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Mozilla to continue 64-bit Firefox development for Windows
Earlier on we heard likewise, but Mozilla engineering manager Benjamin Smedberg announced that there's been a change of plan regarding the foundation's move to kill of the 64-bit version of Firefox. Due to negative feedback on the Internet, Mozilla decided to continue building 64-bit nightly builds, but these builds will not be officially supported. All users of the 64-bit nightlies will be migrated to 32-bit in the near future, and will need to download the 64-bit version if they want to keep using it after the migration point.
Here's his full post:
After I announced my decision to disable 64-bit Windows nightlies, there was significant negative feedback. After reviewing that feedback, and consulting with Release Engineering, I believe that we can keep a set of users happy by making a modification to the original plan.
Most importantly, it seems that there are users who regularly run into the 4GB memory limits of 32-bit builds. These users often have hundreds or even thousands of tabs. These users are using the 64-bit nightlies not primarily to be part of our testing community, but because those builds are the best product available.
At this point, the Mozilla project does not have the resources to actively support this use case. Making these builds, however, is not a significant burden on our Release Engineering group. Therefore I have modified my original plan in the following way:
* Migrate all existing users of win64 nightly channel builds to the win32 nightly channel builds via automatic update.
* Continue to build win64 Nightly builds and updates on the nightly channel. Users who need the 64-bit builds will have to download it after the migration point (date TBD).
** Change the default first-run and update page for win64 builds to explain to users that they are not supported.
** Disable the crash reporter for win64 builds
** Enable click-to-play plugins by default in the win64 builds.
* Discontinue the win64 tests and on-checkin builds to reduce release engineering load. By default, do not generate win64 builds on try.
* win64 builds will be considered a "tier 3" build configuration. [1]
We will continue to test the win32 builds and make sure that they work well on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. Specifically, all of our testing on Windows 8 is planned to be done on the 64-bit version of Windows 8.
I do hope that the projects and developers who are interested in win64 will work together to maintain this build configuration. I am interested in hearing from volunteers who want to become the 64-bit build maintainer. I will also set up a discussion list specifically for win64 issues, if that would be valuable.
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Mozilla released Firefox 6
NiColaoS
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#4486226 Posted on: 12/24/2012 11:42 AM
It's just a PR move, nothing more.
It's just a PR move, nothing more.
MadGizmo
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#4486359 Posted on: 12/24/2012 03:19 PM
All those decisions he made would be logical for the end of the product cycle of the 32-bit version.
Let someone tell him 32-bit is outdated. Not 64. 
All those decisions he made would be logical for the end of the product cycle of the 32-bit version.
Let someone tell him 32-bit is outdated. Not 64.
lucidus
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#4486376 Posted on: 12/24/2012 03:40 PM
Plug ins are getting in the way for 64bit browser adoption.
All those decisions he made would be logical for the end of the product cycle of the 32-bit version. Let someone tell him 32-bit is outdated. Not 64.
Let someone tell him 32-bit is outdated. Not 64. Plug ins are getting in the way for 64bit browser adoption.
Neo Cyrus
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#4486382 Posted on: 12/24/2012 03:51 PM
It's a joke that that 64 bit hasn't been the standard for everything for years now. Especially on one of the most popular browsers. The only reason I don't use the 64 bit version is because my plugins simply don't have 64 bit support. The plugins are probably the only reason I'm still using Firefox.
It's a joke that that 64 bit hasn't been the standard for everything for years now. Especially on one of the most popular browsers. The only reason I don't use the 64 bit version is because my plugins simply don't have 64 bit support. The plugins are probably the only reason I'm still using Firefox.
schmidtbag
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#4486423 Posted on: 12/24/2012 05:10 PM
You can blame Windows for that. Windows is the only OS that has struggled to get into 64 bit and even today it's still the worst 64 bit choice due to things like memory limitations and poor maintenance of system resources. I was pissed about Mozilla dropping their 64 bit support because 64 bit Windows is finally catching up and they almost ruined it. Things like plugins won't get ported if there aren't enough users.
Anyways, there are seriously people who use hundreds or even thousands of tabs at a time? Unless you're benchmarking, that sounds incredibly counterproductive in just about every field.
It's a joke that that 64 bit hasn't been the standard for everything for years now. Especially on one of the most popular browsers. The only reason I don't use the 64 bit version is because my plugins simply don't have 64 bit support. The plugins are probably the only reason I'm still using Firefox.
You can blame Windows for that. Windows is the only OS that has struggled to get into 64 bit and even today it's still the worst 64 bit choice due to things like memory limitations and poor maintenance of system resources. I was pissed about Mozilla dropping their 64 bit support because 64 bit Windows is finally catching up and they almost ruined it. Things like plugins won't get ported if there aren't enough users.
Anyways, there are seriously people who use hundreds or even thousands of tabs at a time? Unless you're benchmarking, that sounds incredibly counterproductive in just about every field.
tsunami231
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#4486463 Posted on: 12/24/2012 06:23 PM
i never saw a difference between 32 bit and 64 bit exe's so no biggy, All though i do wonder are current gen consoles 64bit or 32 bit? cause honestly software been lagging behind tech of the pc for long time, and I have always blamed it on Consoles and Developers for this.
Plugins its customizing are the only reason i use FF at this point , i refuse to touch IE and i dont like Chrome but the later 2 are definitely much faster then FF.
I think after FF realize the where best back with 3.x they decided to ride the notion that they are still the best. and they are not atlest not anymore.
i never saw a difference between 32 bit and 64 bit exe's so no biggy, All though i do wonder are current gen consoles 64bit or 32 bit? cause honestly software been lagging behind tech of the pc for long time, and I have always blamed it on Consoles and Developers for this.
Plugins its customizing are the only reason i use FF at this point , i refuse to touch IE and i dont like Chrome but the later 2 are definitely much faster then FF.
I think after FF realize the where best back with 3.x they decided to ride the notion that they are still the best. and they are not atlest not anymore.
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#4486523 Posted on: 12/24/2012 07:41 PM
Adobe Flash Player, Java and Silverlight are already 64-bit capable. Not sure what else needs to be 64-bit capable... unless the person uses a crap ton of plugins, 64-bit is the way to go.
This is no different than migrating Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit. There's always going to be transitional pains but without it, you can't move forward.
deltatux
Plug ins are getting in the way for 64bit browser adoption.
Adobe Flash Player, Java and Silverlight are already 64-bit capable. Not sure what else needs to be 64-bit capable... unless the person uses a crap ton of plugins, 64-bit is the way to go.
This is no different than migrating Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit. There's always going to be transitional pains but without it, you can't move forward.
deltatux
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#4486573 Posted on: 12/24/2012 09:00 PM
That's good to hear. Firefox 64 might not have a huge impact right now but at least it'll keep development going, which saves a lot of hassle and catch-up for Mozilla later on if 64 bit ever becomes standard (big emphasis on "if").
That's good to hear. Firefox 64 might not have a huge impact right now but at least it'll keep development going, which saves a lot of hassle and catch-up for Mozilla later on if 64 bit ever becomes standard (big emphasis on "if").
lucidus
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#4486574 Posted on: 12/24/2012 09:03 PM
Adobe Flash Player, Java and Silverlight are already 64-bit capable. Not sure what else needs to be 64-bit capable... unless the person uses a crap ton of plugins, 64-bit is the way to go.
This is no different than migrating Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit. There's always going to be transitional pains but without it, you can't move forward.
deltatux
Probably proprietary stuff which most of us don't use.
Adobe Flash Player, Java and Silverlight are already 64-bit capable. Not sure what else needs to be 64-bit capable... unless the person uses a crap ton of plugins, 64-bit is the way to go.
This is no different than migrating Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit. There's always going to be transitional pains but without it, you can't move forward.
deltatux
Probably proprietary stuff which most of us don't use.
fr33k
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#4486604 Posted on: 12/24/2012 09:48 PM
there isn't an if. It will become standard. But if devs keep being so standoffish they are going to make it much harder to migrate over.
That's good to hear. Firefox 64 might not have a huge impact right now but at least it'll keep development going, which saves a lot of hassle and catch-up for Mozilla later on if 64 bit ever becomes standard (big emphasis on "if").
there isn't an if. It will become standard. But if devs keep being so standoffish they are going to make it much harder to migrate over.
Zboe
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#4486631 Posted on: 12/24/2012 10:58 PM
More 64bit programs (of any type) is a good thing for all of us. It means people are working on, thinking about, and planning for it more in the future.
I was really hoping MS would kill of 32bit with 8...here's to hoping they manage it next go 'round...
More 64bit programs (of any type) is a good thing for all of us. It means people are working on, thinking about, and planning for it more in the future.
I was really hoping MS would kill of 32bit with 8...here's to hoping they manage it next go 'round...
schmidtbag
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#4486797 Posted on: 12/25/2012 06:07 AM
@tsunami
Consoles shouldn't have anything to do with it. This isn't like converting DX and OpenGL, the software needs to be recompiled on another CPU architecture and OS platform so they can shoot for 64 bit from the very beginning. Besides, I'm pretty sure ps3 uses a 64 bit CPU, I'm not sure about other consoles though.
@deltatux
I think he was talking about extensions.
@tsunami
Consoles shouldn't have anything to do with it. This isn't like converting DX and OpenGL, the software needs to be recompiled on another CPU architecture and OS platform so they can shoot for 64 bit from the very beginning. Besides, I'm pretty sure ps3 uses a 64 bit CPU, I'm not sure about other consoles though.
@deltatux
I think he was talking about extensions.
sykozis
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#4487250 Posted on: 12/26/2012 03:56 AM
Part of the problem is all these "tech professionals" and "analysts" screaming that the desktop market is dying and the world is transitioning to mobile. The mobile market is still 32bit and is only now starting to migrate towards 64bit. What reason do developers have to push 64bit on PC when "analysts" are screaming that the desktop market is dying?
In regards to Firefox, they've never released a final build of a 64bit browser....only "nightly" builds that tend to be buggy as hell. They seem scared to commit to a 64bit code path. At this point, personally, I've lost all interest in Firefox. I use IE and Waterfox and occasionally use IceDragon. Until Mozilla gets serious about releasing a proper 64bit browser, I have no need for Firefox itself.
Part of the problem is all these "tech professionals" and "analysts" screaming that the desktop market is dying and the world is transitioning to mobile. The mobile market is still 32bit and is only now starting to migrate towards 64bit. What reason do developers have to push 64bit on PC when "analysts" are screaming that the desktop market is dying?
In regards to Firefox, they've never released a final build of a 64bit browser....only "nightly" builds that tend to be buggy as hell. They seem scared to commit to a 64bit code path. At this point, personally, I've lost all interest in Firefox. I use IE and Waterfox and occasionally use IceDragon. Until Mozilla gets serious about releasing a proper 64bit browser, I have no need for Firefox itself.
CronoGraal
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#4487254 Posted on: 12/26/2012 04:03 AM
i just assumed everything was 64bit...i mean it's been what, 7 years since 64bit cpu's went mainstream?
i just assumed everything was 64bit...i mean it's been what, 7 years since 64bit cpu's went mainstream?
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What's the point to keep it alive just to keep it alive. If it's bad it's not needed, 64bit should be native now, but noo, let keep it to have an alternative. Users even the majority aren't right always. They might complain in both ways.