[abound]

One can self-host the sync server. I do this and it works great across Android and a Linux desktop, including live showing which tabs are open.

[franky47]

What does the storage layer (database) contain? Clear-text, usable data, or encrypted randomness?

[abound]

Great question! I'd never actually checked, but opening up the SQLite database, it looks encrypted. I see a table `batch_upload_items` full of ciphertexts.

I'm running the old Python sync server for the time being.

[franky47]

It is indeed using end-to-end encryption: https://hacks.mozilla.org/2018/11/firefox-sync-privacy/

[the_third_wave]

Sync can be self-hosted but the equally necessary auth-service is centralised at Mozilla. This does not make sense from a technical perspective and is reason for me to not use Firefox sync. I used to run is predecessor and liked the services it provided so I'd like to run the whole current stack as well but alas.

[abound]

My understanding is that can be self-hosted as well, it's just slightly more annoying.