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add ons thunderbird 60

  • 10 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by possiepos

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After upgrading to thunderbird 60, 70% of the add ons which I daily use in thunderbird are not compatible. Why create software that does not allow backwards compatibility?

The features that are not working are: - change default search engine to google (not bing, yahoo etc), - Filelink feature for MEGA - Set inbox - Adblock - Manually sort folders - G hub lite (some google links)

And the list goes on...

Anyone got solutions for these?

After upgrading to thunderbird 60, 70% of the add ons which I daily use in thunderbird are not compatible. Why create software that does not allow backwards compatibility? The features that are not working are: - change default search engine to google (not bing, yahoo etc), - Filelink feature for MEGA - Set inbox - Adblock - Manually sort folders - G hub lite (some google links) And the list goes on... Anyone got solutions for these?

All Replies (10)

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Addon extensions are created and maintained by the person who wrote them; the author. They are not created nor maintained by 'Thunderbird'.

Usually, the author will depend upon users donating monies so they can maintain the addon extensions.

Some addons may need to be updated. Check you are using the latest addon. Manually Sort Folders is an addon that has been updated to be used up to verion 63, so it should be working. https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/manually-sort-folders/?src=ss

Some authors have decided not to update their addon so it is compatible with version 60.

Version 60 release notes: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/60.0/releasenotes/

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I have this problem with Thunderbird 60. I feel this is a joke from Mozilla! Why let these developers should be shown more respect. They take time to make these add-ons and Mozilla changes the code and they no longer work. if you go to the add-on page 99% of complete themes, extension etc do not work any more! I have had to roll back to Thunderbird 52+ to get my add-on to work. Why change something when it's NOT broken? Mozilla this is a bad move on your part. I know many people that will leave Firefox and Thunderbird because of your choice to not support the old add-ons! I am now looking for another email client. I will also move from Firefox to Chrome! Yes, I do not like Chrome that much but at least everything works

100% gutted on Mozilla lack of old add-on support

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> Mozilla this is a bad move on your part.

Thunderbird isn't managed or supported by Mozilla - it is run by dedicated volunteers and supported by a small staff paid from contributions made to Thunderbird, not Mozilla. But we do depend on some Mozilla code, and so in some cases we are forced to go where they go.

OTOH read https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/new-thunderbird-60#w_some-add-ons-may-not-work and you will learn that Thunderbird went to considerable effort to minimize or in some cases eliminate the effects of Mozilla changes. Were it not for those changes, probably all addons would have required considerable author effort.

And finally, no software happens in a vacuum or stands still, in any industry. You evolve and improve or die, if nothing else so it can be made safer through deliberate thoughtful change. And so must add-ons. (Analogy, most people if offered a choice wouldn't buy a car with body styling and technology from the 60s. So do software users be forced into something similar, just because some people say software shouldn't change?)

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That said...

I'm exploring options to have the function return, in some fashion. It's fairly popular and frankly I'm surprised no add-on authors have stepped forward to fix one of these, given that we the first beta when interfaces were stabilized was March 26 - 5 months ago.

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possiepos said

After upgrading to thunderbird 60, 70% of the add ons which I daily use in thunderbird are not compatible. Why create software that does not allow backwards compatibility? The features that are not working are: - change default search engine to google (not bing, yahoo etc), - Filelink feature for MEGA - Set inbox - Adblock - Manually sort folders - G hub lite (some google links) And the list goes on... Anyone got solutions for these?

Have you reached out to those add-on authors?

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Yes I did and only two responded: G hub and MEGA. When buying G hub pro all problems go away and MEGA is working on a solution. So far, the others do not respond at all or do not develop the add on any longer.

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I'm just wondering if you read the info at the link I posted. So here it is again and I've also added the relevant section below. https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/60.0/releasenotes/

IMPORTANT: Add-ons not marked as compatible with Thunderbird 60 by their authors will be disabled (this can be reverted via preference extensions.strictCompatibility)

So it may be worth trying to see if other addon still function. Menu icon (3 lines) > Options > Options > Advanced > 'General' tab click on 'Config Editor' button it will say be careful :) In top search Type: s.strict locate line: extensions.strictCompatibility Double click on line to toggle the value close window click on OK

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First thing I did after upgrading to 60.

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Apparently the fact that the developers were not aware of the possibility that most add ons would not work is bad messaging notification strategy of the Mozilla Thunderbird software development community? But it might well be this was well done. I think it is time that most add ons are removed from the "add on" store.

Maybe this calls for a store system that allows a payment system to the add one developers? I paid for G hub pro. I am willing to pay for Google search, MEGA filelink feature and more.