Extensions in Ubuntu (Thunderbird vs. apt/Synaptic)
A while back an update (52.9.1) caused Lightning to be disabled and I was told it was incompatible with Thunderbird. There was no version I could download that would work. Eventually I followed these steps (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/calendar-updates-issues-thunderbird), uninstalling Lightning which was supposed to magically ‘come back’ after restarting. It did not.
So I tried reinstalling Thunderbird and noticed that Lighting was also packed, so after the reinstall made no difference I installed the package manager’s version of Lightning and it’s working again.
This leads to my question, is the extension system broken for Linux? Is it more reliable to install extensions from a distro’s package system rather than from within Thunderbird? This seems a pretty bizarre situation if so.
From what I can figure out, I think the Thunderbird extension system installed an updated Lightning that was for Thunderbird 60 (Lightning v. 6.2). The only version available on the extensions website is 5.4 but Thunderbird told me that was incompatible too. The Ubuntu package installed Lightning 5.4.9.1.
Chosen solution
Hi seanos, If I understand correctly, the question being asked is "Is it more reliable to install [Lightning] from a distro’s package system rather than from within Thunderbird?".
Because Thunderbird comes comes with Lightning pre-installed, any updates to Thunderbird will also include the compatible updates to Lightning. Ergo, you shouldn't have to install Lightning to begin with.
For other add-ons, each add-on has a compatibility range declared in its code, so incompatible versions cannot be installed. The Add-ons Manager in Thunderbird will only display versions compatible with your version of Thunderbird. I don't know if the package manager does that, or if there are differences in the code. If the package manager does do that, then neither one is more reliable than the other.
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (6)
is the extension system broken for Linux?
No, it's not.
Is it more reliable to install extensions from a distro’s package system rather than from within Thunderbird?
It's not a matter of reliability. I think it's more a matter of taste and about your skills using your distro's package manager. What's important: do not mix and match.
Personally I prefer the vanilla Thunderbird from https://www.thunderbird.net/ and extensions directly from https://addons.thunderbird.net/thunderbird/ I'm not using any packages from the distribution for Thunderbird.
Modified by christ1
Well, I’m happy that it’s fine for you (though you don’t give any details of your setup so it’s hard to judge what that means).
My problem is that the extension either cannot be installed through the Thunderbird extension system or it doesn’t work when installed through the Thunderbird extension system.
It worked when installed through a system package.
Well, I’m happy that it’s fine for you (though you don’t give any details of your setup so it’s hard to judge what that means).
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-thunderbird-linux
My problem is that the extension either cannot be installed through the Thunderbird extension system or it doesn’t work when installed through the Thunderbird extension system. It worked when installed through a system package.
As said before, don't mix and match.
You didn’t ever say “don’t mix and match” you just talked about how you did it. [now I see you’ve edited your response to include those words]
Despite saying the system isn’t broken now you’re suggesting the system is a little broken (i.e. you can only install extensions provided by the package system if you installed from the package system).
I’m beginning to suspect you don’t actually know (which is fine).
Modified by Moilleadóir
Re-read https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1236591#answer-1163813 I'm done here. Good luck.
Chosen Solution
Hi seanos, If I understand correctly, the question being asked is "Is it more reliable to install [Lightning] from a distro’s package system rather than from within Thunderbird?".
Because Thunderbird comes comes with Lightning pre-installed, any updates to Thunderbird will also include the compatible updates to Lightning. Ergo, you shouldn't have to install Lightning to begin with.
For other add-ons, each add-on has a compatibility range declared in its code, so incompatible versions cannot be installed. The Add-ons Manager in Thunderbird will only display versions compatible with your version of Thunderbird. I don't know if the package manager does that, or if there are differences in the code. If the package manager does do that, then neither one is more reliable than the other.