Re: Linux and Software Freedom

On 8/20/2011 1:21 AM, Tony Mechelynck wrote:
> On 17/08/11 20:36, Asa Dotzler wrote:
> [...]
>> You personally probably don't need need Firefox to tell you anything
>> about its up to date status. Your Linux distribution handles your
>> updates and your versions. That's relevant for the 1-2% of Firefox users
>> on Linux for sure.
> [...]
>
> Please don't make such sweeping statements. I'm on Linux, but Firefox is
> one of extremely few products which I get straight from their original
> publisher, bypassing my distro's sotware-update system.
>
> However, I check for updates for all my software daily (or sometimes
> even oftener) at the time of day when it suits *my own* schedule, and I
> have no use for Firefox (or anything else) disrupting my work routine,
> either by popping up an "updates found" alert, or even by "only"
> monopolizing my bandwidth by downloading an update wihout my say-so, or,
> worse, stopping everything in order to install a new version.
>
> Maybe I'm crazy, but if I weren't I wouldn't be with Linux in the first
> place, would I? I'd have remained where I started from, a serf to Lord
> Bill of the Gates, or maybe I would have gone over to the Highlands and
> indentured myself to the MacIntosh. ;-P
>
> Best regards,
> Tony.

I don't think you can prevent the notifications, and that can be 
irritating.  I think such things are better saved for when the user 
shuts down, or restarts, the application.  On the other hand, experience 
indicates that if they aren't notified of an update, some users would 
NEVER check, putting them in danger from nasty exploits for an 
undetermined period.  Other users leave software running for days/weeks, 
without a restart, and they would similarly be exposed to the above 
risks.  This may be one of those 'damned if you do/damned if you don't' 
things.