Download link url command is not working

[Mark-Eng]

The LinkHints.activateModeToDownloadLink command doesn't seem to be working on Firefox (it either does nothing or does the same as LinkHints.activateMode). Is this a case of a missing API, like the clipboard issue with FF?

[smblott-github]

All LinkHints.activateModeToDownloadLink does is simulate clicking the link while holding the <Alt> key.

What happens if you manually click the link while holding the Alt key?

[mrmr1993]

~~It's hitting the popup blocker.~~

Edit: It hits the popup blocker if alt-click downloads is enabled (via browser.altClickSave in about:config).

[Mark-Eng]

@smblott-github, to answer your question, nothing happens when I hold alt and click the link. I get the same behavior after disabling FF's built-in pop-up blocker and my ad-blocking add-ons.

[HunterretnuH]

I've got the same problem. I'm using Firefox 74.0 and after setting browser.altClickSave to True in about:config clicking on the link while holding Alt key works correctly. Using shortcut for LinkHints.activateModeToDownloadLink causes hints to appear but nothing happens after typing hint letters.

[innaterebel]

I think this command is currently broken on all platforms anyway. Requires confirming.

A workaround is to use the newly added LinkHints.activateMode action=focus to focus a link, then Alt+Enter.

[philc]

The command also doesn't currently work on Chrome on Mac.

To make this work, I think we need to add a new permission, downloads. See the PR #3543.

While we can add a new permission to make this command work, it adds some UX friction (all existing users will get prompted about it during the next update) and it makes the list of permissions that Vimium requires longer still.

Given this hasn't worked for a large portion of users (all users?) in years, and only a handful of people have mentioned it (this is the only issue referencing it, I'm considering removing the command.