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# Basilisk: A Firefox Fork For The Classic Looks and Classic Extensions
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/basilisk-browser/
- Published: 2020-03-09T19:07:11.000Z
- Updated: 2020-03-09T19:07:14.000Z
- Author: Ankush Das
- Tags: Applications, #Import 2022-12-26 08:27

***Brief: Basilisk is a Firefox fork that supports legacy extensions and much more. Here, we take a look at its features and try it out.***

## Basilisk: Open Source XUL-Based Web Browser

Even though it is better to stick with the regular web browsers like Firefox or Chromium available for Linux – it doesn’t hurt to know about other browsers. Recently, I stumbled upon a Firefox fork, [Basilisk](https://www.basilisk-browser.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) web browser that features the classic Firefox user interface along with legacy add-ons support (just like [Waterfox](https://itsfoss.com/waterfox-browser/)).

![Basilisk Itsfoss](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/03/basilisk-itsfoss.jpg)

itsfoss.com homepage on Basilisk

If you are in the dire need of using a legacy extensions or miss the classic look and feel of Firefox, the Basilisk web browser can save your day. The web browser is being maintained by the team behind [Pale Moon](https://www.palemoon.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) browser (which is another Firefox fork I will be looking at next).

If you’re looking for open-source [Chrome alternatives](https://itsfoss.com/open-source-browsers-linux/), you may have a quick look at what Basilisk offers.

**Note:** *Basilisk is a development software. Even though I didn’t have any major usability issues for the time I used, you should not rely on it as the only browser to use.*

## Features of Basilisk web browser

![Basilisk Options 1](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/03/basilisk-options-1.jpg)

Basilisk works out of the box. However, here are some features you might want to take a look before considering to use it:

- [XUL](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Archive/Mozilla/XUL?ref=itsfoss.com)\-based web browser
- It features the ‘Australis’ Firefox interface, which was quite popular back in the time of v29 – v56 Firefox version.
- [NPAPI](https://wiki.mozilla.org/NPAPI?ref=itsfoss.com) plugins supported (Flash, Unity, Java, etc.)
- Support for XUL/Overlay Mozilla-style extensions.
- Uses [Goanna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goanna%5F%28software%29?ref=itsfoss.com) open-source browser engine which is a fork of Mozilla’s [Gecko](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Gecko?ref=itsfoss.com)
- Does not use Rust or the Photon user interface
- Supports 64-bit systems only

## Installing Basilisk on Linux

You may not find it listed in your Software Center. So, you will have to head to its official [download page](https://www.basilisk-browser.org/download.shtml?ref=itsfoss.com) to get the tarball (tar.xz) file.

Once you download it, simply extract it and head inside the folders. Next, you will find a “**Basilisk**” executable file in it. You need to simply run it by double-clicking on it or performing a right-click and selecting “**Run**“.

You may check out its [GitHub page](https://github.com/MoonchildProductions/Basilisk?ref=itsfoss.com) for more information.

![Basilisk Folder 1](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/03/basilisk-folder-1.jpg)

You can also use the terminal and run the file by following the steps below while navigating to the directory you downloaded it to:

```
cd basilisk-latest.linux64
cd basilisk
./basilisk
```

[Download Basilisk](https://www.basilisk-browser.org/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## Using Basilisk browser 

![Basilisk Browser 1](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/03/basilisk-browser-1.jpg)

Basilisk is a decent Firefox fork if you want the legacy extensions support. It is being actively developed by the team behind Pale Moon and is potentially a great option for users who want the classic look and feel of Mozilla’s Firefox (before the Quantum update) without comprising on the modern web support.

I didn’t have any issues with browsing webpages. However, I did notice that “**YouTube**” detects this as an obsolete browser and warns that it will stop supporting it soon enough. 

***So, I’m not sure if Basilisk will be a fit for every web service out there – but if you really need the archived legacy extensions that you used on Firefox’s older releases, this could be a solution for your problem.***

**Wrapping Up**

Do you think a Firefox fork is worth trying out? What do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments below.