6 ms·

I agree, the new version numbers are stupid. If they wanted to copy Chrome's rapid-release schedule, they should have just ditched the version numbers altogethe

by kylec 15y ago

I agree, the new version numbers are stupid. If they wanted to copy Chrome's rapid-release schedule, they should have just ditched the version numbers altogether (like Chrome) and just continuously and transparently kept their install base up to date. There's also a real practical problem to fast-growing version numbers. Historically, a major release would have major new features and might break existing extensions. Minor releases were typically safe to install and were designed to be as compatible as possible with the version they were supplanting. With new major versions of Firefox coming out every 6 weeks you're constantly checking to make sure they haven't changed something critical.

markokocic 15y ago
Why is this a problem for FF, and not a problem for Chrome, since they are doing practically the same thing now?
nxn 15y ago
Chrome has version numbers. And similarly, firefox doesn't make a big deal about new version releases since 4.0 was out. The ones that do make a big deal out of them are blogs and tech sites, but those will get bored of doing so soon enough.
- tghw 15y ago
  Chrome hides the version number, because 98% of the time, it doesn't matter. There's no mention of it on there download page (http://www.google.com/chrome/ http://www.google.com/chrome/). They make it available only if you need to get specific. Firefox, OTOH, still advertises their version number right on the download button (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/).
  - nxn 15y ago
    Not sure if I'd call that "advertising" -- it's a small green number on a green background. Before the rapid release schedule you'd have a 72pt version number hitting you in the face when you went to their main page within a week of a major release. Never the less, I see what you mean about it being still "visible" to the user.
  - mtogo 15y ago
    Chrome has no version number, firefox has a tiny version number on the button. You're really going to say that chrome is better because of that? So HN has gotten past the language holy wars, but now they're arguing about something ridiculous like which browser is somehow better. Fantastic.
    - tghw 15y ago
      No where did I say it was "better", I'm just pointing out that Google has effectively made Chrome version-less, while Firefox is still making a big deal about each of their new versions, despite them having fewer changes. I think you're looking for conflict where there is none. I use both browsers, depending on what I'm using them for.
      - mtogo 15y ago
        How do you check the chrome version? Wrench -> About Chrome How do you check the firefox version? Firefox -> Help -> About firefox Does chrome post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does firefox post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does someone on HN make a thread when there is a new version of either? Usually. Neither one is making a big deal about their versions. You are.
        tghw 15y ago
        I'm just pointing out differences. Hardly a big deal, it's just clear that Mozilla is still transitioning to thinking less about distinct versions. A couple of examples of where Mozilla does make the version number clear: * The download link * The downloaded file (Firefox Setup 6.0.exe) * The new version page that automatically comes up the first time you run the new version (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/) * And, most annoyingly, the add-on version check and resulting incompatibilities. That last one actually is kind of a pain, since, as other people have mentioned, not all add-on authors have updated their add-ons to be compatible with 6.0, despite that being a single character change to an XML file for 98% of them. (Fortunately, addons.mozilla.org does this for authors, so it is only the ones hosting the add-ons themselves that are a problem.)
  - mbrubeck 15y ago
    Mozilla is also planning to remove the version number from the download button. Read the second message in this thread: https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXsksAr6TQ/discussion https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXs... All the comments about Firefox's version number are the same that were made last summer when Chrome started incrementing their version every six weeks. A year later, I think Chrome users would all agree that the choice of number in the UA string has relatively little impact on users, positive or negative. I'm glad it gives HN something new to argue about for a while, though. :)
mtogo 15y ago
Actually firefox is just doing what chrome is doing. Chrome has a major release every 6 weeks and changes it's major version number every 6 weeks. It's great when chrome does it, but when firefox changes their versioning schedule it's "stupid"?
- jcromartie 15y ago
  It's just obnoxious because we hear about it when Firefox releases a minor update with a new version number. Did you hear a fanfare about Chrome 12 or 13? No.
  - mtogo 15y ago
    There's no fanfare. Firefox released a new version as it does every 6 weeks and people are happy because there's a better, faster firefox. The same thing happens with chrome.
  - mbrubeck 15y ago
    Chrome releases do make it to the front page of HN; they just don't mention the version number so prominently: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2875906 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2875906 It will take a while for the press to get used to the new Firefox release cycle, but by next year it will be treated just like Chrome. Mozilla has already stopped using version numbers in release announcements: https://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2011/06/21/mozilla-delivers-new-version-of-firefox-first-web-browser-to-support-do-not-track-on-multiple-platforms/ https://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2011/06/21/mozilla-delivers-ne...
notatoad 15y ago
version numbers have been completely de-emphasized. go on the mozilla website (the public site, not the ftp) and find me where it says a version number...

by kylec 15y ago

markokocic 15y ago

Why is this a problem for FF, and not a problem for Chrome, since they are doing practically the same thing now?

nxn 15y ago

Chrome has version numbers. And similarly, firefox doesn't make a big deal about new version releases since 4.0 was out. The ones that do make a big deal out of them are blogs and tech sites, but those will get bored of doing so soon enough.

tghw 15y ago
Chrome hides the version number, because 98% of the time, it doesn't matter. There's no mention of it on there download page (http://www.google.com/chrome/ http://www.google.com/chrome/). They make it available only if you need to get specific. Firefox, OTOH, still advertises their version number right on the download button (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/).
- nxn 15y ago
  Not sure if I'd call that "advertising" -- it's a small green number on a green background. Before the rapid release schedule you'd have a 72pt version number hitting you in the face when you went to their main page within a week of a major release. Never the less, I see what you mean about it being still "visible" to the user.
- mtogo 15y ago
  Chrome has no version number, firefox has a tiny version number on the button. You're really going to say that chrome is better because of that? So HN has gotten past the language holy wars, but now they're arguing about something ridiculous like which browser is somehow better. Fantastic.
  - tghw 15y ago
    No where did I say it was "better", I'm just pointing out that Google has effectively made Chrome version-less, while Firefox is still making a big deal about each of their new versions, despite them having fewer changes. I think you're looking for conflict where there is none. I use both browsers, depending on what I'm using them for.
    - mtogo 15y ago
      How do you check the chrome version? Wrench -> About Chrome How do you check the firefox version? Firefox -> Help -> About firefox Does chrome post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does firefox post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does someone on HN make a thread when there is a new version of either? Usually. Neither one is making a big deal about their versions. You are.
      - tghw 15y ago
        I'm just pointing out differences. Hardly a big deal, it's just clear that Mozilla is still transitioning to thinking less about distinct versions. A couple of examples of where Mozilla does make the version number clear: * The download link * The downloaded file (Firefox Setup 6.0.exe) * The new version page that automatically comes up the first time you run the new version (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/) * And, most annoyingly, the add-on version check and resulting incompatibilities. That last one actually is kind of a pain, since, as other people have mentioned, not all add-on authors have updated their add-ons to be compatible with 6.0, despite that being a single character change to an XML file for 98% of them. (Fortunately, addons.mozilla.org does this for authors, so it is only the ones hosting the add-ons themselves that are a problem.)
- mbrubeck 15y ago
  Mozilla is also planning to remove the version number from the download button. Read the second message in this thread: https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXsksAr6TQ/discussion https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXs... All the comments about Firefox's version number are the same that were made last summer when Chrome started incrementing their version every six weeks. A year later, I think Chrome users would all agree that the choice of number in the UA string has relatively little impact on users, positive or negative. I'm glad it gives HN something new to argue about for a while, though. :)

mtogo 15y ago

Actually firefox is just doing what chrome is doing. Chrome has a major release every 6 weeks and changes it's major version number every 6 weeks. It's great when chrome does it, but when firefox changes their versioning schedule it's "stupid"?

jcromartie 15y ago
It's just obnoxious because we hear about it when Firefox releases a minor update with a new version number. Did you hear a fanfare about Chrome 12 or 13? No.
- mtogo 15y ago
  There's no fanfare. Firefox released a new version as it does every 6 weeks and people are happy because there's a better, faster firefox. The same thing happens with chrome.
- mbrubeck 15y ago
  Chrome releases do make it to the front page of HN; they just don't mention the version number so prominently: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2875906 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2875906 It will take a while for the press to get used to the new Firefox release cycle, but by next year it will be treated just like Chrome. Mozilla has already stopped using version numbers in release announcements: https://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2011/06/21/mozilla-delivers-new-version-of-firefox-first-web-browser-to-support-do-not-track-on-multiple-platforms/ https://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2011/06/21/mozilla-delivers-ne...

notatoad 15y ago

version numbers have been completely de-emphasized. go on the mozilla website (the public site, not the ftp) and find me where it says a version number...