With the death of Google Browser Sync upon the release of Firefox 3, I went on a quest to find a replacement. I’d tried Foxmarks, but all it does is bookmarks, and I really didn’t like it. Browser Sync had let me coordinate not only bookmarks between multiple machines, but also cookies, saved passwords, and even open tabs. Enter Mozilla Weave.
Weave is a product of Mozilla Labs and is strictly experimental stuff. Even so, it’s exactly what I was looking for, and is in active development. Each release brings with it exciting new features.
However, since it, by default, relies on Mozilla servers to save browser information, the load on those servers determines how well it works, or if it even works at all. The program uses basic DAV to access the servers, and there is a configuration setting where the server address can be changed, so you can actually use any server that supports DAV access. There is a nice post in the Mozilla support forums that describes how to set up your own server, and there is more information in the Weave FAQ. I already had DAV working on my own server, so switching Weave to use it instead was a piece of cake. Now, syncs work every single time and are lightning fast, plus I don’t have to worry about the security of my information.
Since Mozilla is worried about stressing their servers too much, they’ve closed registration to new Weave users. However, if you use a different server, you can still get in on the fun. Set up your own server, or check out the forums for some free alternatives. Download the extension directly from here.
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