I thought I should clear up a few things before Feed Filter has to be removed.
- Feed Filter can be downloaded and saved for later by right-clicking the install link and selecting “Save Link As”. The .xpi file you save can then be dragged into any Firefox window to install it later.
- Feed Filter will continue to run in your browser until Facebook makes changes to their site that cause it to stop being able to find what it needs on the page.
- On the Help tab of the Feed Filter Options window, there is a link to open the Help file that’s included with the add-on. Clicking that link will open a local copy of both the Help and FAQ pages from your hard drive — these are the same files that are on my web site, but they will remain installed on your computer until you uninstall Feed Filter.
- Feed Filter is a Firefox add-on written mainly in JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
- The source code for Feed Filter can be viewed by renaming the .xpi file to have a .zip extension, and then unzipping it. You’ll find all of the code, images, and other files in the zip file.
- After Feed Filter is installed in Firefox, the source code can also be viewed in this directory on your local hard drive:
C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[profile]\extensions\facebookfilter@chocolatesoftware.com
Or on a Mac, here:
[username]/Library/Firefox/Profiles/[profile]/extensions/facebookfilter@chocolatesoftware.com - Feed Filter is open source, and licensed by the Mozilla Public License, version 1.1.
- Information about how to make Firefox add-ons is available on Mozilla’s site.
- Although I appreciate the words of encouragement to follow this up with lawyers or the EFF, I’m sorry to say that for several reasons, I won’t be taking this matter any further.
- It’s been a lot of fun working on Feed Filter, and I’m sorry to see it go. Thanks everyone!
If you have any other specific questions, feel free to contact me.
Thanks!
Russell
so who is ready pick this project up and continue upgrading it as facebook changes? I think while feed filter has been great, its also important to continue the same level of support Russell has provided, Thanks btw. My scripting has become quite rusty, but if someone continues this, I’d be happy to promote and support new users
As much as I’ve loved using this filter, I have wondered what FB was thinking/doing about it… That said, I think it’s great that some of the users are looking to get together to see if FB really can stop us from using it.
I am not technically savy, so I’m not exactly sure what is about to happen. I have the current version of the filter installed, and I’ve saved the current version .xpi file to my computer. I gather that, at some point, FB will somehow disable the filter that is currently running on my browser. Have I saved the .xpi file so that I can then re-install it and use it again? Is that easy to do?
Thanks so much for such a great product, Russell. It has made using FB a pleasure rather than an annoyance!
I for one have loved having it and will miss it for sure. I can understand you not wanting to fight FB over this. So thank-you Russell for your time and assistance and God bless you on your future endeavors.
Democracy working…So America is the most democratic (or republican) country in the universe (err…World) And Facebook follow the path! I would love to live in such a democratic and free country.
Angela, in the past facebook has changed its code at times and that caused certain features of feed filter to not work properly until it was updated. Facebook will probably change again in the future and without Russell to update it, things such apps wont be hidden. That’s why I want someone with the knowledge of javascript, css and html to continue updating it
Thank you for your effort and imagination. I also wondered how long it would take FB to get around to shutting you down. Unfortunately they have become big enough to be able to afford to be uncooperative.
Re-installing feed filter 1.4.5 is only useful if u have formated your hard drive or want to put it on someone else’s computer while it still works. its a backup. the main use of having the xpi file is for someone to continue updating it when needed
Hi, thank you for making this. I understand that our legal system is a bit flawed when it comes to this sort of thing, so I completely agree with your decision to not take on the company when there isn’t really anything in it for you. Is there a way to get access to the source code so I can continue the work? Thanks!
I just want to say thanks for making this available. I loved it while it was here! :D I’ve saved the file in case I want to play around with it myself. I do think that FB will find someone who is offering this or something similar on a wholesale scale. They can’t do much against individuals updating it on their own, but of course that’s more work and not everyone has the inclination, talent or time.
But thanks again. I’ll be checking out your code! :D
Lynne
Just re-read the part of the article that explains how to get the source code. Thanks!
Ya this sucks man.. thanks for all of ur help u made face book so much better… its to bad that the face book lab rats are such little b*tches when it comes to this,…. only reaqons for shutting u down is because they wrent smart enough to come up with this idea on there own.. and u totaly out smarted them hell id ur idea copyrited so they clowns dont try and steal ur idea because being able to customize FB really is the best thing ever.. thanks for all ur hard work you put in to this
Well, they changed the feeds, looks like they were just waiting for you to concede before they pushed the update.
Gerald, facebook used to let you do everything I found the script useful for, IE putting game feeds on their own pages and giving me a normal feed where I can read my friends comments without having to click older posts 20 times just to see the last hour. but they did away with those options, for whatever reason, and are forcing us to see the feed they want us to see. They created the need for this application by getting rid of the options.
Oh well time to quit most of the games again so I can block them from the feed.
I never loved a tool as much as I loved this addon. I’m a very active gamer and all the features have been such a great help. You are amazing. Thank you for all you have offered us without even getting a cent..
(I suppose FB will implement what you have done in it’s paid members in the future. ) And for what? Just for implementing a click option and a delete and hide personalized feature? Their greed is something unheared of…
Thanks for all the work and time you’ve put into this Russell.
I will use it till it’s no longer usable.
I’m really sorry to hear this, Russell. Maybe this will be the impetus some of us need to leave facebook for good.
Good luck in your future endeavors.
This and many other changes FB have made in recent months are really making me wonder it is worth playing any of the games that they have on offer any more. They keep messing with the newsfeeds, both this (excellent software btw!) and the google chrome extension that does the same have been forcibly removed from websites, and the general stability and reliability of gaming on FB is really suffering from I don’t know what. FB HQ don’t seem to listen to any of the real users anymore and decisions are just made that most people don’t appreciate and dislike immensely. I think that I would struggle to leave completely because of the alternatives available and the connections that I have on FB, but I am starting to look.
Thanks Russell for all of your hard work and time. I wish you every success in the future!!!!
P.S.Its sad that they couldn’t ask for you to assist them in developing a more customisable FB news feed so that everyone could manage how they receive it. Another example that the corporate world doesn’t really have a clue and does not cater to its users.
Dear Russell,
I will always consider you a hero of mine! Your filter kicked ass, and it will be greatly missed. You made FB bearable. For all your hard work, I thank you. You rock!
Thank you for all of your hard work, Russell. Best wishes for the future.
I am sorry to see you go, your wonderful filter made the abysmal facebook “experience” bearable. Best wishes for the future. Thank you.
NOOOOOOOO!!! Your filter was the best thing since facebook! I agree with Alan…I wish I COULD code. I think those that can should form a line and start producing the filter one at a time until facebook concedes and fixes it themselves. The ads alone, I can live with (better without!) but forcing all those clicks to see what we want to see?
Hey, if Hackers can force security changes, why not program changes?
Your feed filter was wonderful and did make Face Book bearable for a while anyways. When Zynga leaves with their games, I’ll be with them as well. I have no use for FB’s strong arm tactics !