I'm waiting for NoScript; you're not alone there.

This article has the link you want: Install an older version of Firefox

If you change Firefox's update setting to let you decide when to install, that should give you more control. I've never been forcibly updated with that setting, although I usually don't "Not Now" it for more than a week.

As for the details when you eventually get Firefox 57:

• I prefer tabs on the bottom, icons on the toolbar and loading symbols actually showing a page is loading. => You can use custom style rules to move the tab bar below the main toolbar and bookmarks toolbar if that's where you like them. You can use a custom style rule to change the ping-ponging dots tab "throbber' to the circling blue one. I'm not sure what you mean about "icons on the toolbar" -- there are icons on the toolbar. ??

• The dark blue is just horrible, and the tabs that fade into the margin are not easily seen or read by those with visual problems. => There are a zillion themes you can choose from to color the toolbar background. You can use Custom style rules to give shape to inactive tabs if you like.

• You have taken away all my choice to customise the browser as I want. => No, you still have userChrome.css, and extension authors are being surprisingly creative within the new constraints.

You'll get through this.

jscher2000 said

I'm not sure what you mean about "icons on the toolbar" -- there are icons on the toolbar. ??

• You have taken away all my choice to customise the browser as I want. => No, you still have userChrome.css, and extension authors are being surprisingly creative within the new constraints.

Thanks for your reply jsher2000. What I meant by "icons on the toolbar" is that I'm used to seeing around 10 or so, not 2-3 and a hamburger menu.

I have to say though, that using the term "constraints" is never good. :) I've always said "I shouldn't have to do that", but I guess I'm just getting old and crotchety. I'm still trying to work out how it installed when I had updates turned off, but it's too late to cry about that now, I guess. I don't want to go back to the Netscape we used with 3.11, but I just think that forcing the update out is not on. Mind you, it works for Microsoft, so...

AuntyJack.au said

What I meant by "icons on the toolbar" is that I'm used to seeing around 10 or so, not 2-3 and a hamburger menu.

You can add more icons using Customize or as you get more compatible add-ons. You also can remove the spacers that cause the centering of the address bar using Customize if those are squeezing out icons you want to see.

Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

On the more general question of auto-updating, my main computer is managed by my company, so I rarely have much choice, but it is nice to have the choice and I take advantage of it when I know I need to avoid something. The problem is keeping up with all the changes and knowing what's coming. Very time consuming.

AuntyJack.au said

I've noticed in some forums moderators asking "what is wrong". So, after having a drink and a few deep breaths, I have the following problems:

• NoScript does not work. I'm sorry, I am used to this as it's not recognised by sites as an ad-blocker and works very well. I do feel safer with it running as opposed to relying on just my on AV.

For the NoScript extension you can watch say https://hackademix.net/2017/11/14/double-noscript/ and https://forums.informaction.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=23173&start=120

AuntyJack.au said

I've noticed in some forums moderators asking "what is wrong". So, after having a drink and a few deep breaths, I have the following problems:

• NoScript does not work. I'm sorry, I am used to this as it's not recognised by sites as an ad-blocker and works very well. I do feel safer with it running as opposed to relying on just my on AV.
• I had updates turned off, and yet this was still pushed through. Also, no notification, nothing. I went to work this morning after having version 56, got home to version 57. Sorry, but you don't get to make that decision, I do.
• As I have never used Chrome other than a one-off to find out I didn't like it, I dislike very much the new design. I prefer tabs on the bottom, icons on the toolbar and loading symbols actually showing a page is loading. It took me a long time looking only to eventually see a tiny TINY dot moving back and forth on the tab.
• The dark blue is just horrible, and the tabs that fade into the margin are not easily seen or read by those with visual problems.
• You have taken away all my choice to customise the browser as I want.
• You're no longer unique. Firefox was always loved by people because we could customise it as we wanted, and it stood out. Ever since version 40 or so, it's just looked like a cheap Chrome knock-off.
• I shouldn't have to go through 40 different steps to get back to the version I want.
• I was never having issues with page loading, and I live in a country that is beaten by third world slums for internet access.

TL;DR want to roll back to 56 because I didn't agree to this.

I agree with everything you said and am glad you posted this explanation. I don't type,never learned and hate communicating though a key board and am not a computer guru so I could not express my displeasure with FF the way you did. Thanks for your post!

jscher2000 said

AuntyJack.au said

What I meant by "icons on the toolbar" is that I'm used to seeing around 10 or so, not 2-3 and a hamburger menu.

You can add more icons using Customize or as you get more compatible add-ons. You also can remove the spacers that cause the centering of the address bar using Customize if those are squeezing out icons you want to see.

Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

On the more general question of auto-updating, my main computer is managed by my company, so I rarely have much choice, but it is nice to have the choice and I take advantage of it when I know I need to avoid something. The problem is keeping up with all the changes and knowing what's coming. Very time consuming.

I understand that AuntyJack.au"'s missing icons refers to the add-ons that no longer work in version 57. This is the same reason I want to revert back to the previous version of Firefox. I used many "Legacy" add-ons (which I'm sure AuntyJack" also did, which explains her missing icons) that no longer work in the latest version of Firefox and which there are no replacements for. But I would like to know if anyone who may have reverted back had problems because of doing it?