541827 - plugincheck lies: "Unable to Detect Plugin Version" when it already correctly detects plugin version

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 573553

(Websites :: plugins.mozilla.org, defect)

Description

[Zbigniew Luszpinski]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; pl-PL; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100124 Firefox/3.6
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; pl-PL; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100124 Firefox/3.6

plugincheck lies: "Unable to Detect Plugin Version" when it already finds correct version number for the following plugins:
Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_18
Adobe Reader 9.3
Xine Plugin
Scalable Vector Graphics
By choosing in Firefox: "Tools menu->Page Info" I can see on "Media" tab, "Address":
https://pfs2.mozilla.org/unknown_plugin.gif?name=Java(TM)+Plug-in+1.6.0_18&description=The+next+generation+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fjava.sun.com%22%3EJava%3C%2Fa%3E+plug-in+for+Mozilla+browsers.&appID=%7Bec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384%7D&appRelease=3.6&appVersion=20100124053401&clientOS=Linux+i686&chromeLocale=en-US&version=1.6.0.18&mimes=application%2Fx-java-vm+application%2Fx-java-applet+application%2Fx-java-bean

As you see looking at above link at the end of link, plugincheck correctly found:
name=Java(TM)+Plug-in+1.6.0_18
version=1.6.0.18
So why plugincheck lies that version of plugin can not be detected?

https://pfs2.mozilla.org/unknown_plugin.gif?name=Adobe+Reader+9.3&description=The+Adobe+Reader+plugin+is+used+to+enable+viewing+of+PDF+and+FDF+files+from+within+the+browser.&appID=%7Bec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384%7D&appRelease=3.6&appVersion=20100124053401&clientOS=Linux+i686&chromeLocale=en-US&version=9.3&mimes=application%2Fpdf+application%2Fvnd.fdf+application%2Fvnd.adobe.xfdf+application%2Fvnd.adobe.xdp%2Bxml+application%2Fvnd.adobe.xfd%2Bxml

What I found in above link:
name=Adobe+Reader+9.3
version=9.3

https://pfs2.mozilla.org/unknown_plugin.gif?name=Xine+Plugin&description=Xine+Plugin+version+1.0.2%2C+(c)+%3Ca+href%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.xinehq.de%3EThe+Xine+Project%3C%2Fa%3E.%3Cbr%3EWindows+Media+Player+%2F+RealPlayer+%2F+QuickTime+compatible.&appID=%7Bec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384%7D&appRelease=3.6&appVersion=20100124053401&clientOS=Linux+i686&chromeLocale=en-US&version=1.0.2&mimes=application%2Fannodex+application%2Fx-annodex+audio%2Fannodex+audio%2Fx-annodex+video%2Fannodex+video%2Fx-annodex+video%2Fx-ms-asf+video%2Fx-ms-wmv+audio%2Fx-ms-wma+application%2Fvnd.ms-asf+application%2Fx-mplayer2+video%2Fx-ms-asf-plugin+video%2Fx-ms-wvx+video%2Fx-ms-wax+video%2Fx-flv+video%2Fflv+application%2Fx-flash-video+video%2Fquicktime+video%2Fx-quicktime+audio%2Fx-m4a+application%2Fx-quicktimeplayer+video%2Fmp4+audio%2Fmp4+image%2Fpng+image%2Fx-png+video%2Fmng+video%2Fx-mng+video%2Fmsvideo+video%2Fx-msvideo+application%2Fogg+application%2Fx-ogg+application%2Fx-ogm+application%2Fx-ogm-audio+application%2Fx-ogm-video+audio%2Fogg+audio%2Fx-ogg+video%2Fogg+video%2Fx-ogg+video%2Fmkv+video%2Fx-matroska+audio%2Fx-aiff+audio%2Faiff+audio%2Fx-pn-aiff+audio%2Fx-flac+audio%2Fflac+audio%2Fx-realaudio+audio%2Fbasic+audio%2Fx-basic+audio%2Fx-pn-au+audio%2Fx-pn-realaudio+audio%2Fx-pn-realaudio-plugin+audio%2Fx-real-audio+application%2Fvnd.rn-realmedia+video%2Fx-flic+audio%2Fx-8svx+audio%2F8svx+audio%2Fx-16sv+audio%2F168sv+image%2Fx-ilbm+image%2Filbm+video%2Fx-anim+video%2Fanim+video%2Fmpeg+video%2Fx-mpeg+audio%2Fx-wav+audio%2Fwav+audio%2Fx-pn-wav+audio%2Fx-pn-windows-acm+audio%2Fmusepack+audio%2Fx-musepack+audio%2Fmpeg2+audio%2Fx-mpeg2+audio%2Fmpeg3+audio%2Fx-mpeg3+audio%2Fmpeg+audio%2Fx-mpeg+audio%2Fx-mpegurl+audio%2Fmpegurl+audio%2Fmp3+audio%2Fx-mp3+application%2Fsmil+application%2Fxspf%2Bxml+application%2Fx-xine-plugin

name=Xine+Plugin
version=1.0.2

https://pfs2.mozilla.org/unknown_plugin.gif?name=Scalable+Vector+Graphics&description=Scalable+Vector+Graphics%2C+as+handled+by+RSVG-2.26.0.++Views+SVG+images.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThis+is+alpha+software.++It+will+probably+behave+in+many+situations%2C+but+may+also+ride+your+motorcycle%2C+drink+all+your+milk%2C+or+use+your+computer+to+browse+porn.++Comments%2C+feature+requests%2C+and+patches+are+welcome.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ESee+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Flibrsvg.sourceforge.net%2F%22%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Flibrsvg.sourceforge.net%2F%3C%2Fa%3E+for+information.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E&appID=%7Bec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384%7D&appRelease=3.6&appVersion=20100124053401&clientOS=Linux+i686&chromeLocale=en-US&version=2.26.0&mimes=image%2Fsvg%2Bxml+image%2Fsvg-xml+image%2Fsvg+image%2Fvnd.adobe.svg%2Bxml+text%2Fxml-svg

name=Scalable+Vector+Graphics
version=2.26.0

Why plugincheck lies it can not detect version of plugin if it detects it correctly?

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Use Firefox 3.6 on Linux
2. Install plugins:
Acrobat Reader 9.3 for Linux: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Java JRE or JDK from Sun: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/widget/jdk6.jsp
Scalable Vector Graphics http://librsvg.sourceforge.net/
Xine Plugin http://www.xine-project.org/home
3. Enter https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ to see results
Actual Results:  
Shockwave Flash
Shockwave Flash 10.0 r42 	10.0.42.0 	Up to Date
Plugin Icon
Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_18
The next generation Java plug-in for Mozilla browsers. 	Unable to Detect Plugin Version 	Research
Plugin Icon
Adobe Reader 9.3
The Adobe Reader plugin is used to enable viewing of PDF and FDF files from within the browser. 	Unable to Detect Plugin Version 	Research
Notice: Adobe recommend Acrobat Reader 9.3
Plugin Icon
Xine Plugin
Xine Plugin version 1.0.2, (c) The Xine Project.
Windows Media Player / RealPlayer / QuickTime compatible. 	Unable to Detect Plugin Version 	Research
Plugin Icon
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics, as handled by RSVG-2.26.0. Views SVG images.

This is alpha software. It will probably behave in many situations, but may also ride your motorcycle, drink all your milk, or use your computer to browse porn. Comments, feature requests, and patches are welcome.

See http://librsvg.sourceforge.net/ for information.

	Unable to Detect Plugin Version 	Research

Expected Results:  
Shockwave Flash
Shockwave Flash 10.0 r42 	10.0.42.0 	Up to Date
Plugin Icon
Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_18
The next generation Java plug-in for Mozilla browsers. 	1.6.0.18 Up to Date
Plugin Icon
Adobe Reader 9.3
The Adobe Reader plugin is used to enable viewing of PDF and FDF files from within the browser. 	9.3 	Up to Date
Notice: Adobe recommend Acrobat Reader 9.3
Plugin Icon
Xine Plugin
Xine Plugin version 1.0.2, (c) The Xine Project.
Windows Media Player / RealPlayer / QuickTime compatible. 	1.0.2 	Up to Date
Plugin Icon
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics, as handled by RSVG-2.26.0. Views SVG images.

This is alpha software. It will probably behave in many situations, but may also ride your motorcycle, drink all your milk, or use your computer to browse porn. Comments, feature requests, and patches are welcome.

See http://librsvg.sourceforge.net/ for information.

	2.26.0 	Up to Date

plugincheck should display detected versions and eventually display notice that it is unknown for plugincheck if the plugin is current.

By lying "Unable to Detect Plugin Version" it not only lies to user but also to developers who might think that the plugin version is wrongly reported by plugin to firefox.

Comment 1

[Zbigniew Luszpinski]

Attachment: The plugincheck screenshot presenting the problem

Comment 2

[Carlo Alberto Ferraris]

I can confirm it too on Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100115 Firefox/3.6 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729), so it's not just Linux-related.
In the Tools > Add-ons > Plugins window (or in about:plugins) 15 plugins are listed (14 enabled, 1 disabled), and ALL of them show a version number. 
On the plugincheck page 14 plugins are listed but only for 4 of them the version appears in the status column. The remaining 10 show Unable to Detect Plugin Version. 

On a loosely related note - I know it's almost impossible, but will we ever have plugin autoupdating?

Comment 3

[Les Orchard [:lorchard]]

I think the issue here is that we don't have those plugins in the database.

So, even though the page has detected the version, there's no status available in the database to detect whether that version is up to date or needs an upgrade. That's why the URLs you're citing have "unknown_plugin.gif" in them - the page is collecting some information about plugins we haven't yet cataloged.  (And there are a lot of them.)

You may be interested in the plugin directory project we're starting work on:

http://blog.mozilla.com/webdev/2010/01/08/rebuilding-the-plugin-directory/

Comment 4

[Carlo Alberto Ferraris]

The page http://plugins.stage.mozilla.com/ reports 14 plugins, 7 (!) of which have some version info (of these 7, 4 report installed status newer and 3 unknown).
The remaining 7 report "not detected" as detected version.

Comment 5

[Zbigniew Luszpinski]

My intention in this bug is to fill version column with detected version info and Set status as unknown till database will be filled with proper data. This will be true: version is detected and presented but because there is no entry in database yet 'Unknown' is displayed in status column.

Now we all see false message: "Unable to Detect Plugin Version" suggesting that plugin or firefox is broken. This bug should be easy to fix for maintainers.