Firefox/Projects/Async Places containers

Intro

Places containers currently use on-main-thread Storage APIs to get data from the Places database. This project will replace those calls with off-main-thread calls. Places containers include bookmark folders, history containers, tags, and bookmark and history searches and queries.

• Champion, lead: adw

Status

STALLED, GOING DOWN, PEOPLE SCREAMING

• bug 536893 for the folder node (bookmark folders) back-end landed.
• Next: bug 552025 cleans up deprecated APIs.
• After that: File a new bug for the query node (history containers, tags, searches, smart queries) back-end.

Goals

• The opening of bookmark folders, history containers, tags, history searches in the Library, and other Places container-related actions should not contribute to the blocking of Firefox's UI because they cause database lookups.

Non Goals

• Rewrite the Places query API or its implementation.

Milestones

• Complete the folder node (bookmark folders) back-end.
• Complete the query node (history containers, tags, searches, smart queries) back-end.
• Hook up the UI to the new APIs.

Testing

• Test Plan
• The back-end API changes can be tested through automated xpcshell tests.
• UI changes can be tested through automated browser-chrome tests. QA should be alerted to UI changes that may affect their testing, but their current tests should certainly catch regressions.
• QA:
  • We will keep our eye during regular release testing cycles for any regressions
  • Schedule a testday to vet this feature once it is landed