[tor-bugs] #23888 [Obfuscation/Snowflake]: Creating a Snowflake WebExtension addon

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#23888: Creating a Snowflake WebExtension addon
-----------------------------------+---------------------------
 Reporter:  oarel                  |          Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement            |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Medium                 |      Milestone:
Component:  Obfuscation/Snowflake  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                 |     Resolution:
 Keywords:  ux-team                |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                         |         Points:
 Reviewer:                         |        Sponsor:  Sponsor19
-----------------------------------+---------------------------

Comment (by antonela):

 Hey, I hand-made some wireframes to explore some ideas around this web
 extension. With this web extension, users will have the option to
 enable/disable snowflake. You can see them here:

 https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/raw-
 attachment/ticket/23888/concept1.jpg
 https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/raw-
 attachment/ticket/23888/concept2.jpg

 If this extension is a `browserAction` kind of extension, we should
 approach a [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-
 ons/WebExtensions/user_interface/Browser_action, toolbar button with a
 popup]. If that is the case, also we should allow users to enable webRTC
 globally.

 [[Image(https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/raw-
 attachment/ticket/23888/00.png, 700px)]]
 [[Image(https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/raw-
 attachment/ticket/23888/01.png, 700px)]]

 If the extension will work as a `pageAction`, then we may consider to
 include the extension icon at the right side of the URL Bar. Also, we
 should prompt the site preference doorhanger to allow users to enable
 webRTC for that tab.

 [[Image(https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/raw-
 attachment/ticket/23888/00.01.png, 700px)]]

 In both scenarios, I think we can keep this idea raised in #27385 about to
 having the rotational motion on the snowflake when it is running.

 We could have Advanced Settings at the [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-
 US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/user_interface/Options_pages,
 Extension Options page]. There we can allow users to set some preferences
 about "how much of my bandwidth I want to give to snowflake" and another
 type of advanced network settings.

 ---------

 I think that showing the number of peers connected to the bridge is
 rewarding for the user who is enabling the bridge. I also know that it is
 not possible now, but we can keep this in mind for later.

 ---------

 I think the snowflake icon should work better at small sizes. If you like
 to have that icon idea, I'll give it another round of work to synthesize
 the lines when it works small.

 Next step for me is iterate over this mockups. Once we have defined how
 this extension will work, I'll create a prototype to see how the userflow
 works.

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/23888#comment:5>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online