The Firemonger Project

IZ Reloaded writes "The Firemonger Project is an attempt to create a multilingual easy-to-use compilation CD with Firefox, Thunderbird and an excellent selection of plugins (Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave and Sun Java), extensions (Adblock, Googlebar, Hotmail tabs, SessionSaver, ScrapBook and more), Firefox and Thunderbird themes, related programs (Firetune and Backupfox) and a comprehensive beginner's guide. Everything you need to start up with and get the most out of Firefox and Thunderbird. There's also a lite version for download."

Comments

licenses???

[Anonymous Coward]

no linux distribution on earth includes those plugins, how are they getting away with it?
why don't the linux distro makers adopt their strategy?

Re:licenses???

[MadFarmAnimalz]

no linux distribution on earth includes those plugins

The obvious stares you in the face, Anonymous Coward, and yet you refuse to accept it. Do you know of a reason why only earthbound beings can make linux distributions?

how are they getting away with it?

Well, before this /. frontpage story they were small and obscure and the risk of getting their asses hauled into court were negligible. Now...

why don't the linux distro makers adopt their strategy?

I'm not sure that "License? What license? We're too small and this project is too dumb to bother with that. Dude, Chill!" qualifies as an actual strategy.

Re:licenses???

[Florian Weimer]

no linux distribution on earth includes those plugins, how are they getting away with it?

Sun's Java license forbids distribution together with competing technology, like the GNU Compiler Collection. For obvious reasons, most GNU/Linux distributions choose GCC over Java.

Re:licenses???

[cloudmaster]

No, the "home" version they had for a while - when they did separate personal and professional versions - just didn't install gcc by default, because home users didn't need gcc typically. Neither one installed the Sun JDK, but I'm pretty sure there was a JRE on there (which would be within the license). Then again, at that time there was no useful gcj, either, so gcc would not have been a competing tech at the time. It's just barely a competing tech now, for that matter... :)

Re:licenses???

[mshiltonj]

Sun's Java license forbids distribution together with competing technology, like the GNU Compiler Collection. For obvious reasons, most GNU/Linux distributions choose GCC over Java.

How 'bout the Google Toolbar? Can I distribute Java with that??

What?

[RedNovember]

You mean to tell me that this has never been covered before on Slashdot? Are you kidding?

Or am I just being naive? I guess the slogan is true - Slashdot. The News 24 Hours After Everyone Else Or Your Money Back!

As an aside - why not mention Portable Firefox or FFDeploy? They fit the same category of spreading firefox.

Re:What?

[MaestroSartori]

Interestingly, a quick straw poll of ~30 or so programmers here in the office reveals no-one that had heard of it. So I'd say it's a fair bet that it's not *that* widely known...

More to the point, it's a decent idea. Firefox isn't hard to install, but why not make packaged versions with all the handy things in it? Thanks for the links to those other two, I'll have a longer look at all three of these options later :)

Re:What?

[Steinfiend]

I can't tell you how much I have to recommend PortableFirefox, not only for use on a USB key, but also for use on machines without admin privilages. Take for instance a work machine locked down so tightly and with IE only installed. As long as you have the abillity to run an exectuable you can run PortableFirefox.

If you are used to running IE6/Firefox on your latest uber Quad Processor 12GHz Pentium 7 machine, you don't really get the full difference between the two. However, run IE6 and Firefox on a slightly older machine (P3 128mb etc) and you'll soon realize what you thought was a slow network connection is in fact a slow rendering engine.

If you couldn't guess, this is exactly what happened to me!

I think you're missing something.

[bigtallmofo]

they should already have internet connection, in which case there should be no reason for making this on a CD unless I am missing something.

The idea behind this is to encourage more people to use Firefox. Giving a CD with everything needed is preferable to sending a link to certain friends/family because a CD sitting on your desk is a constant reminder to install Firefox. Also, some people don't think software is real unless they're given real media to install it with. Why does AOL go to all the expense to send out their CDs? Because it's more effective to get people to install it than many other techniques (giving out a phone number or link for instance).

Re:I think you're missing something.

[value_added]

It could be the folks at the Firemonger Project are also missing something.

The extensions listed as Most Popular on the Firefox page aren't necessarily included. To wit:

FlashGot (yes)
CustomizeGoogle (NO)
NoScript (NO)
Tabbrowser Preferences (yes)
Adblock (yes)
Forecastfox (yes)
IE View (yes)
PDF Download (NO)
StumbleUpon (yes)
Gmail Notifier (NO)

This is a great strategy!

[michaelzhao]

Although Firefox is meant to be liteweight, there are some people on this planet that don't use it because it is too lightweight. Enter my grandparents. Old Chinese folk with no knowledge of computers. They don't know how to download extentions, definitely don't know how to download and install Thunderbird. Suites like this make their life easier. My life will be eased as well because I won't have to tell them how to download everything over the phone.

This is a great piece of software.

Re:This is a great strategy!

[pjbgravely]

So, When you parents call, have a bookmark setup so they can find their IP address.
Then SSH into their box, and install the software. Much easier than phone tech support.

Re:Excuse me

[malkavian]

Modem connections? They're still around, and it's a pain in the derriere to download Firefox, plus extensions, plus thunderbird.
All on one CD, chuck it in the drive and go. Much better solution.

AdBlock?

[CdBee]

AdBlock represents a possible problem as it hasn't been updated in quite a while and in its current iteration doesn't work with Firefox 1.5.

There is a spin-off project called AdBlockPlus which would make a more logical choice.

In zee interest ooff oooor Svedeesh freeends:

[halleluja]

IZ Relueded vreetes "Zee Furemunger Pruject is un ettempt tu creete-a a mooltileengooel iesy-tu-use-a cumpeeleshun CD veet Fureffux, Thoonderburd und un ixcellent selecshun ooff ploogeens (Mecrumedeea Flesh, Mecrumedeea Shuckvefe-a und Soon Jefa), ixtenseeuns (Edbluck, Guugleber, Hutmeeel tebs, SesseeunSefer, ScrepBouk und mure-a Bork Bork), Fureffux und Thoonderburd zeemes, releted prugrems (Furetoone-a und Beckoopffux) und a cumprehenseefe-a begeenner's gooeede-a. Iferytheeng yuoo need tu stert up veet und get zee must oooot ooff Fureffux und Thoonderburd. Zeere's elsu a leete-a ferseeun fur doonlued."

Use-a zee Prefeeoo Boottun! Check thuse-a URLs! Bork Bork Bork!

Wrong !

[CdBee]

Thunderbird supports auto-compacting of folders and has for several releases now. It's an option, unticked by default, in the Options panel.

Re:Why Fire[xxx...]?

[computerdude33]

No, the reason is that if you get the Firemonger CD and you don't install FF or TB, it'll catch fire.
 
In your computer.