[Mageia-dev] FireFox ESR <= we should totally go for this wrt stable releases

Fri Jan 13 20:59:19 CET 2012

On Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 6:00 AM, andre999 <andre999mga at laposte.net> wrote:
+
+> Wait.
+> A long-term release version is kept updated for bugs, particularly
+> security bugs, but doesn't add new features.
+> Since it doesn't add new features, it is less likely to introduce new
+> bugs, and so would be more secure.
+> (That is why, in case you haven't noticed, that Firefox has more security
+> issues than Seamonkey, which is one step behind Firefox in adopting new
+> features.)
+>
+> So if you want a stable, secure browser, prefer among Mozilla browsers the
+> Firefox long-term release, or for more stable, Seamonkey.
+>
+> For the minority of users who want the latest features, despite the
+> greater risk, like the cauldron of Mozilla, it is easy to download the
+> latest Firefox release, direct from upstream.  (It will be available there
+> at least a week sooner.)
+> Upstream Firefox by default warns when the latest update is available.
+>
+> --
+> André
+>
+>
+I think André is entirely correct and the ESR should meet the requirements
+for a long-term Mageia.  The ESR will get all of the security updates, but
+not the new features so any argument about needing the latest to stay
+secure is invalid.  (
+http://www.anandtech.com/show/5378/mozilla-announces-firefox-extended-support-release
+)
+
+Also, the next upstream will be moving to quiet updates, unless Firefox
+hasn't been restarted in the last 12 hours.  So, users that want the latest
+can use the upstream and be automatically updated.
+(http://letsbytecode.com/general/10-firefox-will-be-updated-on-the-quiet/)
+
+My only concern is the difference in release times.  Mageia's is 9months
+and Mozilla is 1year.  Nine months from Mageia's 1st long-term release,
+Mozilla will still be on the same FF, and will update FF in the middle of
+the second Mageia long-term release.  This would create more work and a
+long-term Mageia, which will have a major component update during the
+long-term support period.
+
+--Jeff
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