[Project_owners] Anyone interested? Extension Minimizer Tool

[Axel Hecht]

Not updating language packs is a bug on AMO.

Axel

Onno Ekker wrote:
> Hi Eric,
> 
> This time I am hijacking your bug....
> 
> Your extension has 26 locales, all in the same xpi. The Mozilla apps are 
> distributed in English or a single other localization. Users can 
> download other localizations manually from 
> ftp://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/<application>/releases/<version>/<platform>/xpi/
> 
> The problem with this, is that the extra localizations don't get updated 
> automatically. I have installed English (en-US) Firefox and Thunderbird 
> with added Dutch (nl) language pack.
> 
> Every time I upgrade Firefox or Thunderbird I have to go to above URL, 
> download the right language pack, install it and restart the application 
> again. On all the computers I work on. And keeping track of it. Did I do 
> it here or not yet?
> 
> I think it's a bug (or it would be an enhancement) if those extra 
> locales could also be updated, and will probably one day file my own bug 
> for that (I won't really hijack yours. If anyone else feels like adding 
> the bug, be my guest, the idea is open source...)
> 
> Anyway, I was also planning on writing an extension that would update 
> the locales for Firefox or Thunderbird for me. This would still require 
> an extra restart for the users, but it would make things better already.
> 
> Maybe this Locale Updater Extension could also be made suitable for 
> updating locales from add-ons. I am not sure if this would work. It may 
> depend on the order in which things are installed and executed, maybe 
> Mozilla gives you an error before being able to download the new locale 
> because it already needs a string new to the updated version before 
> getting to the Updater Extension. These problems could probably also 
> turn up when updating the application itself, so ideally it should all 
> go in one stroke.
> 
> No idea when I'll file that bug or start working on such an extension, 
> but I've been bugged by this issue for a long time now and maybe now is 
> the time. Problem is I'm a bit pressed for time. So, again: if anyone 
> things this is a good idea, has the time for it, feel free to pick it up :-)
> 
> Onno
> 
> On Sat, May 17, 2008 at 11:49 PM, Onno Ekker <o.e.ekker at gmail.com 
> <mailto:o.e.ekker at gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>     Eric H. Jung wrote:
>>     ----- Original Message ----
>>      
>>>     From: Onno Ekker <o.e.ekker at gmail.com> <mailto:o.e.ekker at gmail.com>
>>>     To: Mozdev Project Owners List <project_owners at mozdev.org>
>>>     <mailto:project_owners at mozdev.org>
>>>     Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2008 2:04:20 AM
>>>     Subject: Re: [Project_owners] Anyone interested? Extension
>>>     Minimizer Tool
>>>
>>>     I don't think size is the problem, but unused strings will cause
>>>     unnecessary work and delay for existing and new localizations.
>>>
>>>         
>>
>>     Size is a problem, but I'd forgotten and the unnecessary work and
>>     delay for translators. Thanks for pointing that out!
>>       
>     Still I think size is no problem. Even with the numbers you give
>     your extension won't get 100K bigger from unused compressed strings,
>     but even so: what's the problem? Storage? Download time? Are you
>     afraid people won't download it, because of the size?
>     If so, you could consider leaving out the localizations and offer
>     them as separate downloads. It seems like Enigmail does that too,
>     when you look at the Thunderbird tags on mozdev:
>     http://www.mozdev.org/projects/applications/Thunderbird.html
>>      
>>      
>>>     Also a tool which checks for unused variables or variables used
>>>     only once could help preventing bugs in your extension (or in
>>>     firefox, thunderbird, etc... itself). Perl does this, and it
>>>     helps to catch tpyos...
>>>         
>>
>>     Yes, this would be valuable but is outside the scope of my current
>>     proposal. Please file a new bug if you'd like to see such a tool
>>     instead of trying to hijack mine :)
>>
>>       
>     I was just trying to help, but now that you mention hijacking:
>     that's a thought. What was the URL of your bug again? :o)
> 
>     Onno
> 
>