Following the latest fad of rapidly rising version numbers, Mozilla plans to add more spice to the mix.

Quote:Mozilla, though, wants to make sure that version numbers are buried deep with its browser where only developers, enthusiasts, and sniffing code can call them up. Over on Bugzilla, the always outspoken Asa Dotzler has posted Bug 678775 to get the ball rolling. As Dotzler states, it’s just another step in a process that is already “well under way.”

The bug has sparked some rather intense discussion — more than you might expect for something as seemingly minor as hiding the version number on the About Firefox window. Functionally, the window is “about” letting you know whether or not an update is available and to download that update if one is available but hasn’t been pulled down automatically. While the version number is displayed, it’s certainly not a critical element. The proposed tweak would remove the number and instead display a line about when the last update was applied and whether or not your install is current.

But suppose you had to call for assistance with a critically important web app like online banking or webmail. Where would you turn to look up version information if the support analyst asked you to do so?  Firefox also offers the about:support page which provides much more detailed version information for troubleshooting purposes.

While that means you can still find the version number when you need to, it flies in the face of what’s long been accepted as a standard practice. As developer Dave Garrett points out, Help > About is where just about every program under the sun shows its version number. Mozilla has never been afraid to blaze trails and it certainly doesn’t have to follow suit, but the  change is still a somewhat curious one for a foundation that is all about standards.

- Source: [ExtremeTech]

Okay, so it appears they're only really just removing it from the About box.  I can see the reasoning behind criticisms, but I guess I also see some of the reasoning behind this.

I'm gay.

I would much prefer seamless upgrades. (Update downloaded in background and installed automatically when FF is closed or something)

As far as version numbers go - I like Canonicals method (YY.MM) and build numbers... but yeah I agree - whole lotta nothin' really.

I wonder what the effect on plugins are though, since their compatibility seems to be some version number mask.
Plugins are probably Firefox's greatest strength.

If the change in major version number is reflecting incremental updates then what are wee (and plug-in devs, of course)  meant to expect with the big improvements, a la FF1>2, 2>3 and 3>4 - each of which had plug-in compatibility issues?

By the way, Firefox 6 was just released.  You can download here

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/

Not really any significant changes though.

(This post was last modified: 16/08/2011 08:17 PM by Assassinator.)

I'm gay.