webdriver.FirefoxProfile(): Is it possible to use a profile without making a copy of it?

Solution 1:

As per the current implementation of GeckoDriver with Firefox using the FirefoxProfile() works as follows :

• If case of initiating a Browsing Session through a new Firefox Profile as follows :

  from selenium import webdriver
  
  myprofile = webdriver.FirefoxProfile()
  driver = webdriver.Firefox(firefox_profile=myprofile, executable_path=r'C:\Utility\BrowserDrivers\geckodriver.exe')
  driver.get('https://www.google.co.in')
  print("Page Title is : %s" %driver.title)
  driver.quit()
  

• A new rust_mozprofile gets created on the run as follows :

  1521446301607   mozrunner::runner   INFO    Running command: "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" "-marionette" "-profile" "C:\\Users\\ATECHM~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofile.xFayqKkZrOB8"
  

• Of-coarse on a successful closure (i.e. successful invocation of driver.quit()) the temporary rust_mozprofile.xFayqKkZrOB8 gets deleted/destroyed completely.

• Again in case of initiating a Browsing Session through an existing Firefox Profile() as follows :

  from selenium import webdriver
  
  myprofile = webdriver.FirefoxProfile(r'C:\Users\AtechM_03\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\moskcpdq.SeleniumTest')
  driver = webdriver.Firefox(firefox_profile=myprofile, executable_path=r'C:\Utility\BrowserDrivers\geckodriver.exe')
  driver.get('https://www.google.co.in')
  print("Page Title is : %s" %driver.title)
  driver.quit()
  

• Similarly a new rust_mozprofile gets created on the run as follows :

  1521447102321   mozrunner::runner   INFO    Running command: "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" "-marionette" "-profile" "C:\\Users\\ATECHM~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\rust_mozprofile.2oSwrQwQoby9"
  

• Similarly in this case as well on a successful closure (i.e. successful invocation of driver.quit()) the temporary rust_mozprofile.2oSwrQwQoby9 gets deleted/destroyed completely.

• So the timespan you are observing is the time needed for a FirefoxProfile() to scoop out a new rust_mozprofile.

Perhaps as per your question timespan for profile to copy (something like >30 minutes) is a pure overhead. So it won't be possible to use a Firefox Profile without making a copy of rust_mozprofile.

Solution

• Upgrade Selenium Client to current levels Version 3.11.0.
• Upgrade GeckoDriver to current GeckoDriver v0.20.0 level.
• Upgrade Firefox version to Firefox Quantum v59.0.1 levels.
• Clean your Project Workspace through your IDE and Rebuild your project with required dependencies only.
• Use CCleaner tool to wipe off all the OS chores before and after the execution of your test Suite.
• If your base Firefox base version is too old, then uninstall it through Revo Uninstaller and install a recent GA and released version of Firefox Quantum.
• Execute your @Test.