Firefox 147 Delivers Long-Awaited Linux Standardization With XDG Support

Mozilla has released Firefox 147, marking a milestone for Linux desktop users with the browser's long-awaited implementation of the XDG Base Directory Specification. This update resolves Bug 387464, originally filed in 2003, which requested proper adherence to Linux desktop standards for storing user data.

The XDG Base Directory Specification defines standardized locations for application files within Linux environments:

• Configuration files ($XDG_CONFIG_HOME)
• Cached data ($XDG_CACHE_HOME)
• User-specific data ($XDG_DATA_HOME)

Prior to Firefox 147, all user data consolidated in ~/.mozilla, creating several issues:

1. Cluttered home directories with hidden folders
2. Backup complications due to mixed data types
3. Permission conflicts with restricted directories
4. Inconsistency with Linux desktop conventions

Technical testing confirms Firefox 147 now correctly utilizes these environment variables on mainstream Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch. The change aligns Firefox with applications like LibreOffice and GIMP that adopted XDG standards years earlier.

Beyond Linux improvements, Firefox 147 introduces significant cross-platform enhancements:

• Full WebGPU activation across all macOS configurations (specification)
• Zero-copy video decoding enabled for AMD GPUs on Windows/Linux (Radeon RX 5000 series and newer)
• Safe Browsing v5 protocol reducing network data usage by 40% during threat checks
• Automatic Picture-in-Picture activation when video playback moves to background
• RFC 9842 Compression Dictionaries support improving HTTP efficiency

Market analysis indicates these changes strengthen Firefox's position in three key areas:

1. Linux Developer Adoption: Standardized paths simplify containerized development workflows
2. Privacy-Conscious Users: Reduced fingerprinting surface through cache/file location normalization
3. Performance-Sensitive Workloads: AMD GPU optimizations benefit video editors and WebGL developers

The Linux desktop standardization arrives amid growing browser competition, with Firefox's global desktop share holding steady at 6.3% according to StatCounter. Mozilla's implementation delay highlights the complexity of maintaining cross-platform consistency while addressing platform-specific requirements.

Firefox 147 binaries are available for download directly from Mozilla.org, with package manager updates rolling out to distributions throughout the week. Detailed developer documentation is accessible via Mozilla Developer Network.