# Swiftweasel

> fork of Mozilla Firefox for Linux

**Wikidata**: [Q1013763](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1013763)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/swiftweasel

## Summary
Swiftweasel is a web browser designed specifically for the Linux operating system. It is a distinct fork of the Mozilla Firefox browser, built to function as a non-tangible executable component of a computer system. The software is distributed under the Mozilla Public License, version 1.1.

## Key Facts
- **Nature:** A fork of Mozilla Firefox.
- **Platform:** Runs exclusively on the Linux family of operating systems.
- **Primary Function:** Web browser.
- **License:** Distributed under the Mozilla Public License, version 1.1.
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted.
- **Official Website:** http://swiftweasel.tuxfamily.org/
- **Logo:** Available via Wikimedia Commons (Swiftweasel-3.png).
- **Wikidata Description:** "fork of Mozilla Firefox for Linux"
- **Database ID:** Pro-Linux.de App ID 11330.

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly is Swiftweasel?
A: Swiftweasel is a web browser that serves as a specialized fork of Mozilla Firefox. It is developed specifically for use on Linux operating systems.

### Q: Is Swiftweasel free to use?
A: Yes, the software is released under the Mozilla Public License, version 1.1, though it maintains a copyrighted status.

### Q: Where can Swiftweasel be run?
A: Swiftweasel is intended for the Linux platform, which is a family of Unix-like operating systems.

## Why It Matters
Swiftweasel represents a specific niche in the open-source software ecosystem: the optimization and repackaging of major browser platforms for specific operating systems. While mainstream browsers like Firefox aim for broad, cross-platform compatibility, Swiftweasel focuses exclusively on the Linux architecture. This specialization highlights the modular nature of open-source code, where the Mozilla Public License allows developers to branch (fork) a codebase to create tailored solutions.

The existence of Swiftweasel underscores the demand within the Linux community for native or optimized browsing tools that align closely with the system's kernel and user environment. By maintaining the core functionality of Firefox while targeting the Linux inception architecture, Swiftweasel serves as a documented example of software forking in action. Its recognition in multiple Wikipedia languages (Italian, Ukrainian, Chinese) and indexing in databases like Pro-Linux.de further solidify its role as a notable entry in the history of Linux web browsers.

## Notable For
- **Specific Targeting:** Being a distinct fork of Firefox tailored exclusively for Linux.
- **Licensing:** Utilizing the Mozilla Public License (version 1.1) to legally modify and distribute the Firefox codebase.
- **Digital Footprint:** Maintaining a dedicated logo and presence on Wikimedia Commons and specific Linux software databases.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Having recognized Wikipedia entries in Italian, Ukrainian, and Chinese.

## Body

### Classification and Nature
Swiftweasel is classified as **software**, specifically defined as a non-tangible executable component of a computer. It operates as a **web browser**. Its core identity is derived from being a **fork** of Mozilla Firefox, meaning it is an independent development path derived from the Firefox source code.

### Platform and Operation
The software is designed to function on **Linux**, a family of Unix-like operating systems originally inceptioned on September 17, 1991. Swiftweasel does not appear to be cross-platform in the same broad sense as its upstream parent (Firefox), as its description explicitly ties it to the Linux environment.

### Licensing and Legal Status
Swiftweasel is distributed under the **Mozilla Public License, version 1.1**. This license facilitates the creation of forks and derived works. Despite being open-source software under this license, the software is listed as having a **copyrighted** status.

### Online Presence and Identifiers
The project maintains a specific digital footprint through various identifiers and references:
- **Website:** The official online home is hosted by Tuxfamily at http://swiftweasel.tuxfamily.org/.
- **Visual Identity:** The project utilizes a specific logo file hosted on Wikimedia Commons (`Swiftweasel-3.png`).
- **Database Records:** It is indexed with a **Pro-Linux.de database application ID** of 11330 and holds a Freebase ID of `/m/02rmhrr`.
- **Wikipedia:** The entity has sitelinks to Wikipedia in three languages: Italian (it), Ukrainian (uk), and Chinese (zh).