Firefox trying to catch up to IE in version numbers?

[djr33]

Or something like that? Why is Firefox jumping through versions so quickly? I feel like I just installed version 4 a few weeks ago, and now it's on version 6. (I am running 5 now, but that was an automatic update so I didn't notice it much.)
Has anyone else noticed how oddly fast it's moving?

[ajfmrf]

I read an story earlier today that firefox and others are probally going to stop using numers as they have and switch to something like chrome has been doing?

I don't use chrome so I don't know what that is/means


bud

[traq]

in a way it's good; people will be more likely to have the current version of whatever browser they use. It will also be more difficult (as developers) to keep older versions of browsers available for compatibility testing.

and yes, Fx is planning to make the switch to auto-updating soon.

[djr33]

Hm. Interesting. I guess one reason this is so notable for me is that I used to have Firefox 3 for a very long time without any changes. So now being at 6 is strange.

I like the idea of auto-updating in some sense, but I am always bothered by being forced to update when there are changes-- I like my current configurations and when the layout and so forth start switching randomly it annoys me. Then I adjust though...

[traq]

browsers should take a note from ubuntu - regular updates (bordering on "constant"), but it's all organized by priority -Critical, recommended, etc.- , and it is all manageable. You can blanket-accept everything or accept/ block each individual change. updates improve security/performance without really changing the appearance or feature set much.

(except, of course, that any time the dhcp client is updated I have to manually roll back my ethernet driver, blacklist the new one, rebuild the dependencies, and then leave my computer unplugged for about ten minutes. any time I mysteriously log off in the middle of a conversation and then reappear four hours later, this is what happened. ah, the joys of Realtek.)

I think browser vendors are getting to the point where they are too focused on their design/layout (which is basically inconsequential).

[djr33]

I agree with your last comment entirely.

And though I don't use it myself, that sums up linux well, I think: Do-It-Yourself... lots of options, and sometimes random drivers you need to reinstall manually... haha.

Although I might be inclined to soon move over toward a less controlling OS now that both mac and windows are becoming so "helpful" that they get in the way of doing what you want...


More on topic, I think FF is already moving in this direction because these last updates have been fairly silent (just a button or two, like a subversion update usually) rather than a full install as it used to be. I'm on a mac so I'm not sure if this is similar on a PC or not.

[jscheuer1]

I think it's a symptom of the browser wars heating up again. With IE 9, MSIE now poses a serious threat to the incursions previously made by Fx and Chrome. It still has the advantages of the installed base, perhaps some unique MS features, and most important of being the default for Windows. Coupled with the fact that IE 9 now is a really decent browser, and I can see how the Mozilla folks might worry. If the playing field were even, they wouldn't need to, at least not as much. I think they actually rushed 4 (or was it 5?) in an effort to take the wind out of IE 9's sails. (Or sales? This is a lot about funneling to advertisers after all.)

[traq]

I think it's been interesting to see how google has -almost silently- maneuvered itself to compete with those (IE's) advantages, with android, and now with motorolla mobile. poor firefox.

[mouseinhome]

I think this is the same in window of Microsoft. Maybe Firefox 5 had major bug or by some reasons it had gotten some bad problem on it. So, they made FF6 quickly with new packed function.

[Brillig]

It is amazing, versions were so far between for so long. How long did it take just to get to 3? Suddenly, bam! bam! bam!. 4! 5! 6!

I've become a Chrome convert but I still keep FF around for testing.