539535 - Remove "Work Offline" switch

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 565564

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Alex Limi (:limi) — Firefox UX Team]

I assume this option exists for historical reasons (for platforms where we couldn't detect whether there was an internet connection or not), but at the moment it is actively harmful, and confuses people.

Assuming that we can reliably detect whether we have an internet connection on all the major platforms, we should get rid of this switch altogether.

For people that need to force offline mode when they are really offline (for software testing, etc), there should be an add-on that offers this kind of development tool.

Important points to note when we remove it:

- Never put localhost offline
- Make sure to test all the different reload behaviors (Try again button vs. select URL + enter vs. reload button)

Comment 1

[Chris AtLee [:catlee]]

I rely on the "Work Offline" switch to flush firefox's DNS cache when I change which VPNs I'm connected to.

Comment 2

[tymerkaev]

(In reply to comment #1)
> I rely on the "Work Offline" switch to flush firefox's DNS cache when I change
> which VPNs I'm connected to.

I fully agree with catlee. Why you need to remove something if it just doesn't fit in App Button?

Comment 3

[Alex Limi (:limi) — Firefox UX Team]

(In reply to comment #1)
> I rely on the "Work Offline" switch to flush firefox's DNS cache when I change
> which VPNs I'm connected to.

That's certainly an interesting side effect, but not what Work Offline is for. Sounds like something that should be in the Network prefs panel.

Comment 4

[:aceman]

What about wanting to switch offline even though there is network connection? Like when trying to browse pages in the cache. Or is that completely broken now?

Comment 5

[Tony Mechelynck [:tonymec]]

This so-called improvement is Firefox-only, isn't it? In SeaMonkey, after my ISP has broken the connection and I reestablish it (thus getting a new IP address), I have to put the mailer offline-online in order to be able to send email.

Comment 6

[Peter Henkel [:Terepin]]

Removing switch is step necessary for removal of Work Offline. But I know what you have on your mind; Work Offline is more pain in the ass than a feature...

Comment 7

[Ben Bucksch (:BenB)]

Marking DUP of (newer) bug 565564, because that one has some reasons why this option is a) useful and b) hard to make fully automatic *in all situations*. Details there.