Want your Firefox add-ons? Better get them now

Vikingod · Feb 10, 2007, 03:56 PM

Source: ComputerWorld
____________
Mozilla Corp. will relaunch its popular Firefox add-on site Monday by culling the several thousand extensions listed for its open-source browser to just a couple of hundred.

The move is part of a general overhaul of the add-on site, which will also feature more support for international users and new tools for user-to-user discussions.

But it's the thinning of the add-on herd that may raise eyebrows. "We're trying to tighten up the extensions, especially for new first-time users," said Mike Shaver, Mozilla's technology strategist.

Rather than list all the available Firefox and Thunderbird extensions -- Shaver estimated that there are approximately 2,000 available now -- the site will drop marginal add-ons, as well as those no longer maintained by their creator or not updated for the browsers and e-mail clients now in use. A couple of hundred extensions will remain on the site after Monday.

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 10, 2007, 04:00 PM

Bummer.

I hate it when people just throw stuff out like that. All that hard work - gone.

Why not just host it on an "Previous Extensions" page or some other title like that and just link to it from the main page?

Vikingod · Feb 10, 2007, 04:06 PM

I actually think its a good plan for them. Half the people I know who arent really computer savvy don't like FF because they can't figure the freakin front page out because there is so much there. There isn't a need for that many extentions. What you'll see is independent sites pop up all over where devs can host their extensions, so not much will actually change.

IvanV · Feb 10, 2007, 06:35 PM

I agree, there are too many of those extensions and not all of them work very well (some don't work at all with the current versions, as they said), so a cleanup was definitely in order.

bug77 · Feb 10, 2007, 11:37 PM

There goes my beloved adblock...

~~DudeBoyz~~ · Feb 10, 2007, 11:53 PM

I understand wanting to separate the best from the rest, but I guess I'm just saying it would be nice if they would keep the separated ones on some sort of "Archived Extensions" page so those in the know could get them if they wished.

Tipstaff · Feb 11, 2007, 12:03 AM

Since Firefox is up to v.2.0.0.1 there are a lot of addons, A LOT that don't work with it for the reasons mentioned (no longer updated by their creator, or have been superseded by more robust or newer programs). Those are the ones being.. flushed. Which is a good thing as trying to find something that does work with the version you are using can take hours just to sift through all the useless crap.

And don't fret, bug, Adblock and Adblock Plus should still be updated. The 2 I'm most worried about are the Download Statusbar, and foXpose add-ons.

Erroneus · Feb 11, 2007, 01:52 AM

Download Statusbar was updated in December, so thats a keeper.

Good move by Mozilla, was way to messy the addons site.

Feb 10, 2007, 03:56 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Want your Firefox add-ons? Better get them now Source: ComputerWorld ____________ Mozilla Corp. will relaunch its popular Firefox add-on site Monday by culling the several thousand extensions listed for its open-source browser to just a couple of hundred. The move is part of a general overhaul of the add-on site, which will also feature more support for international users and new tools for user-to-user discussions. But it's the thinning of the add-on herd that may raise eyebrows. "We're trying to tighten up the extensions, especially for new first-time users," said Mike Shaver, Mozilla's technology strategist. Rather than list all the available Firefox and Thunderbird extensions -- Shaver estimated that there are approximately 2,000 available now -- the site will drop marginal add-ons, as well as those no longer maintained by their creator or not updated for the browsers and e-mail clients now in use. A couple of hundred extensions will remain on the site after Monday.

Feb 10, 2007, 06:35 PM	#4
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,917 Rep Power: 336 System Specs	I agree, there are too many of those extensions and not all of them work very well (some don't work at all with the current versions, as they said), so a cleanup was definitely in order. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Feb 11, 2007, 12:03 AM	#7
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Since Firefox is up to v.2.0.0.1 there are a lot of addons, A LOT that don't work with it for the reasons mentioned (no longer updated by their creator, or have been superseded by more robust or newer programs). Those are the ones being.. flushed. Which is a good thing as trying to find something that does work with the version you are using can take hours just to sift through all the useless crap. And don't fret, bug, Adblock and Adblock Plus should still be updated. The 2 I'm most worried about are the Download Statusbar, and foXpose add-ons. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Feb 11, 2007, 01:52 AM	#8
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,418 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Download Statusbar was updated in December, so thats a keeper. Good move by Mozilla, was way to messy the addons site. __________________

Feb 10, 2007, 04:00 PM	#2
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	Bummer. I hate it when people just throw stuff out like that. All that hard work - gone. Why not just host it on an "Previous Extensions" page or some other title like that and just link to it from the main page?

Feb 10, 2007, 04:06 PM	Thread Starter #3
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	I actually think its a good plan for them. Half the people I know who arent really computer savvy don't like FF because they can't figure the freakin front page out because there is so much there. There isn't a need for that many extentions. What you'll see is independent sites pop up all over where devs can host their extensions, so not much will actually change.

Feb 10, 2007, 11:37 PM	#5
bug77 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: around Posts: 792 Rep Power: 0	There goes my beloved adblock...

Feb 10, 2007, 11:53 PM	#6
~~DudeBoyz~~ banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,677 Rep Power: 0	I understand wanting to separate the best from the rest, but I guess I'm just saying it would be nice if they would keep the separated ones on some sort of "Archived Extensions" page so those in the know could get them if they wished.