin said “Mozilla has deprioritized the placement of the donation button during the redesign of Firefox Add-ons. The button was pushed below the fold, previously it was featured prominently near the install button. Requesting donations at the end of the install flow has also been deprecated. The Chrome Web Store and the Microsoft Store do not offer features for supporting extension developers.”

On the other hand, Amazon offers a monthly salary for developers of the more popular Alexa Skills, and Microsoft recently launched GitHub sponsorship. Armin believes that browser vendors must be aware that when developers feel valued and compensated by the communities they contribute, they are less likely to give up their projects and users. Amazon and Microsoft are good examples of these steps to pave the way for a more sustainable open source ecosystem.