The Firefox Web browser is about to go where it has never gone before. Firefox makers are changing their developmental strategy. This new approach will warp Mozilla.org’s flagship browser through several release generations in less time than it took to advance from Firefox 3.0 to the not-yet-released Firefox 4.0. By comparison, Google has shipped a new version of its Google Chrome Web browser about every three months. The other major browser developers — Microsoft and Mozilla.org — have been locked into a new version release cycle of once every year or two.
No Mozilla Firefox has no speed problem. For example take a look at their 3.6.x releases:
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.6 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-6-26.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.7 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-7-20.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.8 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-7-20.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.9 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-9-7.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.10 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-9-15.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.11 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-10-19.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.12 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-10-27.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.13 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-12-9.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.14 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2011-03-01.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.15 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2011-03-04.
A response to this might be, yes but these are merely stability and security updated versions. That is quite true but the same is equally true for Chrome's disingenuous 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, etc. releases where there are no discernible feature differences from release to release. Come on people. Please can we compare apples to apples and not just marketing version numbers.
And between the bloat and memory problems (what is this, 2.x.x all over again?) I've started seriously testing Chromium based Comodo Dragon, which BTW has Adblock Plus and ForecastFox, the two "must have"plugins for me.
I have to support a WIDE range of users, from bleeding edge multicores to netbooks and old office desktops so a decent experience through a wide range is a "must have" for me. Since the last 3 or so 3.6.xx branch updates the 1.8Ghz Sempron I use as a nettop for day to day browsing has been suffering SERIOUS memory problems, such as running FF for just half a day with no more than 5 tabs open at a time will cause FF to begin to suck HUGE amounts of RAM, so much so that by the half day mark ALL BY ITSELF Firefox will blow through the ENTIRE 1.5Gb of RAM and start hitting swap. Now on the same OS (WinXP Home) and the same plugins Comodo Dragon can be run all day with multitabs and ZERO memory footprint issues.
Now personally I think it is because Gecko simply can't handle the features they are bolting on such as sandboxing for plugins. Then add in the fact that I can't in good conscience give FF to those running Vista and Windows 7 because FF STILL refuses to support low rights mode, even though it has been out since 2007 and supported by ALL Webkit based as well as IE, means that if FF doesn't pull off a miracle with FF 4 after all these years I'm gonna have to say goodbye to FF.
With the browser being the closest to "bare metal" with the wild and dangerous web having the browser run in higher rights than needed is a BAD IDEA and frankly the memory issues are just adding a smelly frosting on the fail cake. What happened to FF being the "light and fast" choice which then YOU would customize with plugins? Frankly the ONLY thing that is still keeping FF on my PC is NoScript, but as I use Dragon more and more I'm starting to wonder if low rights mode simply makes NoScript no longer a must have.
If Mozilla really don't turn things around I could see them easily becoming like the old Mozilla Suite, a once proud must have that is no a tiny niche hardly anyone uses anymore.
. . . omitting platforms! I was a Beta Tester until they killed off the PPC platform. We're (several hundred employees, clients and myself) using Safari and any other browser that we can that is not FF. We no long spec Moozilla. (Spelling error intended).
So if these more frequent updates keep breaking ad ons. I think Mozilla may be shooting itself in the foot. I have heard talk of many die hard Firefox users shunning Firefox 4 already because it breaks some ad ons. I think the way Firefox did ad ons is their achiles heal to their browser.
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Does Mozilla Have a Speed Problem?
Posted by: Jack M. Germain March 15, 2011 05:00 AMThe Firefox Web browser is about to go where it has never gone before. Firefox makers are changing their developmental strategy. This new approach will warp Mozilla.org’s flagship browser through several release generations in less time than it took to advance from Firefox 3.0 to the not-yet-released Firefox 4.0. By comparison, Google has shipped a new version of its Google Chrome Web browser about every three months. The other major browser developers — Microsoft and Mozilla.org — have been locked into a new version release cycle of once every year or two.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.6 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-6-26.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.7 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-7-20.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.8 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-7-20.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.9 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-9-7.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.10 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-9-15.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.11 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-10-19.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.12 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-10-27.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.13 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2010-12-9.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.14 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2011-03-01.
"Mozilla Firefox 3.6.15 Release Notes". Mozilla. 2011-03-04.
A response to this might be, yes but these are merely stability and security updated versions. That is quite true but the same is equally true for Chrome's disingenuous 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, etc. releases where there are no discernible feature differences from release to release. Come on people. Please can we compare apples to apples and not just marketing version numbers.
I have to support a WIDE range of users, from bleeding edge multicores to netbooks and old office desktops so a decent experience through a wide range is a "must have" for me. Since the last 3 or so 3.6.xx branch updates the 1.8Ghz Sempron I use as a nettop for day to day browsing has been suffering SERIOUS memory problems, such as running FF for just half a day with no more than 5 tabs open at a time will cause FF to begin to suck HUGE amounts of RAM, so much so that by the half day mark ALL BY ITSELF Firefox will blow through the ENTIRE 1.5Gb of RAM and start hitting swap. Now on the same OS (WinXP Home) and the same plugins Comodo Dragon can be run all day with multitabs and ZERO memory footprint issues.
Now personally I think it is because Gecko simply can't handle the features they are bolting on such as sandboxing for plugins. Then add in the fact that I can't in good conscience give FF to those running Vista and Windows 7 because FF STILL refuses to support low rights mode, even though it has been out since 2007 and supported by ALL Webkit based as well as IE, means that if FF doesn't pull off a miracle with FF 4 after all these years I'm gonna have to say goodbye to FF.
With the browser being the closest to "bare metal" with the wild and dangerous web having the browser run in higher rights than needed is a BAD IDEA and frankly the memory issues are just adding a smelly frosting on the fail cake. What happened to FF being the "light and fast" choice which then YOU would customize with plugins? Frankly the ONLY thing that is still keeping FF on my PC is NoScript, but as I use Dragon more and more I'm starting to wonder if low rights mode simply makes NoScript no longer a must have.
If Mozilla really don't turn things around I could see them easily becoming like the old Mozilla Suite, a once proud must have that is no a tiny niche hardly anyone uses anymore.
Sorry guys, you blew it.