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Bug ID: 7080444 firefox6 incompatible with java console
7080444 : firefox6 incompatible with java console

Details
Type:
Bug
Submit Date:
2011-08-18
Status:
Resolved
Updated Date:
2013-01-08
Project Name:
JDK
Resolved Date:
2011-09-14
Component:
deploy
OS:
windows_7
Sub-Component:
plugin
CPU:
x86
Priority:
P2
Resolution:
Fixed
Affected Versions:
6u26
Fixed Versions:
7u2

Related Reports
Backport:
JDK-2214691 - firefox6 incompatible with java console

Sub Tasks

Description
Since the release of Firefox 6 on August 16th, 2011 the support team received so far 9 incidents, reporting compatibility issues between java console and Firefox 6.

Operating systems reported in the incidents: Windows 7 and Windows XP SP3
Java versions reported in the incidents: Java 7, 6u26, 6u24 and 6u15
Attachments provided by a user: "Screenshot1.jpg and Screenshot2.jpg" were sent by one and same user who reported Firefox 6 regression with both Java 7 and java 6u26
Users reported that they were having regression problems immediately after upgrading to Firefox version 6.

I was successful in reproducing this myself.
Below are my steps to reproduce this issue:
My operating system: Windows 7 64bit
Browser upgraded from Firefox version 4 to Firefox version 6

1. Download and install Firefox version 6 from www.firefox.com
2. Upon completion, the Firefox page relaunches and tells you: "Incompatible Add-Ons"

Attachment: I captured "Screenshot3.jpg" during my installation 

In addition, this issue was reported in various forums, here are some samples:
http://techlogon.com/2011/08/17/java-console-is-incompatible-with-firefox-6/
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/862673
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/862468
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110816190911AAC3nK5

Comments
EVALUATION

Bump version to avoid warning. Will rework Java Console integration as part of other CR.
2011-09-08 
EVALUATION

It is easy to bump "compatible" versions number in install.rdf to include 6.0+ and this will hide FF warning. 
However, console is not actually functional.

We either need to stop installing it or rewrite it.

??Following code will not work:
     		var jvmMgr = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/oji/jvm-mgr;1']
	                   .getService(Components.interfaces.nsIJVMManager)
    		jvmMgr.showJavaConsole();

as nsIJVMManager service was removed from Firefox and it was not compatible with new pluign anyways.

One approach that may probably work will be 
   a) expose namespace or entity on the document object to access list of active applet descriptors 
       (in browser or just current page) with ability to request to open console for particular applet)         
   b) introduce request to check if console visible and request to show console 
      in the protocol between client and browser VM
   c) In Firefox UI make JavaConsole menu item to be pointing to submenu that contains dynamic list of applets 
      from a)

Other nice improvement would be:
   a) update installer to install java console only if older console is installed
   b) add update URL for java console and use it to propogate updated versions to end user
Later we can use this mechanism to notify user of need to upgrade java.
2011-08-26


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