Ubuntu Firefox package segfault problem

I upgraded to the latest Firefox package available through Synaptic Package Manager (package version 1.0.2-0ubuntu5.4 in hoary-security) — and therefore the Ubuntu package repositiories — just then, and it’s been segfaulting on startup ever since.

josh@joah:~$ firefox --verbose<br /> FIREFOX_DSP=esddsp<br /> APPLICATION_ID=firefox<br /> CMDLINE_DISPLAY=<br /> DISPLAY=:0.0<br /> REMOTE=0<br /> TRY_USE_EXIST=0<br /> OPTIONS=<br /> DEBUG=0<br /> DEBUGGER=<br /> Running: /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/firefox-bin -a firefox -remote 'ping()'<br /> PING_STATUS=2<br /> Cleaning user profile<br /> Running: esddsp /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox/firefox-bin -a firefox<br /> Segmentation fault<br />

It’s not a huge problem for me, as I’ve recently installed Opera 8.01 on this machine and have absolutely fallen in love with it (but haven’t been using it as my primary browser because all my settings, cookies, etc. are stored in Firefox), and I’ve got Firefox on three other desktops should I need to test a website in it, but it’s a bit annoying.

Hoping whatever’s wrong with the package will get fixed relatively quickly…

UPDATE: Curiously, Firefox appears to launch without any problems whatsoever when a URL is specified (e.g. firefox http://www.joahua.com/blog/ as a launch command). So, now it merely belongs in the realm of irritations as the bug can be circumvented with minimal effort.

A few moments later: Oh, no, apparently not. If one opens a new tab, Firefox decides to crash once again. Cruel world. wanders back to Opera

Squarespace

I know there’s more than a few emerging weblog hosting services out there, but I just discovered Squarespace via a text-based advertisement in Opera’s banner (I’m astounded how unintrusive they are… I think I’m actually appreciating them, which is amazing!), and was instantly impressed by their website’s interface and copy.

Apparently it’s been creating some noise in mainstream media, too. I look at it and I don’t see another content management system people are trying to sell — the website looks, feels, and reads as though it’s a small community project. Which it probably isn’t. I’d imagine they’re making loads of money off this thing. And good on them: it appears they’ve jumped on the Cluetrain, come up with a killer offering, and it’s worked for them.

“Killer offering”, by the way, is not just weblog software. It’s also not just managed weblog software or even web services… it’s commerical, managed, web publishing services that people are crying out for. Six Apart have sort of leant in, but they’re first and foremost a blogging company, whilst Squarespace positions themself in a broader market: they’re a publishing company, that lets you do blogging, if that’s your thing.

I’ve observed all this in the course of about ten minutes, by the way. I haven’t even tried the service yet: this is all in response to their presentation and promotion. Incidentally, Squarespace also have their own blog — part of that whole Cluetrain thing — and have content on it available to anyone under a Creative Commons license. What a cool tech company…

Rollback/downgrade using apt-get

Davide Bocci pointed out in a comment that there’s an easy solution to the problems with Ubuntu’s Firefox 1.0.4 package that can be accomplished with apt-get.

Through specifying package versions, it’s possible to rollback to something that’s not quite cutting edge. In Firefox’s case, observe:

sudo apt-get install mozilla-firefox=1.0.2-0ubuntu5 mozilla-firefox-gnome-support=1.0.2-0ubuntu5

Thanks Davide!

HSC Trials timetable

GarageBand.com

Tori pointed me to some music on this website today and it’s surprisingly good quality… at least, so far as I can judge — which is confined to “well produced” and “that sounds good/nice”! At least some of it is under Creative Commons licensing, which is interesting. Good stuff.

Oh, and a tip: Personally, I think the best way to listen is to go to a genre you’re a fan of and start a player with all tracks and just keep clicking “Next” if you don’t like a particular track. Of course, you can download all the material as well, but if you want to use it like streaming radio then that’s the way to go.