Firefox Strikes

[Bings]

I have two systems, one Kubuntu and one Xubuntu. It did not auto update on the former but it did on the latter. Or I manually updated before any auto update kicked in.

Anyway, if you go about:config there is a field called app.update.auto that is currently set to "true". Maybe it's something that whoever packaged it for ubuntu previously took out but didn't this time?

[Snowhog]

So I have to backtrack on my prior statement about FF’s behavior and ‘auto-updating’ itself.

Firefox: Enable or Disable Automatic Updates

[GregM]

Thankfully I had bought a used 64 bit computer a while back with the intent of trying to get away from Mozilla with it's programs. I had downloaded FF when I first got it so there is a version 55.0.2 on that that didn't update.
I just changed the about:config setting to false and verified user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);

I am now getting use to Vivaldi.
Still looking for an alternative email program

Thanks for the tips on FF

[citizen]

Nothing on Linux auto updates unless you let the update manager have permission to do that. FF has never updated to a next version for me unless I was using Windows. It cannot do this on Linux by itself. Addons like uBlock Origin can update themselves, but not FF itself.

[GregM]

Nothing on Linux auto updates unless you let the update manager have permission to do that. FF has never updated to a next version for me unless I was using Windows. It cannot do this on Linux by itself. Addons like uBlock Origin can update themselves, but not FF itself.

you might want to read Snowhog's link

[citizen]

So I have to backtrack on my prior statement about FF’s behavior and ‘auto-updating’ itself.

Firefox: Enable or Disable Automatic Updates

you might want to read Snowhog's link

I did. That link is only for Windows. The telltale sign is "Options" is a Windows designation and in Linux it's called "Preferences". Very annoying, not sure why the settings titles are platform dependent.
The "Update" tab no longer exists in FF56, it's all under "General" and when you scroll down to "Firefox Updates", the only thing you can check is "Automatically update search engines". So #3-5 in that article are for Windows.
In about:config on my linux box, the "app.update.auto" is set to it's default of true, and it has never, ever updated FF to a different version.

You can only update FF on linux in 3 ways.
1. You manually update your system yourself.
2. Automatic updates are on for your entire system
3. A specific ppa is given permission to update automatically, independent of the entire system.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just trying to say that something may be wrong, check your system and it's permissions. Your history in Muon will show when it was updated and what else happened as well.

I tweak the heck out of FF on Win and Linux. I know that on Linux it is much more superior and we have greater control over it's behavior. On Windows, if you click the Main Menu, then the Help icon, then About Firefox, it will immediately start to update itself unless you disabled it in Options. It should not do that, and thankfully in Linux it can't.

If you are using Nightly, I have no clue how they have that set up. I only use Stable and from the regular Kubuntu ppa.

Firefox is pretty awesome, and the reddit FirefoxCSS, as well as the Firefox one is a great place to learn stuff.

[megosdog]

This right here, the whole updating of FF issue, is EXACTLY why I don't let my system update at all (security risk or not) unless I tell it to. I mean, has nobody learned the lesson from Battle Star Galactica? Don't auto update or the Cylons will get you. :P

But long story short, I've been playing with the new FF57 already and, while I'm disappointing that some of my plugins no longer work, and the developers either refuse to or no longer are able to update them because, no matter what they may try, they won't work because FF blocked all the tools needed to make them work. But, I will wait and give it a try. If it eventually becomes usable again I will upgrade. Until then, I'm staying on 55 and not going anywhere until forced to. But then again, the last time Firefox did this and force obsolesced a whole bunch of plugins, it took about 6-12 months before either the original or other developers stepped up to the plate and resolved the issues. So I'm expecting the same from here too. The only limitation will be how much Firefox devs actually block from being done.

For me the biggest of the ones they unceremoniously killed off are Classic Theme Restorer (while I'm bummed, after finding out that everything it did can be done now via css hacks makes it no longer necessary as a plugin), Downloads Window (I seriously need this as the present download management system is total crap), Flash Stopper and No Script (for obvious reasons), tab tree and Text to Voice. I do a lot of my Audiobook stuff with the text to voice tool, as well as reading webpages when my eyes decide to punch the clock on a given day. And tabtree is essential for my job because, without it, staying organized gets REALLY difficult. So without these it makes my life incredibly difficult.

So I'm not worried about getting sniped by auto updates, but I am worried that they're going to have a seriously negative impact on my performance and productivity by taking away important tools that I need for my job. At home, meh, I'll figure out how to get around the problem. But at work? Nope, my paycheck depends on those plugins, so yeah, no upgrade until I can do so without impacting my work. So in the end, thank you Firefox for screwing me over. Ugh. Why can't they find a sweet spot and stay there instead of constantly trying to be the kid on the block with the shiniest toys?

[GregM]

For me the biggest of the ones they unceremoniously killed off are Classic Theme Restorer

Exactly

[jglen490]

Simple solution to all those who don't want Firefox on your computer - UNINSTALL IT.

No more worries about Kubuntu "forcing" FF updates on poor unsuspecting you, or if you installed Firefox outside your package manager no more worries about Mozilla "forcing" FF updates on poor unsuspecting you.

You are literally in charge of what is on your Linux machine, how and when it's updated, and from whence you obtain software. Stop whining and take charge!!

[SpecialEd]

Simple solution to all those who don't want Firefox on your computer - UNINSTALL IT.

No more worries about Kubuntu "forcing" FF updates on poor unsuspecting you, or if you installed Firefox outside your package manager no more worries about Mozilla "forcing" FF updates on poor unsuspecting you.

You are literally in charge of what is on your Linux machine, how and when it's updated, and from whence you obtain software. Stop whining and take charge!!

Hear, hear!

[vinnywright]

dose no one do any research on their package management?

if you like the version of a program like Firefox on your box and want it (firefox)to stay at it's current version then pin it to that version ,,,,done it will not upgrade .

VINNY

[jglen490]

dose no one do any research on their package management?

if you like the version of a program like Firefox on your box and want it (firefox)to stay at it's current version then pin it to that version ,,,,done it will not upgrade .

VINNY

Agree. And then you own the eventual security implications of NOT updating. But, Linux is all about choice.

[vinnywright]

Agree. And then you own the eventual security implications of NOT updating. But, Linux is all about choice.

Agreed thats why I'm getting used to firefox-57 on the 17.10 install

VINNY

[jglen490]

Exactly!