According to The How-To Geek, Mozilla is finally fixing a bug report that’s been open for 21 years about Firefox not following Linux’s XDG Base Directory specification. Bug 259356 was originally created in September 2004 and outlined how Firefox was ignoring the standard that directs applications to use common directories like ~/.config and ~/.cache. Instead, Firefox has been creating its own ~/.mozilla directory organized Mozilla’s way since its Linux debut. The fix will make Firefox installation files cleaner and more organized by adopting the XDG standard. This change is scheduled to arrive with Firefox 147, which is anticipated to launch in January 2026.
What took so long?
Twenty-one years is an eternity in software development. Like, we’re talking about a bug that predates YouTube, Twitter, and the first iPhone. The XDG Base Directory specification has been around since the early 2000s and is widely adopted across the Linux ecosystem. Basically, it’s the grown-up way to handle application data on Linux systems.
Here’s the thing: when applications follow XDG Base Directory specifications, they put configuration files in ~/.config, cache in ~/.cache, and data in ~/.local/share. This keeps your home directory from turning into a mess of hidden folders. Firefox’s stubborn insistence on doing things its own way meant Linux users had to learn two different ways to find and manage application files. Annoying, right?
Why this matters
For Linux power users, this is more than just cosmetic. When every application follows the same rules, backup scripts become simpler. System administration gets easier. And finding that one configuration file you need to tweak doesn’t require remembering each application’s unique organizational quirks.
Look at that original bug report – it’s been commented on by hundreds of people over the years. The community has been begging for this fix forever. And honestly, it’s kind of embarrassing that it took Mozilla this long to get around to what should be basic Linux compatibility.
The bigger picture
So why now? I can’t help but wonder if this is Mozilla trying to score some goodwill points while they’re busy adding AI features that many privacy-conscious Linux users absolutely don’t want. Firefox has always been the browser of choice for Linux folks who care about their digital rights, but lately it feels like they’re losing their way.
Don’t get me wrong – I’ll happily take a cleaner home directory. But fixing a 21-year-old organizational issue feels like rearranging deck chairs when there might be bigger icebergs ahead. Mozilla needs to remember why people choose Firefox in the first place, especially on Linux where users are notoriously opinionated about their software choices.
Still, better late than never. Come January 2026, my home directory will finally be a little less cluttered. And honestly, that’s a win worth celebrating, even if it took two decades to arrive.
