The Firefox/Mozilla Thread

[Winapp2.ini]

All CSS properties supported by Gecko now supported by Stylo:

 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.dev.servo/9jZtdX1pAQA

 

Race Cache with Network:

 

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.dev.platform/fvCmc6kR9Uk

 

PEN #3:

 

https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/photon-engineering-newsletter-3/

 

PEN #4:

 

https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/05/31/photon-engineering-newsletter-4/

 

Goodbye PNaCL, Hello WebAssembly!

 

https://blog.chromium.org/2017/05/goodbye-pnacl-hello-webassembly.html

 

including this because Mozilla is heavily involved in WebAssembly and one of its precursors, asm.js. Hooray open standards!

 

Aurora gets swapped out for Nightly on the Play Store:

 

http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/05/30/mozilla-replaces-firefox-aurora-play-store-listing-firefox-nightly/

Edited May 31, 2017 by Winapp2.ini

[Winapp2.ini]

TWIF 18

https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2017/06/06/these-weeks-in-firefox-issue-18/

 

Activity Stream Newsletter June:

https://mail.mozilla.org/pipermail/firefox-dev/2017-June/005463.html

[trium]

Version 54.0

first offered June 13, 2017

 

New

• Added Burmese (my) locale

• Added support for multiple content processes (e10s-multi)

• Simplified the download button and download status panel

Fixed

• Various security fixes

Changed

• Moved the mobile bookmarks folder to the main bookmarks menu for easier access

Developer

• Additional changes for web developers

• Added ability to create and save custom devices in Responsive Design Mode

Developer Information

[trium]

version 54.0.1

June 29, 2017

 

Fixed

• Fix a display issue of tab title (bug 1357656)

• Fix a display issue of opening new tab (bug 1371995)

• Fix a display issue when opening multiple tabs (bug 1371962)

• Fix a tab display issue when downloading files (bug 1373109)

• Fix a PDF printing issue (bug 1366744)

• Fix a Netflix issue on Linux (bug 1375708)

[Winapp2.ini]

Some updates...

 

QFEN:

11: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-06-02/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-11

12: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-06-09/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-12

13: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-06-16/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-13

14: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-06-23/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-14

 

TWIF:

19: https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2017/06/21/these-weeks-in-firefox-issue-19/

 

PEN:

5: https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/06/08/photon-engineering-newsletter-5/

6: https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/06/15/photon-engineering-newsletter-6/

7: https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/photon-engineering-newsletter-7/

 

Date/Time inputs enabled on Nightly:

https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2017/06/12/datetime-inputs-enabled-on-nightly/

 

Firefox Focus on Android:

https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2017/06/20/firefox-focus-new-to-android-blocks-annoying-ads-and-protects-your-privacy/

 

An Inside Look at Quantum DOM Scheduling:

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/06/an-inside-look-at-quantum-dom-scheduling/

 

Introducing HumbleNet:

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/06/introducing-humblenet-a-cross-platform-networking-library-that-works-in-the-browser/

 

Designing for Performance:

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/06/designing-for-performance-a-data-informed-approach-for-quantum-development/

 

Powerful new additions to the CSS Grid Inspector:

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/06/new-css-grid-layout-panel-in-firefox-nightly/

[Winapp2.ini]

Migrating 32bit Firefox installs on 64bit Windows to 64bit installs:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.dev.platform/hlCGG_Hib1w

 

PLANS:

* In Firefox 55 (August 8), the Windows stub installer will default to
64-bit Firefox for eligible users (Win64 and 2+ GB RAM).

* In Firefox 56 (September 26), we will migrate existing eligible 32-bit
Firefox users to 64-bit. About 70% of Windows Firefox users currently
run 32-bit Firefox build on Win64. Nearly all of these users can be
migrated to 64-bit Firefox.

Switching to TaskCluster Windows Builds on July 26th 2017:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.dev.platform/pOSncDUVids

PEN 8:
https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/photon-engineering-newsletter-8/

TWIF 20:
https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2017/07/19/these-weeks-in-firefox-issue-20/

QFEN:
15: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-07-07/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-15
16: https://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2017-07-21/quantum-flow-engineering-newsletter-16

​

​

[JDPower]

 

Migrating 32bit Firefox installs on 64bit Windows to 64bit installs:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/mozilla.dev.platform/hlCGG_Hib1w

​

​

"We don't expect 64-bit Firefox to have any performance improvements over 32-bit"

[Winapp2.ini]

"We don't expect 64-bit Firefox to have any performance improvements over 32-bit"

Based on the discussion there, seems to be primarily a stability choice to move to 64bit.

​

 

​

- 64-bit content process crash rate is about the same as 32-bit for

users with 2 GB and about 20% less with 2+ GB!

 

- 64-bit browser process crash rate is about the same as 32-bit for

users with 2 GB and about 20% less with 2+ GB!

 

- 64-bit plugin process crash rate is about 50% less than 32-bit for

users with 2 GB and 80% less with 2+ GB!

 

Moving to 64bit alone doesn't carry (m)any performance enhancements, but it does allow for better security (ASLR) and fewer out-of-memory situations (64bit applications use by default more memory due to the larger register size required by 64bit which is a bit of a regression, but the upper limit of total memory use for 64bit apps is much higher than 32bit ones)

 

Also, PEN #9:

https://dolske.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/photon-engineering-newsletter-9/

 

Edit:

 

​Firefox Roadmap for Flash End of Life:

​https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2017/07/25/firefox-roadmap-flash-end-life/

​

Stylo is Reader for Testing in Firefox Nightly:

https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2017/07/25/stylo-is-ready-for-community-testing-on-nightly/

 

Make Firefox Better With Pioneer:

https://medium.com/firefox-context-graph/make-firefox-better-with-pioneer-10c82d0f9301

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2017 by Winapp2.ini

[ROCKNROLL]

They aren't dropping 32-bit support. They are just going to use a universal installer so 64-bit users get 64-bit version and 32-bit still have 32-bit. It's not a big deal anymore since XP and Vista is dropped and only like 5% of Windows 7 users is 32-bit. Plus dropping 32-bit build, when they do, would save some development time slightly not having to deal with 32-bit and 64-bit.

 

32-bit can get 4gb ram and 64-bit can reach 3 exabytes of ram, but I don't think ram is the reason why they are switching. Having around 10 tabs open only consumed 2-3gb ram, so it's still enough for 32-bit users.

 

By the way, is there/has there been any news if Mozilla will extend the 52ESR branch? I thought I heard at one point that it was going to be discussed?

[Winapp2.ini]

​

​

​

 

They aren't dropping 32-bit support. They are just going to use a universal installer so 64-bit users get 64-bit version and 32-bit still have 32-bit. It's not a big deal anymore since XP and Vista is dropped and only like 5% of Windows 7 users is 32-bit. Plus dropping 32-bit build, when they do, would save some development time slightly not having to deal with 32-bit and 64-bit.

 

32-bit can get 4gb ram and 64-bit can reach 3 exabytes of ram, but I don't think ram is the reason why they are switching. Having around 10 tabs open only consumed 2-3gb ram, so it's still enough for 32-bit users.

 

By the way, is there/has there been any news if Mozilla will extend the 52ESR branch? I thought I heard at one point that it was going to be discussed?

 this page: https://hardware.metrics.mozilla.com/#detail-browser-share-os-32-64

suggests that around 22% of active firefox installs are on 32bit OS' (thus cannot even install 64bit software), so I don't think Mozilla will be dropping 32bit support anytime soon. As you said, this is more geared towards migrating 32bit fx on x64 hardware to 64bit fx.

I don't think they'll be extending the 52 ESR beyond its expiration date of August 2018

​

​

[JDPower]

Has the most recent FF version (54) been really laggy and locky uppy for anyone else?

[mta]

updated to 54.0.1 when it came out.... can't say I've noticed any difference, good or bad.

certainly no locky uppies!

[Andavari]

Has the most recent FF version (54) been really laggy and locky uppy for anyone else?

 

Might be due to any add-ons you have installed. I know from experience if any add-ons are installed that have an overlapping features that can cause issues.

[trium]

ff v.55.0

 

first offered to Release channel users on August 8, 2017

 

Today's release brings innovative functionality, improvements to core browser performance, and more proof that we’re committed to making Firefox better than ever. New features include support for WebVR, making Firefox the first Windows desktop browser to support VR experiences. Performance changes include significantly faster startup times when restoring lots of tabs and settings that let users take greater control of our new multi-process architecture. We’ve also upgraded the address bar to make finding what you want easier, with search suggestions and the integration of our one-click search feature, and safer, by prioritizing the secure - https - version of sites when possible. Read what Nick Nguyen (VP, Firefox Product) has to say about Firefox 55, get historical perspective on the development of WebVR from Sean White (SVP, Emerging Technologies) in this Medium post, and read about all the new features for developers in Firefox 55 on Mozilla Hacks.

 

We'd also like to extend a special thank you to all of the new Mozillians who contributed to this release of Firefox!

 

New

• Launched Windows support for WebVR, bringing immersive experiences to the web. See examples and try working demos at Mozilla VR.

• Added options that let users optimize recent performance improvements

  • Setting to enable Hardware VP9 acceleration on Windows 10 Anniversary Edition for better battery life and lower CPU usage while watching videos
  • Setting to modify the number of concurrent content processes for faster page loading and more responsive tab switching

• Simplified installation process with a streamlined Windows stub installer

  • Firefox for Windows 64-bit is now installed by default on 64-bit systems with at least 2GB of RAM
  • Full installers with advanced installation options are still available

• Improved address bar functionality

  • Search with any installed one-click search engine directly from the address bar
  • Search suggestions appear by default
  • When entering a hostname (like pinterest.com) in the URL bar, Firefox resolves to the secure version of the site (https://www.pinterest.com) instead of the insecure version (http://www.pinterest.com) when possible

• Updated Sidebar for bookmarks, history, and synced tabs so it can appear at the right edge of the window as well as the left

• Added support for stereo microphones with WebRTC

• Simplified printing from Reader Mode

• Updated Firefox for OSX and macOS to allow users to assign custom keyboard shortcuts to Firefox menu items via System Preferences

• Browsing sessions with a high number of tabs are now restored in an instant

• Make screenshots of webpages, and save them locally or upload them to the cloud. This feature will undergo A/B testing and will not be visible for some users.

• Added Belarusian (be) locale

Changed

• Modernized application update UI to be less intrusive and more aligned with the rest of the browser. Only users who have not restarted their browser 8 days after downloading an update or users who opted out of automatic updates will see this change.

• Firefox does not support downgrades, even though this may have worked in past versions. Users who install Firefox 55+ and later downgrade to an earlier version may experience issues with Firefox.

• Made the Adobe Flash plugin click-to-activate by default and allowed only on http:// and https:// URL schemes. (This change will not be visible to all users immediately. For more information see the Firefox plugin roadmap)

Developer

• Sites that don’t use SSL can no longer access Geolocation APIs to determine a user’s physical location

Developer Information

[ROCKNROLL]

Don't forget the usual security fixes that come with every release: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2017-18/

[JDPower]

Might be worth saving a backup of your FF54 profile folder before updating to FF55 so you can still go back a version if buggy. Or, more likely, still be able to switch to ESR and delay the web exts bomb of FF57 for a year or so (I might even run two profiles from 55 onwards, one ESR and one RC, just to cover all bases lol)

[nukecad]

Might be worth saving a backup of your FF54 profile folder before updating to FF55 so you can still go back a version if buggy.

 

Apparently you can't go back a version from FF55. (and/or will have problems if you try to).

 

From the release notes-

Firefox does not support downgrades, even though this may have worked in past versions. Users who install Firefox 55+ and later downgrade to an earlier version may experience issues with Firefox.

 

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/55.0/releasenotes/

 

More info:

https://www.ghacks.net/2017/08/02/you-cannot-downgrade-firefox-55-profiles/

[JDPower]

Apparently you can't go back a version from FF55. (and/or will have problems if you try to).

 

From the release notes-

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/55.0/releasenotes/

 

More info:

https://www.ghacks.net/2017/08/02/you-cannot-downgrade-firefox-55-profiles/

I know, hence why I suggested keeping a backup of your FF54 profile

 

 

[hazelnut]

Firefox 55.0.1 available now via updater.

[nukecad]

Wondered why I was not being offered 55.

 

They are getting a bit to frequent with pulling updates and issuing a .0.1 a day later.

 

Maybe a bit more testing is needed before release release rather than rushing to get it out on Patch Tuesday?

[hazelnut]

Expect another version soon

 

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1388584

[JDPower]

 

Expect another version soon

 

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1388584

Is this where I get to feel smug for holding off updating to 55

[trium]

Firefox 55.0.1 available now via updater.

 

Version 55.0.1, first offered to Release channel users on August 10, 2017

 

Fixed

• Fix a regression the tab restoration process (bug 1388160)

• Fix a problem causing What's new pages not to be displayed (bug 1386224)

• Fix a rendering issue with some PKCS#11 libraries (bug 1388370)

• Disable the predictor prefetch (bug 1388160)

[hazelnut]

Mozilla Will Kill Legacy Firefox Add-Ons in Exactly Three Months

 

 

On November 14 Mozilla will take the biggest gamble in its long history when the organization will ship Firefox 57, the first version of its browser that will stop supporting legacy Firefox add-ons.

 

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/mozilla-will-kill-legacy-firefox-add-ons-in-exactly-three-months/

[nukecad]

55.0.2 now released.

 

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/55.0.2/releasenotes/