It would be nice to have current guidance on what to do when an application displays an automatic update notification. I have seen a post from 2006, for example, and it would be nice to have newer information.
For example, Thunderbird recently notified me that there was a newer version, and since I didn't know at the time whether it was safe or not, I did not install it. But this is not a question about Thunderbird.
The question is whether it is safe IN GENERAL to apply automatic updates? What is the general "rule-of-thumb"? And whatever the rule-of-thumb is, it would be nice to have it prominent and "sticky."
Now, if only everything were portable...
Phil
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General rule of thumb is: "No, don't do it, wait for the PortableApps package to be updated to the latest version here."
It's possible that using the built-in updaters will break something and your portable app will no longer run as it is intended to.
If you use the PortableApps Menu you'll soon be able test receiving notification of updates to packages via that, so you can even turn off the update notifications from within the packages themselves.
A while ago, John guaranteed a 24 hour turnaround policy where the PortableApps version will be up within 24 hours of the original app being updated.
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Does that still hold true? I was under the impression that policy was from back in the day when John was mostly developing by himself, and was restricted to the most prominent apps like Firefox and Thunderbird. I assume for Joe Blow developing AutomaticToiletRollHolderReplacerPortable, you could still experience delays.
I'm not complaining, I'm just setting the expectation. Personally, it doesn't bother me if I get an update a few days after the fact, as long as there are no major, show-stopping problems in the version I'm using at the time.
This applies to major apps like FF and TB where security issues apply. It applies to current versions only. Legacy versions (example: TB 2.x, FF 2.5.x will be done as time permits). OO.o will take longer as they take up to a week or so for all supported languages to be compiled.
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I like Joe Blow
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
It's a popular "Americanism" to denote some unknown individual. Sometimes alternatively referred to "Joe Schmoe". The UK has a similar name, typically "Joe" or "Fred", "Bloggs". I'm sure every country has a similar fictitious unknown. Then again, maybe not.
Personally, I'd turn off version checking in the portable Mozilla apps and use the PortableApps Updater...when it's released. When that is though, is another mystery.
https://portableapps.com/node/22914
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Understood. Thank you.
Note to John Haller: I'd like to request that we make this info prominent in some way. It's a fundamental question. And thanks for Portable Apps.