Does a "Reading manifest" warning prevent install/update for regular users? (data_collection_permissions for ESR 115)

Add-ons Development
1

I’ve been holding off to add data_collection_permissions to by add-on manifest as the property has a minimum browser version is 140, even though Firefox still supports 115 ESR. I just installed the 115 ESR to see how it would handle it if I added the property to my manifest, and the about:debugging gives this warning:

Warning details

Reading manifest: Warning processing browser_specific_settings.gecko.data_collection_permissions: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

Which does make sense considering the property is not supported in this version, but I am wondering if this would actually cause an issue to users? My add-on installed fine on my install of 115 ESR, but of course I am “installing” my add-on via about:debugging instead of through a signed XPI.

Obviously I could just increase the strict_min_version to 140, but I would prefer if I could still have updates available for the few users of my add-on who are still on 115.

FYI this is what I tested in my manifest:

"browser_specific_settings": {

    "gecko_android": {

        "strict_min_version": "120.0"

    },

    "gecko": {

        "id": "{9abb0ce4-6348-4119-b97a-3f8116351aca}",

        "strict_min_version": "115.0",

        "data_collection_permissions": {

            "required": \["none"\]

        }

    }

},

So my question is: would I be able to submit this to AMO, and would users still on 115 be able to install/update my add-on despite this warning?

2

What happens when you install your extension as an unsigned XPI?
Testing persistent and restart features | Firefox Extension Workshop > “to test restart behavior”

Data collection experience on older Firefox versions

3

It’s nice that you want to support all users, but Firefox 115 not here to stay.
It may be supported now, but it’s only temporary.

Maybe you can spend your time better, implementing some new feature instead, something that will last “forever”, not just a few months :slight_smile: .

But if you feel like you are learning something new by doing it, then do it.

4

Oh interesting, I tried the unsigned XPI and it installed fine in 115. I guess I will include the data_collection_permissions and leave the strict_min_version as 115.

Thanks.

5

I know 115 is not permanent, I just didn’t want to have to increase the strict_min_version of my add-on while 115 is still being supported. I had waited this long to include data_collection_permissions because I though that 115 support was only extended to this summer, but I the release calendar seems to indicate that 115 will continue to be supported until Q1 2027, which is why I am looking into it now.

Anyways, it seems that the warning isn’t a big deal for being able to install or use the add-on so I’m just going to include it in the next release of my add-on.