Mozilla Brings Web Serial Workflows to Firefox, Collaborates With Adafruit (mozilla.org)
- Reference: 0183380624
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/05/24/209218/mozilla-brings-web-serial-workflows-to-firefox-collaborates-with-adafruit
- Source link: https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-web-serial-adafruit/
"Most folks won't use this API," [1]acknowledges Mozilla's blog , "but for our community of builders and tinkerers, it unlocks the ability to use Firefox to communicate directly with compatible hardware devices like microcontrollers, development boards, and other serial-connected devices..."
> With Firefox's browser engine, Gecko, now supporting Web Serial, users can now connect, code, configure, and control compatible hardware directly from the browser in many workflows, often without additional software or complicated setup...
>
> As part of this week's launch, Adafruit, one of the internet's most beloved open-source hardware communities, is collaborating with us to test and validate what browser-based hardware development can look like in Firefox with Web Serial support... With Web Serial support in Firefox 151, Adafruit's browser-based hardware workflows now work directly in Firefox as well, with no additional software or complicated setup required for many projects. We invite you to [2]give it a try ...
>
> We want the web to be open, flexible, and shaped by the diversity of people building on it. If you're wiring up your first board, experimenting with hardware projects, or dusting off an old electronics kit, give Adafruit and Web Serial in Firefox a try. Build something amazing. Make something useful. Tell us what works. Tell us what breaks. Most of all, make it your own.
Mozilla's " [3]Hacks" blog demonstrates with an Adafruit ESP32-S2 based board "where messages sent from web code can be directly displayed on the device over Web Serial."
And Mozilla engineer Alex Franchuk even [4]built a [5]handheld device that [6]changes a web page's CSS properties .
[1] https://blog.mozilla.org/en/firefox/firefox-web-serial-adafruit/
[2] https://adafruit.github.io/Adafruit_WebSerial_ESPTool/
[3] https://hacks.mozilla.org/2026/05/web-serial-support-in-firefox/
[4] https://github.com/fqueze/webserial-power-profiling
[5] https://adafruit-playground.com/u/afranchuk/pages/page-playground-using-webserial-in-firefox?embeds=allow
[6] https://youtu.be/eo0TGsV4XC8?t=104
This is great. (Score:4, Insightful)
I do love it when malware advert javascripts can upload random new firmware updates into my mouse and keyboard turning them into stealth keyloggers. This is great.
This feels like when Flash sandbox breaks became a thing, but worse. At least in those days we got smooth fullscreen vector animations and games to enjoy. I'd rather Flash had just been bloody fixed instead of browsers themselves becoming Shit Flash But Holy Cow It Runs Worse And Gets Worse.
Re: (Score:2)
> I do love it when malware advert javascripts can upload random new firmware updates into my mouse and keyboard turning them into stealth keyloggers. This is great.
so you're using a serial mouse in 2026 to browse porn? that's so "cool"!!
Re:This is great. (Score:4, Insightful)
All keyboards are serial. In fact, almost every keyboard ever is a giant parallel to serial convertor.
Re: (Score:2)
You'd get a popup to choose the port and grant permissions.
Have you ever flashed a Meshtastic or ESPHome device or updated firmware on a radio transceiver?
That's what they're talking about here.
Sounds peachy (Score:2)
It had better be disabled by default.
Re: (Score:2)
It requires permissions just like accessing a camera or microphone. Stop being paranoid.
Years ago... (Score:2)
...a way to freeze Internet explorer was by inserting a < img src=lpt1: > tag in the html code.
it's about firggin time (Score:2)
Sites like [1]https://serialterminal.com/ [serialterminal.com] will work in firefox. It was like pulling teeth to finally get brave to support this also. Now the only one left is safari.
[1] https://serialterminal.com/
Does it support token certificates? (Score:2)
Because it's the first thing that comes to my mind: much easier support for client-side digital document signatures using token certificates (like thumbdrive or smartcard devices) plugged in the client machine.
This has been a pain in both my previous and current job. Both provided SaaS products that worked with digitally-signed XML files. But when the client opted for using tokens/smartcards, we had no other choice than make the client install a client-side software to do it locally and send it back to the
This Is Great News (Score:5, Interesting)
Now I can dump Chrome in the trash where it belongs. Web Serial support was the sole reason I've kept it on my machines.Thank you Mozilla, thank you Adafruit!