this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2024
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Firefox

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I would like to be able to perform the following actions from outside the browser, for example from a script

''' Obtain a list of all tabs, and which URL is open Obtain a list of all firefox windows and which tab is in each and in what order Obtain a list of firefox running instances Actions on tabs Close a tab Open a new tab and enter URL move a tab in a window's tab order move a tab to another window mute/unmute a tab make a tab hidden or unhide pin/unpin a tab select/unselect a tab discard a tab reload a tab copy tab body or a specific xpath run a javascript cmdlet, (bookmarklet ? ) Run a function of a script in somethingmonkey bookmarks list all bookmarks folder and bookmarks move a bookmark to another folder delete a bookmark create a bookmark get/change position of a firefox window close a window/ open a new window list installed addons turn an addon on or off '''

I would love to be able to write script, from outside firefox, and do these actions

I have found about the remote debugger, but I can't figure out if it's only for debugging firefox on android via adb ? Or can I use that directly from a script ?

https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/devtools-user/about_colon_debugging/index.html#connecting-over-the-network

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox_OS/Remote_Control

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/CommandLineOptions

devtools.debugger.remote-enabled -start-debugger-server ?

Is any of this possible ?

thanks !

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

I think it would be much cleaner to make an addon that does this within the browser and exposes the functionality as a web API (or failing that, connects to a relay server locally). Then you can just use curl to send it commands.

You can look at how KDE Connect / Plasma Browser Integration does it, it does very similar things to integrate with Plasma like go to a tab via KRunner.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

Also I specifically want that from the console. The console is the universal tgat doesn't require using some particulat language, or even programming at all

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

How can a browser add on receive commands from command line or open a port ?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

They can't open a port, but they can connect to webservers (and similar things) on localhost.

There's also "native messaging", this might be a better choice if you go the addon route.