[tor-bugs] #10509 [Tor Launcher]: skip TOR_SKIP_LAUNCH=1 environment variable not honored

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#10509: skip TOR_SKIP_LAUNCH=1 environment variable not honored
--------------------------+-----------------------
 Reporter:  proper        |          Owner:  brade
     Type:  defect        |         Status:  new
 Priority:  major         |      Milestone:
Component:  Tor Launcher  |        Version:
 Keywords:                |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                |         Points:
--------------------------+-----------------------
 Even though the TOR_SKIP_LAUNCH=1 environment variable is set, TorLauncher
 still issues the following Tor control port commands.

 {{{
 GETCONF HTTPSProxy
 GETCONF Socks4Proxy
 GETCONF Socks5Proxy
 GETCONF ReachableAddress
 GETCONF UseBridges
 GETCONF Bridges
 }}}

 And more. (Some SETCONF if you change settings there.)

 This is a problem, because when there is deliberately no (or limited)
 access to Tor's control port (such as in a transparent proxy environment),
 then Tor Button -> Open Network Settings will lead to the following error.

 {{{
 Unable to retrieve Tor settings.

 Please ensure that Tor is running.
 }}}

 When the TOR_SKIP_LAUNCH=1 environment variable is set, please do not use
 any TorLauncher features. Or alternatively, could you add please another
 environment variable to turn these control port command off?

 Changing proxy settings is still useful in such environments (for example
 for configuration of arbitrary Tor SocksPorts (for stream isolation) or
 connecting to other (local) proxies such as proxies for circumventing Tor
 bans or the local i2p proxy).

 The new Tor Button (in TBB 3.x) -> Open Network Settings seems to change
 proxy settings in Tor's internal settings. On the other hand, the old Tor
 Button (in TBB 2.x) -> Open Network Settings changed Firefox's proxy
 settings.

 Whether changing Firefox's proxy settings is still supported or not might
 be another ticket? Seems like changing Firefox's proxy settings is not
 possible at the moment? Because when you go to Firefox -> Edit ->
 Preferences -> Advanced -> Network and add an extra http proxy, then Tor
 Button indicates, that it's disabled. (Tor Button is crossed out with a
 red cross and shows a "Tor disabled" tooltip when hoovering over it with
 the mouse.)

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/10509>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
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