Firefox Branch Builds now Using 7-Zip

bengoodger · Post by **bengoodger** » May 25th, 2004, 2:43 pm

mmm... compact.

Trunk builds coming soon.

Peter(6) · Post by **Peter(6)** » May 25th, 2004, 2:48 pm

you won't 7z the zipped build ?

PhoenixNostalgia · Post by **PhoenixNostalgia** » May 25th, 2004, 3:09 pm

I guess that would require too many people to have 7-zip. A lot of people seem to be afraid of exe files, so a self extractor on both installer and archive wouldn't really work. Besides, lots of 3rd party builders 7zipping the archives.

Hmmm, I wonder if they use 7-zip to zip their builds as that zip method they use compresses 2-10% better than Winzip itself.

7-zip 4.0 is due in June, hope they take advantage of that...

By the way, Ben, I hope this isn't what you meant by cutting 1.5mb off the download size...I hope you guys keep knocking off that extra code.

Peter(6) · Post by **Peter(6)** » May 25th, 2004, 3:14 pm

why, a 7z does extract the same way as a normal .zip.
Quite a few unofficial builders have been using that for quite a while.
You don't need the 7z programm to unpack the file.

ByTor201 · Post by **ByTor201** » May 25th, 2004, 3:16 pm

Peter(6) wrote:You don't need the 7z programm to unpack the file.

As long as they're self-extracting.

PhoenixNostalgia · Post by **PhoenixNostalgia** » May 25th, 2004, 3:18 pm

Ummm, yes, you do need 7-zip 3.x to extract .7z files. You are thinking about self extracting 7z executables.

If they made the zipped builds into executables, it would kinda freak people out. I dunno, people just have this psychological thing where zip just means easy extraction and exe means an installer that could mess up their system, hide a virus, etc. Also, not many people use the unofficial builds.

TierMann · Post by **TierMann** » May 25th, 2004, 3:22 pm

neoufo51 wrote:Also, not many people use the unofficial builds.

*Cries and runs off to his corner*

PhoenixNostalgia · Post by **PhoenixNostalgia** » May 25th, 2004, 3:26 pm

TierMann wrote:
neoufo51 wrote:Also, not many people use the unofficial builds.

*Cries and runs off to his corner*

Haha, its true. I do use your builds though, Tiermann. Excellent work.

I'm just commenting because a lot of people here just think that 3rd party builds are problematic and confusing, or are just not very processor savvy and just stick to what Moz officially tells them to download. Most people get their nightlies off the official nightly server, what can I say?

BlueFyre · Post by **BlueFyre** » May 25th, 2004, 3:27 pm

I do a 7-zip and zip build... although some people still prefer the use of zip over 7-zip as more people use it... and I do not beleive a lot of people want to download more programs

Why can't there be some sorta universal program

Speaking of that WinRAR is an awsome program for zip and .rar but I like the functionality of finding an individial file with WinZIP... Anyhow

7-zip = more convinient for dial-up <-- only have to download 7-zip once

Peter(6) · Post by **Peter(6)** » May 25th, 2004, 3:28 pm

FirefoxSetup.exe is the installer build packed with 7z (4.6 Mb)
Firefox Win32.zip is obviously the normal zipped one (6.5Mb)
If it was packed with 7z it would be about 4.6 Mb too

Post by **BenBasson** » May 25th, 2004, 3:44 pm

How much effort would it be to offer both 7-zip and zip, assuming that this process is automated?

PhoenixNostalgia · Post by **PhoenixNostalgia** » May 25th, 2004, 3:50 pm

Peter(6) wrote:FirefoxSetup.exe is the installer build packed with 7z (4.6 Mb)
Firefox Win32.zip is obviously the normal zipped one (6.5Mb)
If it was packed with 7z it would be about 4.6 Mb too

Indeed, but here is the thing about using 7-zip...

1. FirefoxWin32.zip becoming FirefoxWin32.exe (7-zip self extractor) would just freak people out because exe just connotes installer, possible virus, system changes, etc. Also, having 2 exe's would just confuse people. Despite this, its the better choice than the next one.

2. FirefoxWin32.zip becoming the regular FirefoxWin32.7z would require people to have the 7-zip program to extract the files.

Understand?

Julan · Post by **Julan** » May 25th, 2004, 4:34 pm

neoufo51 wrote:
Peter(6) wrote:FirefoxSetup.exe is the installer build packed with 7z (4.6 Mb)
Firefox Win32.zip is obviously the normal zipped one (6.5Mb)
If it was packed with 7z it would be about 4.6 Mb too

Indeed, but here is the thing about using 7-zip...

1. FirefoxWin32.zip becoming FirefoxWin32.exe (7-zip self extractor) would just freak people out because exe just connotes installer, possible virus, system changes, etc. Also, having 2 exe's would just confuse people. Despite this, its the better choice than the next one.

2. FirefoxWin32.zip becoming the regular FirefoxWin32.7z would require people to have the 7-zip program to extract the files.

Understand?

Correct, zip is still a standard in the world, unfortunately many many millions of people haven't heard of 7zip and people aren't going to go download *yet* another application just to unpack firefox. Although, theses same people should be using the installer any way. Using 7zip in the installer, making it smaller is also helping to convince people not to download the zip file, because it is smaller.

bengoodger · Post by **bengoodger** » May 25th, 2004, 5:07 pm

The reason I didn't do the zip build is that we don't ship the zip build, and I am pressed for time.

Post by **BenBasson** » May 25th, 2004, 5:24 pm

If you're considering 7-zip for future zip builds (whenever you _do_ have time), will you produce these as additional builds, rather than as a replacement for the standard zip builds?

Firefox Branch Builds now Using 7-Zip

Firefox Branch Builds now Using 7-Zip

Re: Firefox Branch Builds now Using 7-Zip