An unofficial guide to installing the RISC OS Firefox 2 port has been published online. Paul Vigay uploaded his user-friendly tutorial to installing and running the mammoth web browser after punters complained they were unable to use the softwareIn response, the port's programmer Peter Naulls urged developers to concentrate on fixing problems within RISC OS and its software, and avoid producing 'superficial fixes' and workaround guides such as Paul's. In December, Drobe reader Doug Webb also revealed a solution to problems with Firefox 2's installation.
Peter described the unofficial Firefox 2 instructions as a band-aid fix for a serious problem within the browser port's code that needed to be found and addressed. He urged developers to focus their time on hunting these issues, rather than writing quick fix tutorials to work around problems.
Peter said: "I get to look like a big monster for pointing out serious problems that RISC OS has, but Paul looks like a hero for providing a flawed short-term fix that looks like - but isn't - the right thing to do.
"I appreciate that his instructions will allow some people to run Firefox when they previously couldn't, but my point remains. For such an apparently important application, there's been desperately few people wanting to be involved in actual development, and what development there has been has been the brunt of endless criticism and lack of funding.
"As it happens under the current status quo, the real fix will have to wait until I find sufficient enthusiasm and time to address it. This particular thing has probably only contributed to my apathy."
Paul said he didn't have the skills to fix Firefox directly, but would update his web page if the information on it became out of date if a new version of Firefox is released.
Paul added: "I like to think that some of my tutorial articles help those who don't necessarily have the skills, time or inclination with jumping in at the higher end of programming and compiling additional utilities etc."
Links
Paul Vigay's Firefox 2 unofficial install instructions