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Bug 2060542 - Update Experimenter docs for Firefox Labs on Android #837

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freshstrangemusic merged 1 commit into from
Aug 17, 2026
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Bug 2060542 - Update Experimenter docs for Firefox Labs on Android #837

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100 changes: 76 additions & 24 deletions docs/workflow/firefox-labs.mdx
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,14 +4,17 @@ title: Firefox Labs
slug: /workflow/firefox-labs
---

import Tabs from "@theme/Tabs";
import TabItem from "@theme/TabItem";

# Firefox Labs

:::tip
Have questions about Firefox Labs?
Reach out in [`#firefox-labs`](https://mozilla.slack.com/archives/firefox-labs) or [`#ask-experimenter`](https://mozilla.slack.com/archives/CF94YGE03) on Slack.
:::

Firefox Labs is part of the [Nimbus platform](/) and is available on Nightly, Beta, and Release. It is a delivery mechanism that allows product development teams at Mozilla to expose feature opt-ins via a user-friendly interface in **Settings > Firefox Labs** (`about:preferences#experimental`).
Firefox Labs is part of the [Nimbus platform](/) and is available on Nightly, Beta, and Release. It is a delivery mechanism that allows product development teams at Mozilla to expose feature opt-ins via a user-friendly interface in **Settings > Firefox Labs** (`about:preferences#experimental` on Desktop, or **Three-dot menu > Settings > Firefox Labs** on Android).

Firefox Labs gives product development teams in Firefox an opportunity to:

Expand All @@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ Firefox Labs gives product development teams in Firefox an opportunity to:

## Is Firefox Labs right for what I'm building?

Labs is integrated into Nimbus (**Desktop-only** for now). In the product lifecycle, Labs fits into the Incubation/Early Stage phase: if a product team is developing a new feature, Labs can serve as the first stage of product development through Nimbus.
Labs is integrated into Nimbus on **Firefox Desktop** and **Firefox for Android**. In the product lifecycle, Labs fits into the Incubation/Early Stage phase: if a product team is developing a new feature, Labs can serve as the first stage of product development through Nimbus.

However, Labs is **not built** to gather statistically significant insights like other Nimbus experiments do. Instead, Labs is built to:

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -94,17 +97,42 @@ Join a Labs experience kick-off meeting coordinated via **#firefox-labs**. Consi
### 6. Set things up for the Nimbus team
Comment thread
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- **Add your feature to the Nimbus feature manifest.** You can frontload this entry with placeholders if the feature work isn't complete. See [Feature Definition](/technical-reference/feature-definition) for details.
- **Land Fluent ID strings** for the title and description of the feature in [`features.ftl`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/locales/en-US/toolkit/firefoxlabs/features.ftl). ([Example bug](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1950407))
- **(Optional)** If you wish to add a Connect post link placeholder such as hyperlinked "Share feedback" text in the description, include an `<a>` with no `href` in the string.
- **Land the actual implementation** of the prototype.
- **Land the title and description strings** for the feature (per platform, below):


<Tabs
groupId="labs-platform"
defaultValue="desktop"
values={[
{ label: "Firefox Desktop", value: "desktop" },
{ label: "Firefox for Android", value: "android" },
]
}>
<TabItem value="desktop">

- Add a title and description Fluent resource to [`features.ftl`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/locales/en-US/toolkit/firefoxlabs/features.ftl) ([example bug](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1950407)).

- **(Optional)** If you wish to add a Connect post link placeholder, such as a hyperlinked "Share feedback" text in the description, include an `<a>` with no `href` in the string. ([Example](https://searchfox.org/firefox-main/rev/ef112631e252adf60d44b980d46da56718f576f8/toolkit/locales/en-US/toolkit/firefoxlabs/features.ftl#114)) (See [Description Links (JSON)](#configure-the-branches-section) below for how it is connected.)

</TabItem>

<TabItem value="android">

- Add a title and description Android string resource to [`strings.xml`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/mobile/android/fenix/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml) ([example bug](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2059535)).

- **(Optional)** If you wish to add a Connect post, the link text is fixed to "Share feedback". The Connect URL itself is set in Experimenter. (See [Feedback Link](#configure-the-branches-section) below for how it is connected.)

</TabItem>
</Tabs>

### 7. Self-test QA (strongly encouraged)

Please self-test QA your feature at the UX level. If you plan to share the Labs experience with multiple locales, please arrange for l10n.

### 8. Set up a Connect feedback post (optional)

Want to add a direct link to your Connect feedback post from Labs? Draft the post and coordinate in **#firefox-labs** to keep it hidden until your planned Labs launch. Make sure the strings you land in-tree include a link, even if it's a placeholder for now.
Want to add a direct link to your Connect feedback post from Labs? Draft the post and coordinate in **#firefox-labs** to keep it hidden until your planned Labs launch. On Desktop, make sure the strings you land in-tree include a link placeholder.

### 9. Configure the rollout on Experimenter

Expand All @@ -119,30 +147,54 @@ Want to add a direct link to your Connect feedback post from Labs? Draft the pos

6. **Check the "Is this a Firefox Labs rollout?" checkbox** on the Branches page. This will reveal several additional fields:

- **Title (Fluent ID)** *(required)* — The Fluent ID for your feature's title in Labs (e.g., the ID you landed in `features.ftl`). Firefox resolves this to localized text in `about:preferences#experimental`.
- **Description (Fluent ID)** *(required)* — The Fluent ID for your feature's description.
- **Description Links (JSON)** *(optional)* — A JSON object that maps link names to URLs, enabling clickable links inside your description. For example, if your Fluent description string contains `<a data-l10n-name="connect-link">Share feedback</a>`, provide:
```json
{
"connect-link": "https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/your-post/..."
}
```
All values must be HTTP(S) URLs.
- **Firefox Labs Group** *(required)* — Which section your feature appears under in Labs. Available groups:
<Tabs
groupId="labs-platform"
defaultValue="desktop"
values={[
{ label: "Firefox Desktop", value: "desktop" },
{ label: "Firefox for Android", value: "android" },
]
}>
<TabItem value="desktop">

- **Title (Fluent ID)** *(required)* — The Fluent ID for your feature's title in Labs e.g., the ID you landed in [`features.ftl`](https://searchfox.org/firefox-main/source/toolkit/locales/en-US/toolkit/firefoxlabs/features.ftl) ([example](https://searchfox.org/firefox-main/rev/ef112631e252adf60d44b980d46da56718f576f8/toolkit/locales/en-US/toolkit/firefoxlabs/features.ftl#97)). This text will be resolved to localized text in `about:preferences#experimental` on Desktop.
- **Description (Fluent ID)** *(required)* — The Fluent ID for your feature's description.
- **Description Links (JSON)** *(optional)* — A JSON object that maps link names to URLs, enabling clickable links inside your description. For example, if your Fluent description string contains `<a data-l10n-name="connect-link">Share feedback</a>`, provide:
```json
{
"connect-link": "https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/your-post/..."
}
```
All values must be HTTP(S) URLs.
- **Firefox Labs Group** *(required)* — Which section your feature appears under in Labs. Available groups on Desktop:

| Group | Minimum Firefox Version |
| :--- | :--- |
| Customize Browsing | 137 |
| Webpage Display | 137 |
| Developer Tools | 137 |
| Productivity | 143 |

New groups can be added, but they must ride the release trains — a new group won't be available on Release until the version it was added in reaches Release.

- **Requires restart** *(optional)* — Check this if the feature requires a Firefox restart to take effect after the user opts in.


</TabItem>
<TabItem value="android">

| Group | Minimum Firefox Version |
| :--- | :--- |
| Customize Browsing | 137 |
| Webpage Display | 137 |
| Developer Tools | 137 |
| Productivity | 143 |

New groups can be added, but they must ride the release trains — a new group won't be available on Release until the version it was added in reaches Release.
- **Title (Resource ID)** *(required)* — The slug resource ID for your feature's title in Labs. e.g., the ID you landed in [`strings.xml`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/mobile/android/fenix/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml) ([example bug](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2059535)). This text will be resolved to localized text in **Firefox Labs** on Android.
- **Description (Resource ID)** *(required)* — The resource ID for your feature's description.
- **Feedback Link** *(optional)* — The link to Mozilla Connect for feedback. e.g., `https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/your-post/`. Will render "Share Feedback" on Android. All values must be HTTP(S) URLs.
- **Firefox Labs Group** *(not available)* — Not available on Android.
- **Requires restart** *(optional)* — Check this if the feature requires a Firefox restart to take effect after the user opts in.

- **Requires restart** *(optional)* — Check this if the feature requires a Firefox restart to take effect after the user opts in.
</TabItem>
</Tabs>

:::note
When you add your feature to the Nimbus feature manifest, you can pull in the latest changes immediately from `FeatureManifest.yaml`. However, automated Experimenter syncs with the latest Nightly updates [require approval](https://github.com/mozilla/experimenter/pull/12274) before features show up in the Experimenter feature config. Once approved, the change should be available within an hour.
When you add your feature to the Nimbus feature manifest, you can pull in the latest changes immediately from [`FeatureManifest.yaml`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/components/nimbus/FeatureManifest.yaml) (Firefox Desktop) or [`nimbus.fml.yaml`](https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/mobile/android/fenix/app/nimbus.fml.yaml) (Firefox for Android). However, automated Experimenter syncs with the latest Nightly updates [require approval](https://github.com/mozilla/experimenter/pull/12274) before features show up in the Experimenter feature config. Once approved, the change should be available within an hour.
:::

### 10. Launch
Expand Down
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