Instructions for sideloading on Firefox for Android #2036
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The naming of this article is unfortunate as this term has a specific meaning. As described in Support for extension sideloading has ended, "sideloading" generally refers to an installation method where installing an application on your system would also result in adding and extension to Firefox.
The "Installation using the standard extension folders" section does call out that this feature is no longer supported, but the intro still seems to suggest it is supported.
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@dotproto Isn't sideloading a general term meaning "installing applications or software on a device from sources other than the official app store or distribution channels, bypassing the usual vetting process"? The feature removed was the ability to sideload "without the user taking an action."
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@dotproto I have revisited and removed the information about installing with an app. Given this was removed five years ago, there seems a little point in including the documentation.
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I agree we should not use "sideloading" here. Install from file is not sideloading, it's manual install if you want, and it's official. Just like we have install from file in about:addons.
| - Adding the file to one of the standard extension folders. | ||
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| No automatic updates will be performed for add-ons installed using these methods. You will have to deliver a new XPI file to your user for each update. However, automatic compatibility checks are still performed. | ||
| No automatic updates are performed for add-ons installed using these methods. You have to deliver a new XPI file to your user for each update. However, automatic compatibility checks are performed. |
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I don't think this is accurate. I tried walking through extensions source files on searchfox but I didn't see anything that suggested updates are handled different based on installation method.
@willdurand, can you confirm?
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@dotproto after reviewing the documentation, I believe this statement was actually intended to refer to extensions offered as a beta update release to a listed extension. I've updated the note.
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| To use Install Add-on From File in Add-on Manager, send the user the signed add-on with the following instructions: | ||
| To sideload an add-on in desktop Firefox, send the user the signed add-on with these instructions: |
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We should avoid the term "sideload" here as that has a more specific meaning.
| To sideload an add-on in desktop Firefox, send the user the signed add-on with these instructions: | |
| To install an add-on from a file in desktop Firefox, send the user the signed add-on with these instructions: |
… details about automatic updates
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@dotproto @willdurand I have now adjusted the content to remove the term sideloading. I've also renamed the page's md file and created #2045 for the introduction of a redirect. |
Fixes #2028