The Rumbling Edge

(Donated to Mozilla Wiki on 05 Jan 08)

Written on 26 Nov 07 and last updated on 27 Nov 07.

Specs: MacBook Pro, 2.2Ghz, 2GB ram, 8600M GT 128MB, Mac OS X 10.4.11

Purpose: This guide is meant to serve as a quickstart on compiling Sunbird 0.7 for the Intel Mac, in under an hour. It is not intended to be comprehensive.

Why Sunbird: Sunbird is an application that can be compiled in under half an hour on my machine. (Firefox definitely takes much longer)

Documentation used: Build documentation, Mac OS X Build Prerequisites, Configuring build options, Build and install

1. Install the prerequisites (20 - 25 minutes, your mileage may vary)

Xcode 2.4.1 came with my Tiger restore DVD, and I installed it with the default options. (ten minutes)

Having a choice of Fink and MacPorts, I went with MacPorts. You can download it here. Installing MacPorts is as simple as running the installer found in the mounted .dmg. (five minutes)

Next, I used MacPorts to install libIDL (which also installs GLib): [note: ignore the "$", it's meant to represent a set of commands to be executed]

$ sudo port sync
$ sudo port install libidl

(You would need to have your administrative password ready; takes around five to ten minutes, depending on your internet connection)

2. Download the source (5 minutes; depends on your internet connection)

I chose not (yet) to plunge into CVS and instead downloaded the 0.7 source directly.

I created a folder on my desktop called "Test" (or whatever you want to call it), dragged the .tar.bz2 file inside and ran this command from that folder "Test" in Terminal:

$ tar xjfv lightning-sunbird-0.7-source.tar.bz2

There will be an extracted "mozilla" folder inside.

3. Configure build options (5 minutes)

In the mozilla folder, I ran

$ echo "# My first mozilla config" > .mozconfig

in Terminal. This creates a .mozconfig file with the comment "My first mozilla config".

I skipped all the Objdir stuff as I am only compiling Sunbird, and entered the .mozconfig below: (the ones with # are comments)

# My first mozilla config
# v0.1 alpha test

. $topsrcdir/calendar/sunbird/config/mozconfig
ac_add_options –enable-optimize
ac_add_options –disable-static –enable-shared
ac_add_options –disable-debug
ac_add_options –with-macos-sdk=/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.4u.sdk
ac_add_options –disable-tests

No debugging, no static build, no auxillary tests needed, optimized and Intel-only build configuration. For a more comprehensive documentation on all the switches and options in .mozconfig, please refer to the Mozilla Developer Center.

4. Build the source (25 minutes)

Having done up everything, I proceeded to compile the source by this Terminal input in the same location as .mozconfig:

$ make -f client.mk build

It took just under half an hour for my hardware configuration. Your mileage may vary though. I had no build problems.

5. Run your program!

The compiled Calendar.app (for Intel Mac only; not a universal binary) after completion appears in /mozilla/dist/. It takes up 7.4MB.

Here’s a screenshot immediately after double-clicking the app in Finder, canceling the import wizard, enlarging the interface window and clicking on "About".

Due to trademark issues, there is a switch that must be input in .mozconfig to make it compile with official branding. For my case, it didn’t matter to me, as I have just compiled my first application on the Mac. (Gentoo Linux experience a few years back was a good help too.)

Endnotes: I hope this guide serves as a decent beginner’s guide to building Sunbird. It should be noted that any build questions should go to #calendar or #developers on irc.mozilla.org, where there are lots of other experienced people who are more than willing to answer any of your queries (Please ask nicely). Do read the Mozilla documentation as well.

Current Sunbird (0.7) | Next planned Sunbird (0.8) | Previous releases

Calendars:

• Fixed: 401357 - Holiday file for Finland in Swedish
• Fixed: 401495 - Icelandic Holidays
• Fixed: 402336 - Luxembourg Holidays 2008
• Fixed: 404172 - Polish holiday

Common:

• Fixed: 253396 - Task Mode: Full Task Window
• Fixed: 328442 - jsDate vs calIDateTime
• Fixed: 341776 - calICalendar::superCalendar attribute for calendar composition
• Fixed (again): 398139 - X-prop parameters get corrupted.
• Fixed: 404007 - Remove calendar from composite in onCalendarUnregistering
• Fixed: 404085 - Consolidate provider methods into a default calendar implementation
• Fixed: 404763 - broken instanceof test in calUtils.js
• Fixed: 404813 - No calendars can be created, failure during startup

Lightning-only:

• Fixed: 388433 - Mode Toolbar: Tasks button should say "Tasks" not "Task"

Outstanding bugs (marked blocking-calendar0.8+): (5)

• Since 29 Oct 05: 314339 - need to handle non-native timezone bits
• Since 01 Mar 06: 328996 - guessSystemTimezone doesn’t take northern/southern hemisphere into account
• Since 23 Aug 06: 393395 - Offline Support infrastructure: Synchronization interfaces
• Since 20 Oct 07: 400540 - Check installer removed-files against dist/bin
• Since 08 Nov 07: 403061 - Unifinder: Edit and Delete selected event via keyboard is broken

Bugs with blocking-calendar0.8? flags: currently 4 at time of writing. (Bugs requested to block 0.8 release)

Bugs with wanted-calendar0.8+ flags: currently 57 at time of writing. (Bugs which should make it into 0.8)

Bugs with wanted-calendar0.8? flags: currently 62 at time of writing. (Bugs requested to make it into 0.8)

Lightning .xpi:

Official Windows .xpi, WCAP

Official Linux .xpi, WCAP

Official Mac .xpi, WCAP

Sunbird builds:

Official Windows, Official Windows installer

Official Linux (i686)

Official Mac (Universal binary)

Current Thunderbird 1.5 (1.5.0.13) | Next planned Thunderbird 1.5 (1.5.0.14) | Previous releases

No checkins during this period.

No outstanding bugs.

Official Windows, Official Windows installer (discussion)

Official Linux (i686)

Official Mac (Universal binary)

Current Thunderbird 2.0 (2.0.0.9) | Next planned Thunderbird 2.0 (2.0.0.10) | Previous releases

No checkins during this period.

David Ascher is seeking input on MailCo’s suggested new name over at the Mozilla Labs forum.

Outstanding bugs: (5)

• Since 20 Jun 06: 342154 - No more confirmation dialog of attachment correctly saved if attachment file type listed as "save to disk" and "save without asking" option is checked
• Since 20 Nov 06: 361279 - standalone mesage window: Unable to Retrieve Message when ‘Retrieve Headers Only’ applied
• Since 21 Nov 06: 361417 - Crtl-Shift-A is no longer selecting the entire thread
• Since 07 Jan 07: 366255 - Exception thrown in nsIEditor.inlineSpellChecker when opening/closing the compose window
• Since 29 Jan 07: 368617 - Account setting "OK" button not saving data.

Official Windows, Official Windows installer (discussion)

Official Linux (i686)

Official Mac (Universal binary)

Continued from part two..

d) Meek STV voting algorithm ("If you are electing multiple people and simplicity is not important, then we recommend Meek STV. Most people agree that Meek STV is the best variant of STV, but it can only be implemented with a computer program." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV: (precision for this case was increased to three decimal places)

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: Meek STV
Number of Ballots: 688
Threshold Name: Droop Dynamic Fractional
14 candidates running for 9 seats.

Round 1: Count of first place rankings.
Candidate Default calendaring support is elected.
Candidate 64-bit support is elected.
Candidate Groupware server integration is elected.
Rounds 2 to 6: Transferring surplus votes. (shortened multiple lines of output)
Eliminating candidate Video conferencing.
Candidate Data synchronization with other devices is elected.
Round 7: Transferring surplus votes.
Candidate Instant messaging is elected.
Round 8: Transferring surplus votes.
Round 9: Transferring surplus votes.
Eliminating candidate Search bar improvements.
Rounds 10 to 14: Transferring surplus votes. (shortened multiple lines of output)
Eliminating candidate Improved migration of data.
Rounds 15 to 20: Transferring surplus votes. (shortened multiple lines of output)
Eliminating candidate Find-as-you-type.
Candidate VOIP is elected.
Round 21: Transferring surplus votes.
Candidate Minimize-to-tray is elected.
Candidate Offline applications is elected.
Rounds 22 to 41: Transferring surplus votes. (shortened multiple lines of output)
Candidate Collapse quotes in messages is elected.

Winners are Default calendaring support, 64-bit support, Groupware server integration, Data synchronization with other devices, Instant messaging, Minimize-to-tray, VOIP, Offline applications, Collapse quotes in messages.

Basing on average scores in the raw reports, here are some ideas for new Thunderbird enhancements, be they extensions or incorporated into the application. Top is default calendaring support, which is already in the form of the extension Lightning, but as yet does not come default with official Thunderbird builds. Aside from that, data synchronization with other devices is also much wanted, followed by search bar improvements (similar to GmailUI). Find-as-you-type (Nostalgy) and collapsing of quotes (Quote Collapse) currently exist as extensions. A notable 44 (6%) respondents regarded "Others" as their top choice; there are other enhancements that they feel are more important but which are not listed here as well.

Edit: Did up using the voting algorithms to list the top 5, instead of using average scores. (For Meek STV, which is known for its accuracy, the top 9 were obtained instead.) This time, the order is different - see the order listed for Meek STV, but nonetheless default calendaring support (Lightning extension) is still the top requested enhancement, no matter which algorithm was used. For some reason, 64-bit support came in second, while groupware integration and data synchronization with other devices came in after that.

Question 7: Do you use the Mac version?

Question 7 results (click for larger image)

	Number	Percentage
No	560	81%
Yes	129	19%
Total	689	100%

Note: Here, there are 689 responses as tracked by SurveyGizmo; someone must have started the survey at this point.

About a fifth of respondents have used the Mac version before. (This question was not phrased very well. On hindsight, it should have asked for the usage of all the operating systems that Thunderbird supports, instead of being Mac-specific.)

Question 8: If yes, rank suggested Mac-specific functionalities. (Note: Mac OS X Address Book integration and support for tabbed messages have already made it to Thunderbird trunk.)

Question 8 results (click for larger image)

	Less important	Important	More important	Total
Ability to search Tbird mail in Spotlight	18% (27)	28% (41)	54% (81)	149
Keychain support to store passwords	22% (33)	27% (40)	51% (76)	149
Mail alerts	27% (40)	45% (66)	28% (42)	148
Others	68% (73)	20% (21)	12% (13)	107

The ability to search Thunderbird mail in Spotlight as well as Keychain support are regarded as being more important than mail alerts. Again, there is this hint of more functionalities being requested instead of other factors.

Question 9: The following lists some ways that Thunderbird could make use of to increase the number of users. Please tick those that apply.

Question 9 results (click for larger image)

	Number	Percentage
More features	371	54%
Better enterprise / consumer level support	327	47%
Improved marketing	289	42%
Involve the community (keep people updated on progress, regular bug days etc.)	289	42%
Improve developer / end-user level documentation	222	32%
Thunderbird for mobile devices	212	31%
Hire many developers	209	30%
Others	84	12%

More than half of the respondents feel that Thunderbird needs more features to attract more users. Next comes improved support for enterprises / end-users, and the marketing and community involvement could also help to increase the number of users. Improvements to documentation, a mobile Thunderbird and the hiring of many developers are statistically tied at the rear of the pack.

Question 10: Please add other relevant comments / options here, if any. (Optional)

An exhaustive list of ideas in no particular order, which include: (some that duplicate the options in some of the previous questions have been removed to avoid replication)

• Many suggestions regarding Calendaring, e.g. free / busy scheduling, task lists, invitations etc.
• Slideshow (like Mail.app in Mac OS X)
• Group mails by relevance
• Improved tagging
• Improved user interface / unclutter the current UI / overhaul of the many menus Thunderbird currently has
• Add progress dialog
• Increased webmail integration
• Encryption of mail storage
• Easy creation of one-click installation of Thunderbird and extensions for deployment in enterprises
• Improved address book features / search in address book
• Replicate the functionality of Outlook & Exchange
• Easier installation of extensions
• Compare with Mail.app; it’s always about keeping ahead of the competition
• Roaming profile support
• Mail re-direction feature
• Cut down on memory and CPU use
• Date recognition in Thunderbird -> insert in Lightning straight away
• Co-operate with web programs e.g. social networking sites, webmail, google calendar, instant messengers etc.
• Improved integration with Linux, e.g. KDE, Gnome / Tango icons
• Use tags to group address book entries
• Improve IMAP functionality, i.e. do not download headers for all folders
• "Trainable" spam filter with whitelists
• Improved newsgroup support
• OpenOffice integration
• Improved profile backup and management
• Better nested email view
• Better threaded views
• Simplify font settings
• Dynamic front page
• Change display of headers / customize date format
• Improved filtering system
• Improve followup and business features
• More predictability
• Improved MSI installer support
• Full vCard support in address book
• Create automated test frameworks
• Switch to mozStorage (aka SQLite) for emails and address book entries; mork is obsolete!
• Message templates
• Archive emails & secure them
• Integrate filters with saved searches
• Make it easier to create Thunderbird extensions (similar to FUEL for Firefox?)
• … and many many more (I’ve only looked through 4 out of 27 pages, that’s 15%, feel free to look through the rest) …

Anything you feel that could have been done better in this survey?

Ideally, the sample size should be greater than 689, but that was the best I could garner via The Rumbling Edge in three weeks.

Question 3, about the places the respondents go to for support, should have other options such as no support needed and search engines. I should have restructured question 7 (do you use the Mac version?) to reflect on the different operating systems that people make use of, instead of being Mac-only. Oh well, I haven’t used Thunderbird long enough on the others to come up with suitable options for them.

There should also be localizations, and a better theme etc., but all these are beyond my personal ability, and the entire survey questions were my brainchild, so this had to make do while I juggled between Thunderbird-related activities, my studies and ice skating =) .

I want to praise / discuss / criticise this. Where should I comment such that you will read my opinions?

Please feel free to comment below. If it is closed, please head to the respective forum threads at Mozilla Labs or MozillaZine.

Will you do up another survey again?

The Mozilla Community Surveys Project was started not too long ago. They have mentioned that Thunderbird-themed surveys will most likely come your way, with better tracking, details, analysis etc. Thus, this may be the first and probably the only one done up in private capacity.

I want to make use of the results in this survey. May I do so?

Sure, please notify and attribute to me, Gary Kwong, if in print, or a live link to The Rumbling Edge or this post will do. (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, see sidebar)

Who are you?

I am currently a university freshman who should be studying for his examinations at the time of writing, and who loves to travel around the world and meet all kinds of people. Long-time Thunderbird contributor too, though working on Thunderbird doesn’t fulfill any of my module requirements. (What’s the use of studying bubble sort when it’s so comparatively inefficient in practice?)

I don’t want to read everything above! Can you please summarize?

(Please do not take the results as a gauge of the sentiment of the entire Thunderbird community)

MozillaZine is a popular location for users to head to for Thunderbird information, as well as Planet Mozilla for development news.

Thunderbird 2 is already a great product lauded for its stability and adherence to open standards, but with lots of room for improvement and / or innovation. It could do with more features and functionality, especially improved global search across all accounts and default calendaring support (Lightning). Finally, more could be done about the level of official support, marketing and community involvement of Thunderbird in order to increase its userbase.

Continued from part one..

Question 6: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird, in the form of an extension or otherwise. (Some may already have been implemented as extensions) (Note: Mac OS X Address Book integration and support for tabbed messages have already made it to Thunderbird trunk.)

Options:

• Default calendaring support
• Data synchronization with PDAs / mobile phones / other stuff
• Search bar improvements (e.g. Search suggestions, advanced operators etc.)
• Find-as-you-type
• Collapse quotes in email / newsgroup messages
• Improved migration of data (e.g. export all emails / selected newsgroup messages based on search criteria using 7z compression etc.)
• Minimize-to-tray
• Groupware server integration (e.g. Kolab)
• Instant messaging
• 64-bit support
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
• Offline applications (e.g. integration with Facebook)
• Others
• Video conferencing

The OpenSTV .blt file I used is available here. The various options were used with their default settings.

a) Instant runoff voting algorithm ("If you are electing one person and simplicity is important, then we recommend instant runoff voting. Instant runoff voting is easy to explain and gives good results." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: IRV
Number of Ballots: 688
14 candidates running for 1 seats.

Round 1: Count of first place rankings.
Round 2: Eliminating candidate Video conferencing.
Round 3: Eliminating candidate Search bar improvements.
Round 4: Eliminating candidate Find-as-you-type.
Round 5: Eliminating candidate Minimize-to-tray.
Round 6: Eliminating candidate Improved migration of data.
Round 7: Eliminating candidate Others.
Round 8: Eliminating candidate Collapse quotes in messages.
Round 9: Eliminating candidate VOIP.
Round 10: Eliminating candidate Offline applications.
Round 11: Eliminating candidate Instant messaging.
Round 12: Eliminating candidate Data synchronization with other devices.
Round 13: Eliminating candidate 64-bit support.
Candidate Default calendaring support is elected.

Winner is Default calendaring support.

b) Condorcet voting algorithm ("If you are electing one person and simplicity is not important, then we recommend Condorcet voting. Most people agree that Condorcet is the best method for electing one person, but it is more difficult to explain." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: Condorcet
Completion Method: Schwartz Sequential Dropping
Number of Ballots: 688
14 candidates running for 1 seat.

Pairwise Comparison Matrix:

Smith Set: Default calendaring support
No completion necessary since the Smith set has just one candidate.
Winner is Default calendaring support.

c) Scottish STV voting algorithm ("If you are electing multiple people and simplicity is important, then we recommend Scottish STV, as it is the simplest of all the STV methods." - from OpenSTV FAQ)

Output from OpenSTV:

Election: Suggested enhancements to Thunderbird in the form of an extension or otherwise.
Method: Scottish STV
Number of Ballots: 688
Threshold Name: Droop Static Whole
Threshold Value: 115.0
Delayed Transfer of Surplus: Not Enabled.
Batch Elimination: None
14 candidates running for 5 seats.