Next year marks the year that we'll see the final version of Google Chrome 4.0. On at least Windows and Linux this means a lot, it will be the first time that support for extensions is included. Can Firefox withstand the tide of Chrome?

Currently the Mac version of Chrome is lacking behind in several key areas: extensions support and managing bookmarks. Whether Google will release 4.0 with extensions support remains to be seen, but without it may not yet be up to a fight with Firefox on the Mac, it can however take on Safari.

But we're talking about Firefox as well. Currently it is seen as the world's most used browser (if counting version numbers and not the total of usage per browser). Some small fires have been reported in the past between Mozilla and Google, of which recently Asa Dotzler, a community manager at Mozilla, suggested to use Bing instead of Google due to privacy concerns. Some of the key developers behind Chrome, such as Ben Goodger, were key in the creation of Firefox (and in fact the UI and extensions support).

Why Chrome is getting stronger
So what does Chrome have that might threaten Firefox? Well, first of all it has a strong backing. It cannot be ignored that Google is big, the revenue they generate is a nice injection into Chrome. Chrome itself allows Google to be a portal, not just towards its search engine, but also its services (now and in the future).

Another big plus is that Chrome is new and fresh. Long ago Apple decided to create WebKit, based on KHTML and not on Gecko. Apple, and its core developers, believed that choosing KHTML and adapting it for their own purposes (and merging it back) would be more favorable. Especially since KHTML was much faster, smaller and easier to understand (due to the programming language and architecture). Chrome adopted WebKit as well, but added V8 as a separate JavaScript engine, as Google wanted to push effort in JavaScript powered web applications. Both WebKit and V8 surpass Gecko and TraceMonkey (Firefox' JavaScript engine). But it doesn't stop there, the security model, which involves sand boxing thanks to its multi-process architecture makes Chrome so unique, no other browser fully matches yet.

That is why I think the final and last major feature (next to bookmarks sync) to Chrome, which is extensions support might be the killer blow. Although Chrome's extensions may be limited due to the security model, the most popular one for Firefox to block ads has seen several incarnations already. Whether the more limited model will hamper adoption remains to be seen, at least the developer community seems very active. Chrome already surpassed Opera without extensions support, but if my guess is correct, their market share will be much, much higher once 4.0 launches.

Near future
Currently Firefox can be seen as following the footsteps of Chrome. It was only in 3.5 that, after much delay, private browsing was introduced, something Chrome, IE8 and Safari already had. With Chrome's support for extensions and making it clear that it too has a stricter security model also led to Firefox 3.6's adapting it's extensions' security. And of course TraceMonkey, it is less speedy than V8 and was mostly triggered by the existence of V8 (and Safari's Nitro). Just looking at the mock-ups for Firefox 4.0 (which partially were intended for 3.7 next year), and the per-process effort known as Electrolysis, Mozilla keeps being inspired by Chrome, instead of taking the lead.

While Firefox is currently at a safe distance from Chrome in usage, you shouldn't underestimate how quickly people can switch, especially when it's free and easy. And easy it is, Chrome can import almost anything from any browser. Of course it begs the question if this would be a good development. Mozilla is a more neutral and open party than Google, which knows tons about you through their search engine already, and is of course commercial of essence. Surely you can trust a company which has a mantra to do no evil? Another thing is the diversity of engines, Opera cannot do it alone to be another alternative to IE's Trident or Chrome and Safari's WebKit, they are just too small for that. Gecko may be harder to work with, but it's far from even being a bad rendering engine.

What Mozilla must do is drive releases, quickly, just like Google. Focus on features that matter and don't be afraid to bring new stuff in the game. For the time being the standard feature set of Chrome is very simple, much like its services (what is there is executed nicely). Perhaps integrate some essential extensions, such as Firebug, an ad blocker, or just hold a vote to fill it in. Abandon Thunderbird development (unless someone wants to work on it freely), ICC profile v4 support, put all effort on the new Firefox 4.0 looks, perhaps even abandon Firefox 3.7 development in favor of 4.0 (which must be released next year).

Mozilla can survive Google, Firefox can survive Chrome. Their paths are crossing right now, but that doesn't mean it needs to be. Of course the joined effort for an open web (against the IE lock-in) is the most import thing, but the casual Joe doesn't care, he wants features, and hopefully both can bring that on a reliable (security) and safe (privacy) way.