305475 - prepare for releasing 1.5 beta with an update channel of 'beta'

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Toolkit :: Application Update, defect)

Description

[Chase Phillips]

The upcoming Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5 beta release will need an update
channel of 'beta' rather than 'default' or 'nightly' (whichever is included by
default) in order to address that audience as we intend to.  Select the best way
to insert 'beta' in place of 'default'/'nightly' in built packages (unpack, swap
the channel value, repack).  There will be many packages - one set per 30+
locales.  An alternative is to build from scratch just for the beta, though this
is less desirable.

If no solution is found in time, our workaround is that the channel be set in
CVS to 'beta' for a couple of build cycles.  The downside is that nightly
testers may most likely be updated to one of these builds which would then not
be updated again until we set the bulk of our beta audience to be updated.

Comment 1

[Jesse Ruderman]

Do we want users who download Firefox 1.5 Beta to get betas of future versions
of Firefox, such as Firefox 2.0 Beta, or should they get back on the normal
channel once they are upgraded to Firefox 1.5?

Comment 2

[Chase Phillips]

(In reply to comment #1)
> Do we want users who download Firefox 1.5 Beta to get betas of future versions
> of Firefox, such as Firefox 2.0 Beta, or should they get back on the normal
> channel once they are upgraded to Firefox 1.5?

We don't have a solid answer on this right now but that's OK.  I've heard good
points for both sides.  Since we can tune AUS2 to update Firefox 1.5 Beta-based
installs to any new build we can proceed as normal and address the question
later as we build consensus either way.

Comment 3

[:Gavin Sharp [email: [e-mail]]]

1.5 beta is long gone, so I think this can be closed...