Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

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Walter Dnes
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Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by Walter Dnes » 2024-10-02, 01:39

I'm running a custom build on 64-bit Gentoo linux with gcc 13.3.1. The regular tarball will notify the user if there is a new version available, and offer to update.

It's obviously impossible for Pale Moon to properly update a gazillion different combos of distro/.mozcconfig/gcc-version, etc. But it would be nice to know that updated source code is available. E.g. you're currently running 33.3.0 and 33.3.1 is now available. I'm looking at something similar to a regular update notice, but restricted to "notify-only".
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by Moonchild » 2024-10-02, 05:21

I suggest you make use of the RSS/Atom feed of the forum's announcements board: https://forum.palemoon.org/app.php/feed/forum/1

The new version notification is an integral part of the application updater. It's clearly not desirable to have that enabled on a custom build as it would replace the custom build with a generic one. In addition, a "notify only" would require the server-side to understand requests from custom builds and respond to them (and it's already complex enough to deal with the different release channels and architectures served to standard releases).
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by Walter Dnes » 2024-10-02, 09:16

Moonchild wrote:
2024-10-02, 05:21
I suggest you make use of the RSS/Atom feed of the forum's announcements board: https://forum.palemoon.org/app.php/feed/forum/1
Whatever works. Is there any objecttion to me running a bash script once a day (cron job) that downloads that web page? The script would then run "grep \<published 1" and get several lines like...
<published>2024-09-10T08:32:06</published>

At that point, it's trivial. Check the top entry versus a stored copy of the previous top entry.

If identical (no new updates), exit.

If changed (new updates), replace the previous stored top entry with today's top entry; then send an email to myself. Or maybe launch a local webpage in some garish dayglow green colour to attract my attention.
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by Moonchild » 2024-10-02, 09:55

Walter Dnes wrote:
2024-10-02, 09:16
Is there any objecttion to me running a bash script once a day (cron job) that downloads that web page?
No objection at all! Go right ahead.
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by jobbautista9 » 2024-10-02, 11:07

The RSS feed has a Last-Modified header which I would've suggested using to reduce the server load further since you can do a conditional GET, but for some reason the server doesn't return a 304 even if the If-Modified-Since sent by the request matches...
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by moonbat » 2024-10-02, 11:45

You can also take a look at Update Alert.
Use it to monitor the release notes page for changes.
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Re: Feature request: Custom builds notify of new version

Unread post by Moonchild » 2024-10-02, 13:44

jobbautista9 wrote:
2024-10-02, 11:07
for some reason the server doesn't return a 304 even if the If-Modified-Since sent by the request matches...
RSS feed pages are not static content. They are PHP-served and not otherwise aggressively cached.
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