5 ms·

Yeah, the alternative is running a system with a ton of outdated software, with known bugs and active exploits while casually surfing the "oh-so-cosy-and-entire

by bipson 5y ago

Yeah, the alternative is running a system with a ton of outdated software, with known bugs and active exploits while casually surfing the "oh-so-cosy-and-entirely-harmless" WWW... The goal is not to ostracize automatic updates, but to have faster fixes. Or to separate security updates from feature updates, but I think this ship has long sailed for modern browsers.

jacquesm 5y ago
> Or to separate security updates from feature updates, but I think this ship has long sailed for modern browsers. That would be my preferred solution. But yes, as you say, that ship has sailed. No reason why it couldn't sail back though.
- mixedCase 5y ago
  > No reason why it couldn't sail back though Maintenance cost.
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  > No reason why it couldn't sail back though. Multiplying the number of parallel maintenance tracks and associated support costs is not “no reason”.
johnnywasagood 5y ago
The goal is to fully control your environment and not to expecting some unexpected updates. User is the one who must choose update policy. If user is choosing to not update then it's their own problem and no manufacturer has the right to deside otherwise.
- CorrectHorseBat 5y ago
  Automatic updates are a good default, you can always disable them if you don't want them.
  - johnnywasagood 5y ago
    Good default is to ask users about their preferences explicitly and not to hide that kind of settings anywhere.
    - LtdJorge 5y ago
      Most users are computer illiterate, so they would choose to not auto-update to skip the hassle, and then never manually update anyways.
      - jacquesm 5y ago
        Every FireFox install comes with auto-update enabled.
        roman-holovin 5y ago
        Nope, mine on linux doesn't auto-update itself, though I update it diligently, but manually
  - gsich 5y ago
    In the past I would have agreed with you. Sadly there are "updates" which remove functionality.
mhio 5y ago
In the case of Firefox, there's also the Extended Support Release. Security updates without the UI change every 4 weeks https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switch-to-firefox-extended-support-release-esr https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switch-to-firefox-exten...
- rntksi 5y ago
  In this case, ESR was also affected. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1749910 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1749910

by bipson 5y ago

jacquesm 5y ago

> Or to separate security updates from feature updates, but I think this ship has long sailed for modern browsers. That would be my preferred solution. But yes, as you say, that ship has sailed. No reason why it couldn't sail back though.

mixedCase 5y ago
> No reason why it couldn't sail back though Maintenance cost.
dragonwriter 5y ago
> No reason why it couldn't sail back though. Multiplying the number of parallel maintenance tracks and associated support costs is not “no reason”.

johnnywasagood 5y ago

The goal is to fully control your environment and not to expecting some unexpected updates. User is the one who must choose update policy. If user is choosing to not update then it's their own problem and no manufacturer has the right to deside otherwise.

CorrectHorseBat 5y ago
Automatic updates are a good default, you can always disable them if you don't want them.
- johnnywasagood 5y ago
  Good default is to ask users about their preferences explicitly and not to hide that kind of settings anywhere.
  - LtdJorge 5y ago
    Most users are computer illiterate, so they would choose to not auto-update to skip the hassle, and then never manually update anyways.
    - jacquesm 5y ago
      Every FireFox install comes with auto-update enabled.
      - roman-holovin 5y ago
        Nope, mine on linux doesn't auto-update itself, though I update it diligently, but manually
- gsich 5y ago
  In the past I would have agreed with you. Sadly there are "updates" which remove functionality.

mhio 5y ago

In the case of Firefox, there's also the Extended Support Release. Security updates without the UI change every 4 weeks https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switch-to-firefox-extended-support-release-esr https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switch-to-firefox-exten...

rntksi 5y ago
In this case, ESR was also affected. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1749910 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1749910