Mozilla releases a new stable version of its open source Firefox web browser every four weeks. This new version introduces new features, bug and security fixes. Up until now, smaller updates were released between two major releases.
These point updates do not include new features usually but fix security issues and/or non-security issues. The releases were not predictable up until now. While you could almost be certain that a point update would be released, it was never really certain when.
This changes with the release of Firefox 151. Mozilla is switching to the same point update release rhythm that Google uses for its Chrome web browser currently.
Put simply, Mozilla plans to release a point update every week going forward. This means three Firefox point releases at the very same day of the week in-between major releases. Three point updates will follow the release of Firefox 151 and any other major browser release that follows.
The organization confirmed the change on the official Wiki (via Sören Hentzschel):
Starting with Fx151, we now have 3 weekly dot releases for Desktop and Android
Release calendar updates will be live shortly
Other than that, there is no explanation from Mozilla regarding the change yet. Considering that Google announced recently to shorten Chrome release cycles to two weeks, it is likely an attempt to stay ahead of major developments and push out fixes faster to the user base.
With AI helping Mozilla find security issues in Firefox, it is probably one reason why the organization decided to push out more updates to get these fixes on user systems as soon as possible.
Yes, too many updates already; it’s a persistent annoyance for me, I think because I am not entirely sure of how critical the update is. I could track it down, but whenever I have, I thought, “Could have waited.”
I switched to the ESR version because of the frequent “non-essential” updates. Usually, the browser is the first program I use, and that horrid “Firefox has a download for you” in the upper right hand corner. I think, “Again . . . how often do you guys need, really need to update?”
Security updates–something that makes it all more secure–all for it!
I always disable automatic updates when possible, browser included.
Concerning Firefox,
– when installing/upgrading, I uncheck ‘MaintenanceService’
– when running, I disable extensions auto-update.
Firefox ESR here but only because 115 ESR is the only, last one to accept Windows 7, otherwise and previously my policy has always been to upgrade to the latest version, mainly because Firefox here being very heavily tweaked I’d have too much work fixing these tweaks on upgrades after a year or more…
With MainenanceService enabled I imagine the bother of downloading once a weak the latest version to upgrade it here, manually. For security reasons bother would easily be compensated by the imperative, but if the weekly upgrade refers to a cosmetic enhancement or new feature I’m afraid (silent) big words would invade my thoughts.
My concern with weekly updates is, how much actual in house testing can be done with that rapid a turn around.
wish you all the best