chrispederick.com
Sep
08
Firefox 1.5 Beta Compatibility
- User Agent Switcher, Web Developer
- 49 Comments
- 2 years ago
This is really just a placeholder post for now as I am starting to receive emails and forum posts asking about Firefox 1.5 Beta compatibility for the User Agent Switcher and Web Developer extensions.
Update: The User Agent Switcher and Web Developer extensions are both now compatible with Firefox 1.5 Beta.
My usual stand is that I do not support nightly, alpha or beta builds for either extension - as noted in the User Agent Switcher and Web Developer FAQs. This is because too many little bugs appear in these builds that can affect the behavior of an extension and I just do not have the time to debug an issue to work out if it is a problem with that build or my extension.
However, with Firefox 1.5 Beta offering significant improvements over Firefox 1.0 I suspect that many people will be trying it out - myself included. Therefore I am planning on making both the User Agent Switcher and Web Developer extensions compatible with Firefox 1.5 Beta, with the caveat that I will not be providing any support for issues that are only related to Firefox 1.5 Beta and do not occur in Firefox 1.0.
Changes Required
Making the User Agent Switcher extension compatible should be straightforward enough and I hope to release version 0.6.7 this weekend. This will not include any new functionality, but will merely add Firefox 1.5 Beta and Netscape support along with some minor code optimization.
Unfortunately, the Web Developer extension is a little more tricky. I have spent the last few months working on the next release of the extension and version 0.9.3 is effectively frozen. If version 0.9.3 can be made compatible with Firefox 1.5 Beta by just updating the supported version then I will do that this weekend. Otherwise people will have to wait for the beta of the next release for a version of the Web Developer extension that is compatible with Firefox 1.5 Beta, which should not be too far away if everything goes according to plan.
So please stay tuned - I will be updating this post with the latest information as I work on making the User Agent Switcher and Web Developer extensions compatible with Firefox 1.5 Beta...
49 Comments
Just installed firefox 1.5beta and suddenly found myself helpless in a browser without the valuable features brought to me by the Web developer extension. It has always been there as a friend and now it's gone.
Made me realise that I really should donate..
Keep up the good work, Eric!
i changed the max version in install.rdf and now it is "compatible"... don't know what is not working. i hope to see a official build. Without this Webdeveloper - i cannot live any more...
Don't want to spam your board but you MUST know how valuable your extension is to many people. This ext is a requirement for me to update, so I'm going back to FF1.06. I can hobble along without others, but for me FF is just another browser w/o Web Developer.
Chrisped,
I was recently given the choice between continuing the family line and your Web Developer Toolbar.
I chose the the toolbar.
This really is amazing. We have a product that everyone loves, firefox, yet people are afraid to upgrade because the web developer toolbar has become such an integral part of our workflow.
Kudos Chris.
Don't stress yourself out chris... just point me to the paypal donate button and I'll be patient.
Yet another Web Developer addict...
I should have looked for this blog before sending that email I suppose. Sorry Chris.
I'll definately be back here on monday looking for the next version. Until then, it's back to FF 1.06 for me.
I also need the Web developer toolbar...
Good work and thanks for your great extension.
the web developer toolbar allows me to use the internets. i am a helpless chuffer without it.
I don't mean this as a severe criticism, but...
When I see comments like, "I'm not switching to FF 1.5 because I cannot use Web Developer", I think these 'web developers', so called, are missing the whole point of Deer Park.
FF 1.5 ALPHA/BETA RELEASES ARE FOR WEB DEVELOPERS
Heh? How is it that these 'web developers' won't use it?
I keep up with the nightly FF 1.5 releases because I actually do web development - and yes, it's buggy as a lollipop in an ant farm. For those of you that are merely interested in WEBSITE PRODUCTION, but don't want to miss out on the FF beta 'experience', may I suggest installing FF 1.5, but using Mozilla 1.7.11 instead, with all your usual 'web developer' plug-ins installed, for your 'production' work?
Mozilla 1.7.11 works just as good Firefox for website production, and you won't miss out on all the hubbub surrounding the most exciting Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox release of all time! 
Lates!
VinDSL, Lenon.com
Web Developer does work on 1.5.
I was able to get it to work by forcing compatbility via the Nightly Tester Tools plugin. I have not yet found any issues whater-so-ever in functionality. It works flawlessly as far as I am able to gather.
Actually, there is a known issue with the Web Developer extension in Firefox 1.5 Beta where it stops the customization of the toolbars.
I am working on this so it is recommended that you wait of a compatible release.
Hmm... I was not aware of this issue, and after just testing it, and I can't duplicate it.
Either way, I agree that forcing compatbility is at your own risk. Nobody is held responsible if it breaks firefox. (works wonders for me though) 
Here are some of the posts on the MozillaZine forums related to the toolbar issue. It does not seem to be just releated to the Web Developer extension, but I am definitely seeing this issue:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=315402
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=311770
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=311152
Ah, I see.
The bug seems to be with Firefox in general, though. Not Web Developer specific.
Well, it is related to when you install certain extensions and Web Developer appears to be one of these extensions.
If I run Firefox 1.5 Beta without Web Developer then I can customize the toolbars just fine. If I then install Web Developer my customizations get reset.
Other people are also seeing this with other extensions, but I have been able to fix this for Web Developer in a development build by changing a little piece of code. As soon as I can verify this build is working and package it up this will form a 0.9.4 release.
Ah, ok. Sounds good then
Wow, Chris. Having to use FF without your extension has made me realise how much I depend on it. I think I use outline-block almost constantly...
And the todo list for the next release looks very ambitious, wow.
This is extraordinary. But don't push yourself too hard-- and give us a donation button.
Seeing as a couple of people have mentioned it, here is a link to the donate page:
Wonderful extension.
Helps me lot in my daily life. Hmm.. looking forward for firefox beta support. I can not live longer without this extension.
And atlast let me give you my heartful wishes to you for helping us all by developing so cute extension.
Jelda
I can't duplicate the toolbar problem either, Chris. I installed the 9-11 nightly, ran the Nightly Tester Tools, right-clicked the toolbar, added the FlashGot icon, closed/reopened Firefox, and everything was fine. Then, I removed the FlashGot icon, closed/reopened Firefox, and everything was still fine. Hrm...
The Google Toolbar (not GoogleBar) was the total opposite. It 'came up' with every option enabled. There was no way to disable anything, and on top of that nothing worked. So, Google Toolbar was a total wash. I uninstalled it.
Anyway, as Kickboy said, Web Developer is working fine for me too, it's not affecting the toolbar, e.g. I can't duplicate the problem[s] either.
I'll keep trying to screw the pooch. If anything crops up, I'll post back...
The problem I had with Web Developer was that its toolbar vanished. No icons would be displayed.
Every *feature* I tried worked though
Eagerly awaiting the 1.5 compatible version, being a JS newbie I like to be able to quickly call the JS Console window without having to keep it open at all times :p
//peace
I'm Yet Another Web Developer Fan who misses it with FF 1.5 beta. Wanting to understand Deer Park and also have my Web Developer too, I'll fall back to vanilla Moz browser for Web Developer while testing Deer Park. ... and keep watching for an update.
Loads of THANKS Chris for what you've given us so far!!!
Thanks for your efforts to make WebDeveloper 0.9.4 compatible with Firefox 1.5! We appreciate your work.
Hello Chris,
first of all: this tool is essential, many thanks!
Installing webdeveloper 0.9.4 localized causes
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; de; rv:1.8b4) Gecko/20050908 Firefox/1.4 - Build ID: 2005090806
to crash on every start.
Installing webdeveloper 0.9.4 english works normally.
Keep up the good work,
René
Rene - I am able to install the localized build just fine. Which language are you using as it may be a specific translation which is causing problems.
Thanks for the new version!
But only the English version works, the localized produces an error message when starting Firefox (but no crash) and doesn't work. It says "" and when I try the extension's options, I get an error in "[...]/locale/options.dtd" line 5, col 67.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; de; rv:1.8b4) Gecko/20050908 Firefox/1.4
Tobias - as I posted above the localized build is working for me. Which language are you using as it may be a specific translation which is causing problems.
Chris, sorry, German ("de" ;). There isn't any official German Beta 1, but that version is said to be the corresponding nightly.
No problem, Tobias. Thanks for the information - I'll take a look and see if I can work out what the problem is. Do you know specifically where I could get a German localized build?
Localized builds
Look for "de". Didn't try the latest myself.
Tobias - try the localized build again, I think the problem is fixed.
Chris, the new localized build works! Thank you!
In the latest nightly 1.8 branch build the Firefox version has been bumped from 1.4 to 1.4.1 (beta 2), breaking Web Developer Toolbar compatibility.
As the FAQ states I do not support nightly builds. I am only supporting the 1.5 beta releases and they are still on beta 1 linked from the Mozilla site.
@toni: Edit the install.rdf in the xpi file, change maxVersion from 1.4 to 1.4+ and then reinstall the new xpi. WDT works fine in my nightly builds.
I just tried to install this onto 1.5b2 (v1.4.1) and it is not compatible. Are you going to release one that is compatible for this version?
Please see this comment just above your comment.
Now that Beta 2 is officially released (as version 1.4.1), do you intend to support it with Web Developer? (This is flattery rather than nagging - your extension is invaluable!!)
I have read your comments that you have linked to above, and it is unclear what approach you intend to take.
Yes - now that beta 2 is officially out I will be adding support...hopefully tonight.
Fantastic!
Great! So I can use FF 1.5 Beta 2
On a side note, I've been using Beta 1 of FF1.5 in the past couple of weeks, and I notice that "Disable Images" isn't working. I know it's not a full release, so I'm willing to wait of course, but just thought I'd point it out.
Did I mention that WDT's a fantastic plugin?
The 'Disable Images' problem is a known issue and will be fixed in the next release:
Nice software. I really liked the software for web developers using Mozilla FF.
greetz
Johan
FYI - there has been a version bump in the nightlies now to 1.5
All seems to be working withthe bar so now might be a good time to set the max version to 1.5.0.* inline with the new policies in place for extension version numbers for firefox 1.5
I will be verifying compatibility and updating the maxVersion soon.
Gracias por tu trabajo al realizar Switcher. Creo que toda la comunidad internauta que conoce tu soft está agradecida.
Un saludo,
Thank´s for your job, Switcher. Best regards.
BARCELONA-SPAIN
Jens Wedin
2 years ago
September 9, 2005
I will not update to FF 1.5 before the web developer extension works with that build. This is how important Web developer is to me.