Talk:Thunderbird:Extension Installation
The MIME method has very strong potential and may have a low footpint to implament.
Method could include pre-recorded MIME actions in Ffox where it could: Install add-on if application/x-xpinstall;app=firefox Save to Disk if application/x-xpinstall;app=thunderbird Save to Disk if application/x-xpinstall;app=(Other Moz App name)
Alternatively if the add-in is a multi-MIME *.xpi the add-in site would offer multiple links, one link per MIME where app=xxxxx is in the link.
Method One would need minimal code support leveraging existing MIME handler. Disadvantage is local install stays like present where user need to know where d/l was saved to.
Method Two would need Add-in page Webmaster support and Evangilisem to third-party sites. For error resistance each app would need reject code that filters by parsing on the app=xxxxx portion of the MIME extension to prevent cross-app install of invalid features (bookmarks in mail, or LDAP in browser).
One of the features of MR Tech Local Install that appeals is the ability to designate archive folders for add-in's. This code should be built into Mozilla Apps with an eye to a standard location per supported platform. On Windows 9X in the folder X:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Addins\(app name) where other folders at the ..\Mozilla\.. level would be Firefox, Tunderbird, etc. Then when an add-in is d/l or updates, the *.xpi would be archived and have a standard path for install. An added benefit is rollback and ease of adding add-in's to a new profile.
--Ron K. 17:19, 27 March 2007 (PDT)
The MIME type approach has a serious down side not anticipated in my prior remarks. During discussion in mozilla.dev.apps.thunderbird the issue of mirrors being used to serve add-on's was brought up. To be workable, way too much redundancy would be required and the load on mirrors would more than double. Thus my thinking turns out to be unworkable.
What has become possible is a "Drag and Drop" ability to drag the link from the AMO site onto the Thunderbird Add-on Manager to initiate install of an extension or theme. Alternatively, those who want an archive copy can drag and drop to a desktop first and then install from there.
--Ron K. 16:55, 9 April 2008 (PDT)
--Ratty 02:28, 28 March 2007 (PDT) When browsing with SeaMonkey for mailnews extensions like Tagzilla, it is unclear whether the user wants to install into SeaMonkey, or download for later installation into Thunderbird - There are people who use only the SeaMonkey Navigator but use Thunderbird for MailNews.
Single Site Browser (as described) seems to be a way of locking in users to the Mozilla add-ons web site at the expense of other trusted web sites such as the Add-ons Mirror. There are only a few alternative web sites worth considering, why not provide an option to let a user specify which ones it should list add-ons from? You could use a short list managed by Mozilla, rather than having to deal with any possible web site. Half of the problems with the Mozilla add-ons web site are due to Thunderbird specific searches sometimes returning entries for Firefox specific add-ons. If they fixed that bug that would help a lot.
Opera has similar built-in functionality for adding themes. It works well, and has tabs for popular skins, top rated etc. The main problem is the default size of the scrollable window is too small. Fortunately you can expand that to full screen, and it will remember that setting next time. The biggest difference with Opera is that they make it easy enough to submit stuff that while you can find Opera add-ons elsewhere they don't really have any competitors.
Its not clear why the simplest solution of just replacing the Firefox error message with something less confusing that suggested that you might have tried to install another applications add-on due to not right clicking and selecting "save link as" rather than implying that something broke was not mentioned. It may address only one of the two goals, but its merits should be evaluated just like the two other possibilities. My impression from the mozillaZine forums is that reducing user confusion is far more important than eliminating one step. Tanstaafl 13:54, 1 March 2008 (PST)
