More than ten years ago, in a market dominated by iOS and Android, Mozilla Corporation laid the foundations for a project that’s quintessentially laudable. company, a open mobile operating system this will address the limitations of creating apps for a particular system.

We’re talking about Boot to Gecko, a proposal that was renamed ‘Firefox OS’ about a year after its development began. Andreas Gal, the firm’s director of research, described the operating system offerings presented in 2012 as “walled gardens,” that is, closed solutions.

Firefox OS is simple, fast and clear

The Firefox operating system was intended to make a difference from other options available in the market. yes ok used the linux kernelIts essence was to be web-based, as Android did; this was a feature that would make it open, light, fluid and give developers less headaches.

Just as a web page can run on any computer with the correct browser installed, applications should be able to run smoothly on all terminals using Firefox OS. Of course, it is not always necessary to have a connection to use the applications, because they will be available. offline Thanks to a feature called WebCache.

Overall, the development started to gain momentum and on February 21, 2013, the first version was released. The structure of Firefox OS is very simple. It was mainly integrated by the Gonk layer created by the Linux kernel; Gecko, responsible for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and Gaia for UI.

The idea was that, at least during the takeoff phase, the OS would reach smartphones aimed at markets like Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Poland, Spain, and Venezuela. Thus, Mozilla and Telefónica worked hand in hand to make Firefox OS a viable alternative for those markets that would later be expanded.

Our colleagues at Xataka Móvil had the opportunity to test ZTE Open, the first commercial terminal with this operating system. Low series on sale in Brazil. This is a team that, despite its humble features, has managed to port Firefox OS with some fluidity, launch apps quickly and optimize battery life to last for days.

The offer was great, but there were a few challenges ahead: keep conquering manufacturers, operators and developers. In parallel, Mozilla entered into an agreement with the Chinese manufacturer Spreadtrum Communications to make its own affordable smartphones, specifically terminals for about $ 25.

As Javier Pastor commented years ago, “the platform has made us optimistic, but its influence has gradually faded.” For most of its short life, Firefox OS hardware offerings they were quite discreetand it has never failed to live on in a high-end phone, a series dominated by Apple and Google.

And Mozilla was not trying to compete with them in the most expensive segment, after all, their idea was to support a simple and open ecosystem, but simple phones prevented us from exploring the true potential of this system. So is the lack of apps like WhatsApp that results in lag.

Maintaining the system in a world dominated by iOS and Android and without meeting the expected goals was a challenge. In 2016, the people responsible for the project announced. development had stalledand with that, it also ended the possibility of reaching Panasonic televisions, thanks to a sensible deal made earlier that year.

People who decided to give this project a chance, were left without updates and therefore new versions and functions in their terminals. The ecosystem was dying before it took action, with no response from the market and trading partners.

The operating system had a very short lifespan, but some of its components are still alive today. Gecko is the engine of the Firefox web browser., a software originating from 1997 and the famous Netscape. Other components are used in KaiOS, an alternative but closed operating system.

Interestingly, KaiOS is available on a large number of smartphones. With the support of Google, the operating system managed to surpass iOS in the Indian market, reaching a market share of more than 17% in this country. Yes, little remains of the clear philosophy that Mozilla aimed to promote at the beginning of the project.

Images: Mozilla

On Xataka: Freedom killed the Firefox operating system