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Mozilla to build slow-paced Firefox for conservative users
For those not eager to test and certify new versions of the open-source browser every six weeks, Mozilla has committed to the annually updated ESR version.
Mozilla has embarked on its plan to build its Extended Support Release (ESR) version of Firefox, an edition that stands comparatively still while the ordinary version of the browser changes every six weeks.
Mozilla proposed the ESR version of Firefox last year after encountering serious resistance to its rapid-release development cycle.
The fast releases let Mozilla bring new Firefox features to the world sooner, and Mozilla remains committed to the approach. But it doesn't work so well for companies or other organizations that need to test their software carefully or make sure custom add-ons don't break frequently.
The initial ESR proposal called for a new version every five releases, or 30 weeks, with support for each version lasting seven cycles, or 42 weeks. But Mozilla dialed that back down in the months of discussion since it debuted the ESR idea.
"Releases of the ESR will occur once a year, providing these organizations with a version of Firefox that receives security updates but does not make changes to the Web or Firefox add-ons platform," Jay Sullivan, Mozilla's vice president of products, said in a blog post today. "We have worked with many organizations to ensure that the ESR balances their need for the latest security updates with the desire to have a lighter application certification burden."
Mozilla detailed the plan on its enterprise Firefox page.
