what's wrong with TB 78.*.* vs TB 68.12.0?

[Seeker]

So I understand that Thunderbird 68.12.0 is considered by the MX people (or Debian people) to be more stable than the newer version I've read about here. I also understand that my TB 68.12.12.0 receives latest security updates via the "green box" on the taskbar. So should I also understand that updating to the latest version of TB, through the MX pkg updater, has only drawbacks and no advantages?

[fehlix]

So I understand that Thunderbird 68.12.0 is considered by the MX people (or Debian people) to be more stable than the newer version I've read about here. I also understand that my TB 68.12.12.0 receives latest security updates via the "green box" on the taskbar. So should I also understand that updating to the latest version of TB, through the MX pkg updater, has only drawbacks and no advantages?

Nope, you missed the point. Users do use shared TB profiles, e.g either from WinOS shared, or another Linux installation. The new TB version appears to have issues to (or cannot) read TB profile of the older version. So if we would just let TB upgrade to the newest version, what would happen? The newer version will convert the old profile into the new profile format. Ok, fine. But, any shared profile might get issues as the new profile cannot be read by the older version.
Whats the solution?.
The trick MX Linux offers: You have the "stable" old version available and also the "new" version. The user can decide to install the new version from MX testrepo.
That's it!
I do not get your last question:
".. MX pkg updater, has only drawbacks and no advantages?"
You need explain this or/and probably better understand the concept behind first.

[cinclus]

Repair after Upgrade to TB 78. Problems come from addons. Remedies: some cycles through startup TB 78 in safe-mode. Downgrade 78 to 68: startup TB 68 with --force-downgrade parameter.
Sharing profile with TB 68 and TB 78? Don't know. Perhaps the 78 side will not be stable and needs repeated repair in safe-mode.

[Friedrich]

Users do use shared TB profiles, e.g either from WinOS shared, or another Linux installation. The new TB version appears to have issues to (or cannot) read TB profile of the older version. So if we would just let TB upgrade to the newest version, what would happen? The newer version will convert the old profile into the new profile format. Ok, fine. But, any shared profile might get issues as the new profile cannot be read by the older version.

Actually, after starting TB 78 with the parameter "--allow-downgrade" I have no problem with my, -at least a decade old-, profile,
that is shared among Debian, Manjaro, Win10 and MX.
I used to edit the thunderbird.desktop in /usr/share/applications/ by adding --allow-downgrade because the annoying messages from TB kept coming here and there ("you are using a older version of Thunderbird, ..").
Seems no longer necessary. At least it did not occur for quite a while now.

[Eadwine Rose]

Another option BEFORE upgrading: back up your .thunderbird folder.


If your upgrade doesn't work like you want it to, uninstall tb completely, then reinstall the old version and put the backup back in.

[JayM]

Another option BEFORE upgrading: back up your .thunderbird folder.


If your upgrade doesn't work like you want it to, uninstall tb completely, then reinstall the old version and put the backup back in.

Before running Thunderbird after installing the older version so it doesn't create a new default profile before you've restored the old one.

[Eadwine Rose]

Yeah.. once old version installed, remove current .thunderbird, put the backup back in, THEN start the old version.


So automatic for me that I forgot to mention this step. Thanks JayM :)

[JayM]

I learned that the hard way with Firefox before where I ran it after reinstalling MX before restoring my old profile, then had to copy/paste the contents of the backed-up profile into the new default one and hope for the best.

[Eadwine Rose]

Ugh.

It is one of the reasons I am so grateful this is easy in linux. Grab that .thunderbird folder, and that is all you need to do. If this happens in Windows... oh dear goodness.

[uncle mark]

I learned that the hard way with Firefox before where I ran it after reinstalling MX before restoring my old profile, then had to copy/paste the contents of the backed-up profile into the new default one and hope for the best.

Copy/pasting the contents is what I've always done with TB & Fx. Never has been a problem. Works with Windows too.