The structure of our code base aside and which parts have evolved from which technology or background left for what it is for the sake of simplicity, it should be made clear that:
- Our code base is massive. We have 15 million lines of code (give or take) spread out across a good handful of languages and as many disciplines. Handling such a code base as a whole and making it work harmoniously takes a lot of balance. Any significant change to the core can't be done on a whim as a result.
- Our code base creates an application that is exposed to the Internet constantly. This is a potentially extremely hostile environment and requires many safeguards - this complicates implementation of new features and enhancements.
- At the same time, the "Open Web" requires many things to be done on the browser side that should not be the task of a browser, but to which the current state of the Internet has evolved us.
All things considered it's great to have enough support that we can pull off with a handful of developers what a multi-million dollar company does.
But we aren't a multi-million dollar company. We are a band of people who have come together out of the desire to provide some sanity in this top-heavy internet ecosystem, and we aren't getting rich off of it, either. We adhere to principles and common sense where at all possible. You can fault us for that if you insist, but it won't change our approach.
I understand if you come from a different browser that has hit sore spots over and over, that you as a user can be very sensitive to changes that are dictated by the web and not as much free choice as a perfect world would allow. Please don't expect our browser to fit your workflow perfectly without change when you arrive or when we make necessary changes to keep pace with global developments. We all have to change.
So, all things considered in this light, it is understandable that users get upset when they get asked to make changes to their routine - or when something they have come to expect has visually changed. But please, if that is the case, have some understanding that we, as a development team, are doing the best we can.
I guess what I'm trying to get across is that it gets very exhausting for us to have to deal with a barrage of complaints that, in all honesty, is either out of our hands or trivial (and could potentially be solved with our customizability if people take the time to see what they can do, themselves, with the browser, before knocking on our door).
So I do hope that when our next milestone is published, we are spared more of that -- it will be the fruits of 8 months of very hard work by all involved to vastly improve the browser and above all find a new balance. As said, it won't be perfect, but we'll continue to work on improving it.