This is required as per Firefox extension reviewers. Mail exchange:
========
Reviewer:
> Do I read the code correctly that you are executing remote JS by
> downloading/updating from
> https://raw.githubusercontent.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/master/filters/resources.txt
> and injecting scripts in contentscripts.js?
Me:
> Yes, resources.txt contains scriptlets or other resources used to:
>
> - Minimize potential page breakage (e.g. google-analytics.com/ga.js);
> - Defuse anti-blockers (e.g. bab-defuser.js);
> - Defuse anti-blockers or minimize page breakage through redirection
> (e.g. 2x2-transparent.png)
>
> This is not a new feature -- this is also part of the legacy version,
> and I consider this is a major feature of uBO. Given how fast things can
> change out there, this allows me to quickly push fixes when a new issue
> is reported for a site without having to go through a full update of the
> extension.
Reviewer:
> I am aware that this is not a new feature. I am unclear why it has been
> allowed in the past, since it violates our policy about remote code
> execution. I assume it was missed due to the fairly complex codebase.
>
> I can approve this version so you are not blocked on the migration, but
> eventually, you cannot use functionality that executes remote code.
> Since we're moving to a more automated review process, you will be able
> to ship new versions without being blocked on a human review.
Me:
> Do I understand correctly that extensions such as TamperMonkey or
> ViolentMonkey won't be allowed on AMO?
>
> Those extensions are even more permissive than uBO given a user can
> import scripts from any source, while with uBO only scriptlets which are
> part of the project are allowed.
Reviewer:
> The key difference between add-ons like Tampermonkey and uBO is that in
> Tampermonkey, users are making an active and conscious decision to
> download and execute that specific code. In uBO, the user did not
> initiate that download/execution, nor are they even aware of it
> happening.
Me:
> So users of TamperMonkey -- tech-savvy or not -- can download & inject
> countless 3rd-party user scripts from countless authors, have them
> update on their own automatically at regular interval with no user
> intervention.
>
> On the other hand, it's not acceptable for me, the author of the
> extension, who users implicitly trusted when installing the extension,
> who is completely controlling and vouching for the content of
> "resources.txt", to have this one 1st-party resource file[1] to be
> updated at regular interval with no user intervention.
>
> So anyways, what is expected from me at this point? Do I need to remove
> scriptlet injection and resource redirection features? Do I need to
> remove only the updating part of resources.txt?
>
> [1] key to core features of uBO (counter anti-blockers + page breakage
> mitigations) and possibly an important factor in installing the
> extension.
========
Now about this commit: the purpose of the code change here is to
prevent "resources.txt" -- which is part of the package -- from being
updated -- this applies only to the Firefox webext[-hybrid] version
of uBO.
* refactoring assets management code
* finalizing refactoring of assets management
* various code review of new assets management code
* fix#2281
* fix#1961
* fix#1293
* fix#1275
* fix update scheduler timing logic
* forward compatibility (to be removed once 1.11+ is widespread)
* more codereview; give admins ability to specify own assets.json
* "assetKey" is more accurate than "path"
* fix group count update when building dom incrementally
* reorganize content (order, added URLs, etc.)
* ability to customize updater through advanced settings
* better spinner icon
part of the package. The code here is to ensure a seamless transition from
local assets which have been converted to remote assets. The only side
effect to expect is that the selfie, if any, will be invalidated.
