Re: Removing Firefox Version Number

On Aug 15, 4:35 pm, Asa Dotzler <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tyler Downer wrote:
> > Asa, would you mind clearly, and with supporting data, tests, metrics,
> > show What problem this is addressing, Who is affected by it, What our
> > goal is (long-term and short-term, and not generic terms like "getting
> > rid of versions") and How this solution addresses the problem better
> > than the solutions we already have in place. I truly would like to
> > know the clear answers to all of these questions, I may not be seeing
> > data that you are (Maybe 50% of users sit on About all day wondering
> > when Firefox last checked for updates, I don't know), but I need
> > concrete information, not generic buzzwords.
>
> It's simple. We are moving to a release model that makes version numbers
> meaningless and unactionable for consumers. In that model, version
> numbers go away.
>
> - A

This response is dismissive to the point of being disingenuous.  I'm
sure you're upset that this has led to such a public backlash, but if
you're going to defend this proposal, at least do so in earnest.  I
imagine he capitalized those four questions to prevent this sort of
evasive response, and they're fair questions.  Can you please answer
them individually?

1. What problem this is addressing?
2. Who is affected by it?
3. What is our goal (long-term and short-term, and not generic terms
like "getting rid of versions")?
4. How does this solution address the problem better than the
solutions we already have in place?

I was going to draft some proposed answers to these questions myself,
but I honestly can't think of anything even for #1.  "Version numbers"
themselves are simply not a Bad Thing.

To the point about Help|Troubleshooting replacing Help|About, every
application in the last two decades puts version info in the Help|
About, and About at the bottom of Help.  I don't even see the other
items in the help menu, and before I clicked it, I had no idea what
the Troubleshooting option would even do.  I figured it would go to
some boilerplate FAQ web page or something.  Definitely would not have
found it on my own.

The only remaining reason I use Firefox is the addon library.  The
ridiculous rapid release schedule has already thrown a wrench in that,
so I have the nightly build tools forcing compatibility for essential
addons that have no update or replacement, and now this proposed
versionless nonsense threatens to exacerbate the problem.  If you've
never worked in a corporate support or web developer role, please take
your hands off the release decisions.  Geeks had to fight tooth and
nail to get Firefox on businesses' radar when IE was king, and now
that you're here, you're killing us.