Updates keep breaking my add-ons
I really HATE the update schedule Firefox has been on the last year. You are pushing new versions out too fast. I dislike being nagged to install the latest version, and I hate that when I do, I never know which add-on is going to break. The primary reason I use Firefox is for the dozen add-ons that I customize it with. I don't want to be on this crazy ride. I want to have a stable version, and stay with it for a long time! You are not doing me any favors by pushing out new versions as fast as you do. Go back to the old update schedule.
The most recent breakage was V22 breaking the Reddit Enhancement Suite. I already know what you are going to say, you are going to say it is the author of the add-on that has the responsibility to make add-ons work with new versions of Firefox. Well, I don't care! Every time you push a new version to me, something useful I rely on breaks. Stop it!
I will tell you the same thing I tell Micro$oft: "The OS isn't the end product, the software is the end product. The OS's job is to be an environment to run software in!" Well, whether or not you realize this, Firefox is an OS for the add-ons that make Firefox as good a browser as it is. Without the add-ons, I may as well be using IE or Chrome. Is that what you want? Without the add-ons the only thing I can do with Firefox that I cannot do with IE or Chrome is rearrange the menu and tool bars the way I like them.
I will also tell you what I tell Adobe: "Stop with all the updates. Get your products to a stable version, patch it for bugs, and STOP!" I look forward to the day I do not need Flash, Shockwave, or Reader. That will be three less products nagging me to update, or being forced to update because some website is using the latest version. I regularly use 3 to 4 computers. As soon as I see the update nag for one, I know I will be nagged on the others as well. I dread it!
Do you really want your users to dread using your product as much as we dread using Adobe products? Do you really want Firefox associated with, "Ugh, another update? I just updated it!"
By the way, There is no easy-to-find link to previous versions of Firefox. I installed v22 and it broke the Reddit Enhancement Suite. I looked on your website for the previous version, and I got a condescending Q&A page saying "You can downgrade, but it will not fix your problem." Well, I downgraded to v21, and you know what? It fixed my problem! But... I had to Google "Firefox 21" to find the download.
Why are you treating me like the enemy? Micro$oft treats me like the enemy. Adobe treats me like the enemy. Apple, (you know what, lets not even discuss Apple! I just ate.)
Firefox used to be a beacon of hope. Please get off this upgrade cycle, before the light goes out!
Thank you,
Michael Lashinsky
PS I am also posting this to Reddit under /R/Rants
Chosen solution
Firefox ESR major version releases are made every 42 weeks vs. the 6 week schedule.
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all.html
Read this answer in context 👍 3All Replies (11)
update the addon it works with firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/reddit-enhancement-suite/
Please note that we are volunteers and are not employed by mozilla. You can leave feedback for firefox devs here.
Modified by kobe
For reference, the downgrade link is hidden in plain sight in this article: Install an older version of Firefox.
Chosen Solution
Firefox ESR major version releases are made every 42 weeks vs. the 6 week schedule.
This is indeed infuriating. One of my favorite add-ons broke. One I depend on a lot.
It's great that you're volunteers, but you're always touting the idea that you can be more customer focused because you're a non-profit.
I don't believe that, by the way, but if you want to keep saying that and then when someone brings up an issue you fall back on "Hey! Take it easy because we're all volunteers" Sorry, but you don't get to have it both ways.
How difficult would it be to ASK if we wanted to upgrade? Those greedy and evil profiteers at Microsoft can manage that.
This was good: just slide past the predictions of doom and it's one click to download version 21.
Hi sdrga, you wrote "One of my favorite add-ons broke. One I depend on a lot."
Do you mind saying which one it is?
Yes, it is. I was very frustrated at that point.
But in fairness to myself, when I click a link to a page for a download, I expect that page will have the download link visible without scrolling down, (unless they don't want you to click on it... shhhh...) Googling for the download not only took me to the page, but scrolled me to the right part of the page.
Also, I wasn't actually looking for an answer. I couldn't find any other way to get my gripe out to anyone at Mozilla.
Dammit!! I just spent the better part of an hour meticulously documenting EXACTLY WHAT I DID TO SOLVE THIS. Then I closed a f^*king tab by mistake and lost it all.
That's certianly not Firefox's fault, that's my dumb ass. Here's the very short version: the favorite plugin was: http://printpages2pdf.hostingsociety.com/index.php/en/help.html
The permanant solution was to make sure to UNCHECK the checkbox labeled "Allow Firefox to Upgrade Silently and in the Background" which shows up when you manually double-click on the EXE file that you will download based on jscher2000's link above.
After the downgrade finishes, Firefox will restart and you'll see a page that has in the middle, something that looks like the attached image below.
Correction... that's what you'll see as soon as you click on jscher's link: I tried to copy and paste it here, but when I previewed it, the link did not function, just go to his "hidden in plain sight" link, scroll down until you see what looks like the image I attached (above).
My image says "Version 20" because it is after I went back to 21.
The key is that you'll download an exe file. THEN you get to FINALLY get control of the "Install silently and in the background" by unchecking that checkbox.
Personally, I don't let anything install "silently and in the background". Not Windows, not my virus program, not anything. And I always do a CUSTOM INSTALL just so I can see exactly what is being installed. That way I avoid all the toolbars, gizmos, promos, etc. that I really don't want. Just sayin'
Spoken too soon... it worked one time. The next time Firefox started up it showed that it was checking my add-ons... and it showed the one I referenced above to be, indeed, incompatiable. Then it gave me no chance whatsoever to avoid the upgrade... I did have the presence of mind to take screenshots at each dialog, which I will post later.
Unfortunately, I'm actually compelled by life to produce more than I consume (I have to make a profit), so for now, that's all I can afford to say since I don't have a foundation paying my way. However, when I cool down, I will post the screen grabs.
I don't hate non-profits, they definitely have their place. Nor do I hate open-source, either. I just have a problem with the moral high-ground Firefox tries to claim considering that I'm sure the Mozilla Foundation is probably paying someone a lot to write sucessful grant proposals to entities that (yup), DO make profits. THAT'S how they can keep the NON-profits that they choose (like The Mozilla Foundation) up and running. Screenshots later.
Hi sdrga, I had a feeling -- I love that extension, too.
We had a thread on it last month, and the update is available. Since the fixed version is still pending review on the add-ons site, it's hidden on the versions page here:
Version 0.1.9.2: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/print-pages-to-pdf/versions/