FoxGate

macOS default-browser gate that asks which Firefox profile should open every link (Slack, Mail, etc.).

Finicky is not used here — it routes by rules and does not provide a reliable “always ask” picker.

How it works

1. FoxGate is set as your system default browser.
2. When any app opens an http/https URL, FoxGate shows a list of your Firefox profiles.
3. Choosing a profile launches Firefox with --profile <path> and the URL (no -no-remote, so an already-running profile can receive the link).

Profiles are discovered from Firefox’s Profile Groups database (the same friendly names as about:profiles / the profile selector, e.g. “Work”, “Original profile”). Falls back to profiles.ini if needed. Unused leftover folders like default / default-release are not listed.

Install

./scripts/build-app.sh

This compiles Foxgate.applescript, builds an .icns from logo.png, patches Info.plist so macOS treats the app as a browser, installs to ~/Applications/FoxGate.app, and registers it with Launch Services.

Optional install location:

INSTALL_DIR=/Applications ./scripts/build-app.sh

Setup

1. Open FoxGate once from ~/Applications (confirm Gatekeeper if prompted).

2. System Settings → Desktop & Dock → Default web browser → choose FoxGate.

3. If Finicky (or another router) was the default, replace it with this app.

4. Click a link in Slack, or run:

   open 'https://example.com'

Customize fallback names

If profile discovery fails entirely, the script falls back to names in fallbackProfiles near the top of Foxgate.applescript. Prefer renaming profiles in Firefox (about:profiles) so they show up correctly in FoxGate. Edit the fallback list and re-run ./scripts/build-app.sh only if needed.

Multi-profile notes

• Prefer starting profiles normally (about:profiles → Launch profile in new browser, or via FoxGate). Avoid starting secondary profiles with -no-remote if you want links handed off into those instances.
• FoxGate must stay the default browser for Slack/other apps to show the picker.
• Rebuild and reinstall after editing the AppleScript or logo.png.

Uninstall

1. Set the default browser back to Firefox (or another browser).
2. Delete ~/Applications/FoxGate.app (and any older Foxgate.app / Firefox Profile Picker.app if present).