[tor-bugs] #14864 [Tor Launcher]: Add expert settings that let TorLauncher connect easily to a running tor instance

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#14864: Add expert settings that let TorLauncher connect easily to a running tor
instance
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 Reporter:  cypherpunks   |          Owner:  brade
     Type:  enhancement   |         Status:  new
 Priority:  normal        |      Milestone:
Component:  Tor Launcher  |        Version:
 Keywords:                |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                |         Points:
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 Now that Vidalia is officially deprecated, I would like to propose adding
 expert settings to TorLauncher that let it connect easily to a running tor
 instance instead of starting a separate one.
 I would strongly suggest GUI settings for
 extensions.torlauncher.start_tor=false, SocksPort, ControlPort and
 ControlPassword. Of course, it might be wise to add an "expert settings"
 warning.

 To clarify where I am coming from:
 I am using a system-wide tor instance (on Debian Wheezy 64bit) for TBB,
 torbirdy, and pidgin, among other clients.
 I have to disable TorLauncher in TBB to get it to use the system-wide tor
 instance.
 Doing that, I lose TorButton's "new identity" function, so right now I am
 using Vidalia to change the circuit when needed.
 I am taking a wild guess I am not the only one doing something like that.

 It would be much appreciated if there was an easy way to let TBB connect
 to a running tor instance without setting environment variables etc.
 (which never worked for me, anyway) and without losing the "new identity"
 feature.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14864>
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