1424315 - Expose browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick via API

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(WebExtensions :: Frontend, enhancement, P5)

Description

[Mike Conca [:mconca]]

Add a browserSetting API to expose the about:config pref browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick.  This allows middle click (or CTRL+click) to open new tabs.  Note that this bug was branched from bug 1421447.

Recommended for discussion in design decision meeting.

Comment 1

[Caitlin Neiman [:caitmuenster]]

Hi Mike, let's talk about this during the February 20, 2018 WebExtensions APIs triage! All who are interested in this bug are welcome to join. 

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect at the triage: 

* We normally spend 5 minutes per bug
* The more information in the bug, the better
* The goal of the triage is to give a general thumbs up or thumbs down on a proposal; we won't be going deep into implementation details

Relevant Links: 

* Wiki for the meeting: https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions/Triage#Next_Meeting
* Meeting agenda: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-edU5RRFo2TupsOW400AcTOj8yyQnXd0F7uSsqkEzck/edit#
* Vision doc for WebExtensions: https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions/Vision

Comment 2

[Mike Conca [:mconca]]

Hi Caitlin, I'll be there with bells on!

Comment 3

[Mike Conca [:mconca]]

Luke, I wanted to see if you still had a need for this pref to be exposed via the WebExtensions API.  Even though containers found a workaround, do you still see a use case for this?  Also, any idea who might own (or understand) this pref on the engineering side?  I'd like to get input on the stability and supportability of the pref (i.e. is it going to be around for a while).

Comment 4

[Luke Crouch [:groovecoder]]

I don't have any new info beyond our original Container need, sorry.

Comment 5

[Mike Conca [:mconca]]

Closing this as WONTFIX, design-decision-denied. In a vacuum, there is no objection to exposing this pref via an API, but no viable use cases have presented themselves at this time. It doesn't make sense to increase our development, test and maintenance burden until viable market demand exists.