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Rob Helmer's blog posts matching the tag: mozilla
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2/15/2009 · 4 min read
Evolving beyond Mozilla Tinderbox: to Buildbot and beyond
Journey from Tinderbox CI/CD to modern continuous integration practices, exploring how Momentum enhances deployment workflows and development automation.
11/28/2014 · 3 min read
Better Source Code Browsing With FreeBSD and Mozilla DXR
Implementing DXR, Mozilla's static analysis and code browsing tool, to improve source code comprehension and navigation within FreeBSD's complex codebase.
5/20/2007 · 4 min read
Releases: On Bootstraps, And Pulling Oneself Up By One's
Explore how Bootstrap automation scripts enhance release quality and ensure consistency for streamlined development workflows.
11/30/2016 · 2 min read
about:addons in React: exploration, and a prototype
Exploring a React version of Firefox's about:addons as a proof-of-concept to replace XBL and XUL, with an emphasis on reusable components and state management.
3/19/2008 · 1 min read
Breakout! Building a classic game using HTML5 Canvas
Building a basic Breakout clone with JavaScript and HTML5 Canvas, a fun project to practice coding and create a classic game.
2/10/2007 · 3 min read
Buildbot 'try' support for one-off Mozilla Firefox builds
Exploring Buildbot integration for Mozilla, including the creation of a custom Buildbot 'try' server for one-off builds.
2/19/2009 · 2 min read
HTML5 canvas love: exploring its use in web development
Exploring the HTML5 canvas and its use in web development, including discussions about excanvas for IE support and comparisons with SVG.
12/8/2012 · 3 min read
How to capture and replay HTTP POST requests using tcpdump
A tutorial on how to capture and replay HTTP POST requests using tcpdump, a case study for testing changes in a Mozilla crash-stats service.
6/21/2014 · 2 min read
Quickly deploying Socorro to power Mozilla's crash-stats
Quickly deploying Socorro, the powerful software behind Mozilla's crash-stats service, with this straightforward guide.
5/24/2011 · 2 min read
Perf-O-Matic: Hacking on graphs 2.0 is fun and easy
Guide on contributing to and using perf-o-matic 2.0, with setup instructions and how to add features, fix bugs, or use your own data.
4/18/2013 · 1 min read
Etherpad 2013 Meetup Videos now available on Youtube
A post about migrating Mozilla's Etherpad install from the original Etherpad to Etherpad Lite. It includes a YouTube video series from the 2013 Etherpad meetup.
6/29/2010 · 1 min read
Testing gzip encoding on Tinderbox-stage to boost speed
Testing gzip encoding on Tinderbox-stage to boost loading speeds. Share your feedback and help refine this performance improvement!
11/21/2025 · 2 min read
Leaving Mozilla... Again. A reflection on departing, again
A reflection on departing Mozilla for the second time, marking nearly 18 years of deep involvement with the mission.
4/2/2008 · 1 min read
Leaving MoCo after an incredible experience (2008)
Announcing departure from Mozilla Corporation after an incredible experience and transition to CustomWeather, Inc.
7/30/2008 · 6 min read
Simplifying and speeding up the serving of Firefox updates
A discussion on simplifying and improving the process of configuring and serving updates for Mozilla-based applications
11/25/2007 · 2 min read
Updates on the process of migrating Tinderbox to Buildbot
Transitioning Firefox Nightly Builds to a new release automation CI/CD system based on Buildbot instead of Mozilla's venerably Tinderbox
3/4/2008 · 1 min read
moving 1.8 nightlies to release machines March 5 2008
Announcement about migrating nightly production to release machines for the 1.8 branch for Firefox releases, with a list of impacted machines
2/15/2008 · 2 min read
moving nightly Mozilla1.8 Firefox to release automation
Streamlining Mozilla 1.8 Nightly Builds with Release Automation, with links to bugzilla and more information. Tinderbox still in use, with help from BuildBot.
11/15/2017 · 2 min read
Announcing a new owner for Firefox Add-ons Manager component
Announcing a New Owner for the Add-ons Manager in Firefox, the component that manages extensions and themes. Links to more information about WebExtensions.
4/8/2008 · 4 min read
On moving from Tinderbox to Buildbot (for reals this time)
Transitioning Mozilla to Buildbot for Continuous Integration, moving fully away from the venerable Mozilla Tinderbox CI
12/29/2007 · 1 min read
Improving Firefox Builds with CI and Performance Testing
Improving Firefox Build and Performance Testing. Discussions on continuous integration and building only as needed.
3/24/2011 · 1 min read
Updates on Perf-o-matic 2.0 and Replacing Graphserver UI
Announcement and updates about the new perf-o-matic 2.0 interface. Progress on replacing the existing Mozilla Graphserver UI.
5/24/2011 · 2 min read
Launch of Graphs 2.0: Real-Time Access to Production Data
Announcing the launch of version 2.0 of the graphs.mozilla.org platform, with real-time access to production data.
7/11/2008 · 6 min read
Releases on tap: Addressing Mozilla's Automation Challenges
Streamlining Software Releases with Automation. Discussions on Mozilla and Firefox's unique challenges when it comes to release engineering.
5/18/2011 · 1 min read
Vagrant VM Config for Socorro: Puppet Setup and CI Insights
Sharing a Vagrant virtual machine config for Socorro development, automating setup with Puppet, thoughts on continuous integration for publishing VM appliances.
1/10/2008 · 3 min read
Build-on-Checkin Automation: Concerns and System Trade-Offs
Addressing concerns regarding build-on-checkin automation. Contrasting the trade-offs for the current and proposed systems.
11/1/2006 · 3 min read
The Automaton: Automating Firefox and Thunderbird releases
Automating the release process for Firefox and Thunderbird with a custom workflow, using tools like Buildbot, SVK, and Subversion.
8/29/2007 · 2 min read
Tinderbox JSON Update: Testing and UI Backend Insights
Tinderbox JSON Output Update, and a call for testing. Discussion into current UI techniques and using Mozilla Tinderbox as a backend.
9/2/2007 · 1 min read
JSON Mode and Performance Upgrade: now with 100% more AJAX
Introduction of a more AJAX-driven Tinderbox waterfall, using the new Tinderbox JSON output mode. The post discusses performance improvements.
12/19/2007 · 1 min read
Automating Mozilla 1.8 Releases with Buildbot Nightlies
Setting up release automation for the Mozilla 1.8 branch using Buildbot to generate nightly and dependent builds
12/6/2007 · 2 min read
Migrating Mozilla Automation from Tinderbox to Buildbot
Migrating from Tinderbox to Buildbot for Mozilla automation, improving cycle times, centralized management, and closer alignment between nightly and release.
1/17/2008 · 2 min read
Launch of Tinderbox JSON API (0.1): Simplified Data Access
Launch of the Tinderbox JSON API (tinderboxJsonApi 0.1), a simpler and more accessible way to interact with Tinderbox data.
9/2/2007 · 2 min read
Hands-Off Firefox Releases with Buildbot: Speed & Efficiency
Progress towards hands-off releases for Firefox with Buildbot-enabled release automation, aimed at improving the speed and efficiency.
11/30/2016 · 2 min read
Exploring Firefox Add-on Manager in Rust: Enums and Match
Experimenting with a toy version of Firefox's Add-on Manager in Rust, exploring its core components and comparing Rust's features like enums and match.
10/14/2006 · 3 min read
Mozilla Release Automation Update: Progress and Challenges
An update on the progress of release automation at Mozilla, discussing the completed steps, challenges faced in automation and verification.
6/15/2019 · 4 min read
Browser Engine Diversity: Lessons from Vectiv, IE, and Apple
The Importance of Browser Engine Diversity: A Lesson from Vectiv and my experience with the IE browser monopoly, guest-starring Apple
1/22/2008 · 1 min read
Empowering Volunteers: Lessons from Politics and Open Source
Volunteers bring passion and purpose, not just labor. Empower them to contribute their best, whether in politics or open-source projects.
3/1/2012 · 1 min read
WebKit Adopts Mozilla GraphServer for Performance Tracking
The WebKit project adopts Mozilla's graph server, leveraging shared tools to enhance performance tracking and foster collaboration in open web development.