Firefox early version history#Firefox
{{Cleanup|date=April 2025|reason=WP:NOTCHANGELOG; should be written in prose and only cover major releases (1.5, 3.5 and 3.6 included, despite versioning) using secondary sources, instead of utilising tables and listing every single hotfix in them}}
{{Short description|History of the browser from 2002 to 2011}}
{{main|Firefox version history}}
The project that became Firefox today began as an experimental branch of the Mozilla Suite called m/b (or mozilla/browser). Firefox retains the cross-platform nature of the original Mozilla browser, using the XUL user interface markup language. The use of XUL made it possible to extend the browser's capabilities through the use of extensions and themes. The development and installation processes of these add-ons raised security concerns, and with the release of Firefox 0.9, the Mozilla Foundation opened a Mozilla Update website containing "approved" themes and extensions. The use of XUL sets Firefox apart from other browsers, including other projects based on Mozilla's Gecko layout engine and most other browsers, which use interfaces native to their respective platforms (Galeon and Epiphany use GTK+, K-Meleon uses MFC, and Camino uses Cocoa). Many of these projects started before Firefox, and probably served as inspiration.
Releases
= Phoenix and Firebird =
Hyatt, Ross, Hewitt and Chanial{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/0.1.html |title=Phoenix 0.1 (Pescadero) release Notes and FAQ |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=October 1, 2012}} developed their browser to combat the perceived software bloat of the Mozilla Suite (codenamed, internally referred to, and continued by the community as SeaMonkey), which integrated features such as IRC, mail, news, and WYSIWYG HTML editing into one internet suite. After it was sufficiently developed, binaries for public testing appeared in September 2002 under the name Phoenix. This name carried the implication of the mythical firebird that rose triumphantly from the ashes of its dead predecessor, in this case Netscape Navigator which lost the "First browser war" to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The name Mozilla began as the internal codename for the original 1994 Netscape Navigator browser aiming to displace NCSA Mosaic as the world's most popular web browser. The name for this would-be "Mosaic killer" was meant to evoke the building-crushing Godzilla.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEFu-B1wj1E&t=7m35s |title=How Microsoft Attacked the Beast who created Netscape, Mozilla Firefox & invested Skype |date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=October 21, 2016 |via=YouTube}} The name Mozilla was revived as the 1998 open sourcing spinoff organization from Netscape.
The name Phoenix remained until April 14, 2003, when it was changed because of a trademark dispute with the BIOS manufacturer Phoenix Technologies (which produces a BIOS-based browser called Phoenix FirstWare Connect). The new name, Firebird, met with mixed reactions, particularly as the Firebird database server already carried the name. In response, the Mozilla Foundation stated that the browser should always bear the name Mozilla Firebird to avoid confusion with the database software.
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Release history of Phoenix |
| scope="col"| Version
!scope="col"| Codename !scope="col"| Release date{{cite web|url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Releases |title=Releases – MozillaWiki |publisher=Wiki.mozilla.org |date=2012-01-31 |access-date=February 7, 2014}} !scope="col"| Release type and highlightsFeatures highlighted may exist in beta stages prior to an official release build of the immediate version, or in an incremental minor version build prior to the last one. |
|---|
| scope="row"| 0.1
| September 23, 2002 Gecko version 1.2
|
| scope="row"| 0.2
| October 1, 2002 | Official version 0.2 release.{{cite web|url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.2.html |title=Phoenix 0.2 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=April 24, 2012}}
|
| scope="row"| 0.3
| Lucia | October 14, 2002 | Official version 0.3 release.{{cite web|url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.3.html |title=Phoenix 0.3 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=April 24, 2012}}
|
| scope="row"| 0.4
| Oceano | October 19, 2002 | Official version 0.4 release.{{cite web|url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.4.html |title=Phoenix 0.4 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=April 24, 2012}} Gecko version 1.3
|
| scope="row"| 0.5
| Naples | December 7, 2002 | Official version 0.5 release.{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.5.html |title=Phoenix 0.5 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=April 24, 2012}}
|
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Release history of Firebird |
| scope="col"| Version
!scope="col"| Codename |
|---|
| scope="row"| 0.6
| Glendale | May 17, 2003 | Official version 0.6 release.{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.6.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.6 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=April 24, 2012}} Gecko version 1.5
|
| scope="row"| 0.6.1
| | July 28, 2003 |
| scope="row"| 0.7
| Indio | October 15, 2003 | Technology Preview.{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.7.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.7 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=June 19, 2017}}
|
| scope="row"| 0.7.1
| October 26, 2003 | Bugfix release for Mac OS X only.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/0.7.1.html |title=Mozilla Firebird 0.7.1 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=2003-10-26 |access-date=2011-07-06}} |
= Firefox =
File:Delicious delicacies-Firefox0.9.3-Knoppix671.png are in the Preferences window of Mozilla Firefox 0.9.3. This description was soon dropped in later versions.]]
File:Mozilla Firefox 1.0 front page screenshot.png
Due to continuing pressure from the Firebird community,{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-apps/2004/02/10/new-mozilla-name-rises-from-ashes-39145898/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405144117/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/applications/0,39020384,39145898,00.htm|archive-date=April 5, 2005|title=New Mozilla name rises from ashes |author=Festa, Paul |date=February 10, 2004 |work=CNet News |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=April 3, 2011 }} on February 9, 2004, the project was renamed again to Mozilla Firefox.{{cite press release |url=https://www-archive.mozilla.org/press/mozilla-2004-02-09.html |title=New Round of Releases Extends Mozilla Project's Standards Based Open Source Offerings |date=June 13, 2005 |work=archive.mozilla.org |publisher=Mozilla Foundation |access-date=April 3, 2011}} The name "Firefox" (a reference to the red panda){{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/firefox-name-faq.html |title=Brand Name Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228204829/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/firefox-name-faq.html |archive-date=February 28, 2012 |df=mdy-all }} was chosen for its similarity to "Firebird", and its uniqueness in the computing industry. To ensure that no further name changes would be necessary, the Mozilla Foundation began the process of registering Firefox{{US trademark|78344043}} as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in December 2003. This trademark process led to a delay of several months in the release of Firefox 0.8 when the foundation discovered that Firefox had already been registered as a trademark in the UK{{UK trademark|2007607}} for Charlton Company software.Class 09: Computer software for use in managed communications and connectivity.
Class 42: Computer consultancy services; licensing and rental of computer software; design and development of computer software; maintenance, installation and up-dating of computer software; advisory services relating to computer programs and software The situation was resolved when the foundation was given a license to use Charlton's European trademark.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
Firefox version 1.0 was released on November 9, 2004.{{cite web |title=Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=November 9, 2004 |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/1.0.html |access-date=June 13, 2012}} The launch of version 1.0 was accompanied by "a respectable amount of pre-launch fervor"{{cite news |title=Firefox browser takes on Microsoft |publisher=BBC News |date=November 9, 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3993959.stm |access-date=June 13, 2012}} including a fan-organized campaign to run a full-page ad in The New York Times.
Although the Mozilla Foundation had intended to make the Mozilla Suite obsolete and replace it with Firefox, the Foundation continued to maintain the suite until April 12, 2006{{cite web |title=Sunset Announcement for Fx/Tb 1.0.x and Mozilla Suite 1.7.x |work=Mozilla Developer News » Blog Archive » |publisher=Mozilla Developer Network |date=April 12, 2006 |url= https://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2006/04/12/sunset-announcement-for-fxtb-10x-and-mozilla-suite-17x/ |access-date=August 6, 2009}} because it had many corporate users and was bundled with other software. The Mozilla community (as opposed to the Foundation) continues to release new versions of the suite, using the product name SeaMonkey to avoid confusion with the original Mozilla Suite.
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Pre-release history of Firefox |
| scope="col"| Version
!scope="col"| Codename |
|---|
| scope="row"| 0.8
| February 9, 2004 | Technology Preview.{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/0.8.html |title=Mozilla Firefox 0.8 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=June 19, 2017}} Gecko version 1.6
|
| scope="row"| 0.9
| June 15, 2004 Gecko version 1.7
|
| scope="row"| 0.9.1
| | June 28, 2004 | Bugfix release |
| scope="row"| 0.9.2
| | July 8, 2004 |
| scope="row"| 0.9.3
| | August 4, 2004 |
| scope="row"| 0.10
| style="white-space:nowrap;"| September 14, 2004 | Bugs with higher complexity/risk, localization impact, RSS/Atom feed support, find toolbar, plugin finder.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/releases/0.10.html |title=Mozilla Firefox 0.10 (Preview Release) Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=2004-09-14 |access-date=2011-07-06}} |
| scope="row"| 0.10.1
| | October 1, 2004 |
= Firefox 1.5 =
File:Deer Park alpha 1 installation.png
Firefox 1.5 was released on November 30, 2005. Originally, it was planned to have a version 1.1 at an earlier date as the new Firefox version after 1.0, with development on a later version (1.5) in a separate development branch, but during 2005 both branches and their feature sets were merged (the Mozilla Foundation abandoned the 1.1 release plan after the first two alpha builds), resulting in an official release date between the original dates planned for both versions.
Version 1.5 implemented a new Mac-like [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623032221/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/007377.html options interface], the subject of much criticism from Microsoft Windows and Linux users, with a "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623033135/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/007150.html Sanitize]" action to allow someone to clear their privacy-related information without manually clicking the "Clear All" button. In Firefox 1.5, a user could clear all privacy-related settings simply by exiting the browser or using a keyboard shortcut, depending on their settings. Moreover, the software update system was [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623032258/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/008067.html improved] (with binary patches now possible). There were also [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623031727/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/008066.html improvements] in the extension management system, with a number of [https://www-archive.mozilla.org/projects/deerpark/new-extension-dev-features.html new developer features]. In addition, Firefox 1.5 had preliminary SVG 1.1 support.as shown in Mozilla's Bugzilla database
Behind the screens, the new version resynchronized the code base of the release builds (as opposed to nightly builds) with the core "trunk", which contained additional features not available in 1.0, as it branched from the trunk around the 0.9 release. As such, there was a backlog of bug fixes between 0.9 and the release of 1.0, which were made available in 1.5.
There were also changes in operating system support. As announced on 23 June 2005 by the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox 1.1, which later became 1.5, and other new Mozilla products have no longer supported Mac OS X v10.1, in order to improve the quality of Firefox releases on Mac OS X v10.2 and above. Firefox 1.5 is the final version to support Windows 95.
Alpha builds of Firefox 1.5 (id est, 1.1a1 and 1.1a2) did not carry Firefox branding; they were labelled "Deer Park" (which was Firefox 1.5's internal codename) and contained a different program icon. This was done to dissuade end-users from downloading preview versions, which are intended for developers only.
= Firefox 2 =
File:Wikipedia Main Page in Firefox 2.0.0.12.png
{{Main|Firefox 2}}
On October 24, 2006, Mozilla released Firefox 2. This version included updates to the tabbed browsing environment, the extensions manager, the GUI (graphical user interface), and the find, search and software update engines. It also implemented a new session restore feature, inline spell checking, and an anti-phishing feature which was implemented by Google as an extension{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/safebrowsing |title=Google Safe Browsing for Firefox |access-date=February 5, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/?title=Phishing_Protection:_Design_Documentation&oldid=46996#Background |title=Phishing Protection Design Documentation — Background |access-date=January 24, 2007 |publisher=Mozilla wiki}} and later merged into the program itself.{{cite web |url=http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/2.0/releasenotes/ |title=Mozilla Firefox 2 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla Corporation |access-date=December 19, 2006}}
In December 2007, Firefox Live Chat was launched. It allowed users to ask volunteers questions through a system powered by Jive Software, with guaranteed hours of operation and the possibility of help after hours.{{cite web|url=http://blog.mozilla.com/sumo/2007/12/28/firefox-live-chat-launching-today/ |title=Firefox Support Blog » Blog Archive » Firefox Live Chat launching today |publisher=The Mozilla Blog |date=December 28, 2007 |access-date=December 19, 2009}}
Firefox 2.0.0.20 was the final version that could run under an unmodified installation of Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows Me.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/2.0.0.20/releasenotes/ |title=Firefox 2.0.0.20 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=May 4, 2019}}{{Failed verification|date=May 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Hello! Prompt, please, what of the previous versions Firefox can be established on old system Windows NT4, Thanks. {{!}} Firefox Support Forum {{!}} Mozilla Support |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/899050 |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=support.mozilla.org}} Subsequently, Mozilla Corporation announced it would not develop new versions of Firefox 2 after the 2.0.0.20 release, but continued Firefox 2 development as long as other programs, such as Thunderbird mail client, depended on it. The final internal release was 2.0.0.22, released in late April 2009.
= Firefox 3 =
File:Mozilla Firefox 3.0 in Ubuntu.png]]
{{Main|Firefox 3}}
Firefox 3 was released on June 17, 2008,{{cite web |title=Firefox 3 available today at 17:00 UTC (10am PDT) |publisher=Mozilla Developer Center |date=June 17, 2008 |url= https://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2008/06/17/firefox-3-available-today-at-1700-utc-10am-pdt/ |access-date=February 17, 2008}} by the Mozilla Corporation. Firefox 3 uses version 1.9 of the Mozilla Gecko layout engine for displaying web pages. This version fixes many bugs, improves standard compliance, and implements new web APIs.{{cite web|title=Firefox 3 for developers |publisher=Mozilla Developer Center |date=July 17, 2007 |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Firefox_3_for_developers |access-date=July 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113072436/https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Firefox_3_for_developers |archive-date=November 13, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} Other new features include a redesigned download manager, a new "Places" system for storing bookmarks and history, and separate themes for different operating systems.
Development stretches back to the first Firefox 3 beta (under the codename 'Gran Paradiso'{{cite web |last=Vukicevic |first=Vladimir |title=Gecko 1.9/Firefox 3 ("Gran Paradiso") Planning Meeting, Wednesday Jun 7, 11:00 am |publisher=Google Groups: mozilla.dev.planning |date=June 2, 2006 |url= https://groups.google.com/group/mozilla.dev.planning/browse_thread/thread/c73f6a1c25e8e7b0/b714ca46975f0109#b714ca46975f0109 |access-date=September 17, 2006}}) which had been released several months earlier on November 19, 2007,{{cite web |url= https://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2007/11/19/firefox-3-beta-1-now-available-for-download/ |first=Mike|last=Beltzner |publisher=Mozilla Developer News |title=Firefox 3 Beta 1 now available for download}} and was followed by several more beta releases in spring 2008 culminating in the June release.{{cite web |access-date=December 20, 2007 |url= https://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2007/12/18/firefox-3-beta-2-now-available-for-download/ |first=Mike|last=Beltzner |publisher=Mozilla Developer News |title=Firefox 3 Beta 2 now available for download}} Firefox 3 had more than 8 million unique downloads the day it was released, setting a Guinness World Record.{{cite web |last=Montalbano |first=Elizabeth |date=June 18, 2008 |title=Mozilla Logs 8 Million-plus Firefox 3 Downloads in a Day |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/147256/mozilla_logs_8_millionplus_firefox_3_downloads_in_a_day.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231234959/https://www.pcworld.com/article/147256/article.html |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |work=PC World }} See also: {{cite web |last=Montalbano |first=Elizabeth |date=May 28, 2008 |title=Mozilla Shooting for Record Books With Firefox 3 Release |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/146405/mozilla_shooting_for_record_books_with_firefox_3_release.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231234822/https://www.pcworld.com/article/146405/article.html |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |work=PC World }}
= Firefox 3.5 =
{{Main|Firefox 3.5}}
Version 3.5, codenamed Shiretoko,{{cite web|url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox3.1|title=Firefox 3.1 "Shiretoko"|date=June 12, 2008|access-date=June 12, 2008}} adds a variety of new features to Firefox. Initially numbered Firefox 3.1, Mozilla developers decided to change the numbering of the release to 3.5 in order to reflect a significantly greater scope of changes than originally planned.{{cite newsgroup |title=Shiretoko (Firefox 3.1) being renamed to Firefox 3.5 |date=March 6, 2009 |first=Mike|last=Shaver |newsgroup=mozilla.dev.planning |message-id=mailman.34.1236360325.4415.dev-planning@lists.mozilla.org}} The final release was on June 30, 2009. The changes included much faster performance thanks to an upgrade to SpiderMonkey JavaScript engine called TraceMonkey and rendering improvements,{{cite web |url= http://www.betanews.com/article/The-final-score-Firefox-35-performs-at-251-the-speed-of-30/1246470925 |title=The final score: Firefox 3.5 performs at 251% the speed of 3.0 |date=July 1, 2009 |author=Scott M. Fulton, III |publisher=Betanews |access-date=May 4, 2010}} and support for the and tags as defined in the HTML5 specification, with a goal to offer video playback without being encumbered by patent problems associated with many video technologies.{{cite news |url=http://apcmag.com/firefox_to_go_headtohead_with_flash_and_silverlight.htm |title=Firefox to go head-to-head with Flash and Silverlight |access-date=January 18, 2008 |first=Dan|last=Warne |date=May 7, 2007 |work=APC Magazine |publisher=ACP Magazines Ltd}} Cross-site XMLHttpRequests (XHR), which can allow for more powerful web applications and an easier way to implement mashups, are also implemented in 3.5.{{cite web |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/En/HTTP_Access_Control |title=HTTP Access Control |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527153021/https://developer.mozilla.org/En/HTTP_access_control |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} A new global JSON object contains native functions to efficiently and safely serialize and deserialize JSON objects, as specified by the ECMAScript 3.1 draft.{{cite web |url=http://wiki.ecmascript.org/doku.php?id=es3.1:json_support |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211074903/http://wiki.ecmascript.org/doku.php?id=es3.1:json_support |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-12-11 |title=es3.1:json_support |publisher=ECMA }} Full [http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-selectors/#selectors CSS 3 selector] support has been added. Firefox 3.5 uses the Gecko 1.9.1 engine, which includes a few features that were not included in the 3.0 release. Multi-touch touchpad support was also added to the release, including gesture support like pinching for zooming and swiping for back and forward.{{cite web |url=http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/10/latest-firefox-3-1-beta-adds-multi-touch-support/ |title=Latest Firefox 3.1 Beta Adds Multi-Touch Support |last=Kim |first=Arnold |date=December 10, 2008 |publisher=Mac Rumors |access-date=January 17, 2009}} Firefox 3.5 also features an updated logo.{{cite web |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/faaborg/2009/05/15/creative-brief-for-the-new-firefox-icon/ |title=Creative Brief for the New Firefox Icon |first=Alex |last=Faaborg |date=May 15, 2009 |access-date=October 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040022/https://blog.mozilla.org/faaborg/2009/05/15/creative-brief-for-the-new-firefox-icon/ |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
= Firefox 3.6 =
{{Main|Firefox 3.6}}
Version 3.6, released on January 21, 2010, uses the Gecko 1.9.2 engine and includes several interface improvements, such as "personas". This release was referred to as 3.2 before 3.1 was changed to 3.5. The codename for this version was Namoroka. This is the last major, official version to run on PowerPC-based Macintoshes.
One minor update to Firefox 3.6, version 3.6.4 (code-named Lorentz) is the first minor update to make non-intrusive changes other than minor stability and security fixes. It adds Out of Process Plugins (OOPP){{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}, which runs plugins in a separate process, allowing Firefox to recover from plugin crashes.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/3.6.4/releasenotes/ |title=Mozilla Firefox 3.6.4 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=2010-06-22 |access-date=May 4, 2019}} Firefox 3.6.6 lengthens the amount of time a plugin is allowed to be unresponsive before the plugin quits.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/3.6.6/releasenotes/ |title=Firefox 3.6.6 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=June 26, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2019}}
= Firefox 4 =
{{Main|Firefox 4}}
On October 13, 2006, Brendan Eich, Mozilla's then-Chief-Technology-Officer, wrote about the plans for "Mozilla 2", referring to the most comprehensive iteration (since its creation) of the overall platform on which Firefox and other Mozilla products run.{{cite web|url=http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/roadmap/archives/2006/10/mozilla_2.html |title=Mozilla 2 |last=Eich |first=Brendan |date=October 13, 2006 |access-date=September 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025122530/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/roadmap/archives/2006/10/mozilla_2.html |archive-date=October 25, 2006}} Most of the objectives were gradually incorporated into Firefox through versions 3.0, 3.5, and 3.6. The largest changes, however, were planned for Firefox 4.
After five "Alpha" releases, twelve "Beta" releases, and two "Release Candidate" versions, Firefox 4 was released on March 22, 2011, originally Firefox 3.7 (Gecko 1.9.3) during its alpha stage,{{cite web |url=https://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/3.7a1/releasenotes/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100213161240/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/3.7a1/releasenotes/ |archive-date=February 13, 2010 |title=Release Notes: Mozilla Developer Preview |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=September 6, 2010}} brought a new user interface and is said to be faster.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/10/firefox_4_dot_o_plan/ |title=Mozilla spills plan for, yes, Firefox 4 |website=The Register |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=May 3, 2019}} Early mockups of the new interface on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux were first made available in July 2009.{{cite web |url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/4.0_Windows_Theme_Mockups |title=Firefox 4.0 Windows Theme Mockups |publisher=Mozilla |date=June 2, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/4.0_Mac_Theme_Mockups |title=Firefox 4.0 Mac Theme Mockups |publisher=Mozilla |date=June 16, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/4.0_Linux_Theme_Mockups |title=Firefox 4.0 Linux Theme Mockups |publisher=Mozilla |date=July 21, 2010 |access-date=August 11, 2010}} Other new features included improved notifications, tab groups, "switch to tab" where opened tabs can be searched through the address bar,{{cite web |last1=Shankland |first1=Stephen |title=Firefox 4 beta 4 adds hardware acceleration |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/firefox-4-beta-4-adds-hardware-acceleration/ |website=CNET |access-date=9 September 2021 |language=en |date=2010-08-19}} application tabs, a redesigned add-on manager, integration with Firefox Sync, and support for multi-touch displays.{{Cite web|url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/tab-groups-organize-tabs?redirectlocale=en-US&redirectslug=what-are-tab-groups|title=Use Tab Groups to organize a lot of tabs | Firefox Help|website=support.mozilla.org}}{{cite web |url= http://www.azarask.in/blog/post/designing-tab-candy/ |title=Firefox Panorama: Tab Candy Evolved |author=Aza Raskin |access-date=September 11, 2010|author-link=Aza Raskin }}{{cite web |url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20004620-264.html |title=Firefox 4 release plan: The need for speed |first=Stephen|last=Shankland |publisher=c|net |date=May 11, 2010 |access-date=May 28, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Sync in Firefox 4 Beta |publisher=Mozilla Labs |date=August 24, 2010 |url=http://mozillalabs.com/sync/2010/08/24/sync-in-firefox-4-beta/ |access-date=September 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827030554/http://mozillalabs.com/sync/2010/08/24/sync-in-firefox-4-beta |archive-date=August 27, 2010 }}{{cite web |url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20006239-264.html |title=Mozilla prepares coders for Firefox 4 features |first=Stephen|last=Shankland |publisher=c|net |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=May 28, 2010}}
Firefox 4 was based on the Gecko 2.0 engine, which added or improved support for HTML5, CSS3, WebM, and WebGL.{{cite web|url=https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/05/firefox-4-the-html5-parser-inline-svg-speed-and-more/ |title=Firefox 4: the HTML5 parser |publisher=hacks.mozilla.org |date=May 11, 2010 |access-date=May 3, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://beltzner.ca/mike/2010/05/10/firefox-4-fast-powerful-and-empowering/ |title=Firefox 4: fast, powerful, and empowering |author=Beltzner, Mike |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=May 10, 2010}} It also included a new JavaScript engine (JägerMonkey) and better XPCOM APIs.{{cite web |url=https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/03/a-quick-note-on-javascript-engine-components/ |title=a quick note on JavaScript engine components |first=Christopher|last=Blizzard |date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=March 19, 2010}}
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+ Release history of Firefox 4 |
| scope="col"| Version
!scope="col"| Codename |
|---|
| scope="row"| 4.0
| March 22, 2011 | Official Firefox 4.0 release.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/4.0/releasenotes/ |title=Mozilla Firefox 4.0 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=2011-03-22 |access-date=April 22, 2012}} Gecko version 2.0
Changes during alphas
Changes during betas
Changes during release candidates
|
| scope="row"| 4.0.1
| Macaw | April 28, 2011 | Regular security and stability update.{{cite web|url=https://website-archive.mozilla.org/www.mozilla.org/firefox_releasenotes/en-US/firefox/4.0.1/releasenotes/ |title=Mozilla Firefox 4.0.1 Release Notes |publisher=Mozilla |date=2011-04-28 |access-date=April 22, 2012}}
[https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Planning/2011-06-22#Release_.283.6.2C_4.0.2C_5.0.29 End-of-life 4.0.x product line] on June 21, 2011. |
See also
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=t}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Further reading
{{Refbegin}}
- Eich, Brendan (2005). [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Global:1.9_Trunk_1.8_Branch_Plan Branch Plan]. In Mozilla Wiki. Retrieved December 21, 2005.
{{Refend}}
External links
- [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/releases/ Mozilla Firefox release notes] for each version
- [https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox/Releases/ Mozilla Firefox developer release notes] for each version
- [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Releases Releases] - MozillaWiki
- [http://www.squarefree.com/burningedge/releases/ unofficial changelogs for Firefox releases], Jesse Ruderman (last updated in 2008)
- [https://www.jwz.org/blog/2016/10/they-live-and-the-secret-history-of-the-mozilla-logo/ history of the Mozilla logo] by Jamie Zawinski
- {{cite web|url=http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/009698.html |title=Where Did Firefox Come From? |author=ben |publisher=MozillaZine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717100539/http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/ben/archives/009698.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6078016.stm Firefox browser for web 2.0 age], BBC News
{{Mozilla}}
{{FOSS}}
{{Timeline of web browsers |2000s}}