Vivaldi introduces Delta updates
Vivaldi announced a major change coming to the browser's update mechanism that will make updates a lot smaller in the near future.
Up until now, each new version of Vivaldi had to be downloaded in full to update an older version -- be it a stable release or a snapshot release.
While that may not have mattered that much to stable users, there were only a couple of stable releases this year so far, beta users may have noticed it because of the increased frequency in which snapshots are released.
So, basically, whenever a new update was released the full version of Vivaldi had to be downloaded to the system.
Vivaldi Delta updates
Starting with Vivaldi version 1.5.626.8 on Windows, that is no longer the case. Vivaldi switched to delta updates in that build which means that only the actual changes are downloaded.
You are probably wondering how big of a deal that is. While it depends on what is being released, the first snapshot update that Vivaldi released is less than 200 Kiloybte in size.
While that does not introduce any major new features, that's certainly an improvement over download 40 or so Megabytes for browser updates.
Users benefit from this a lot, as updates are downloaded faster and thus also installed faster. This means less wait time for an update to be applied to the browser. Also, bandwidth is saved in the process but that is probably only important to businesses and not home systems considering that Vivaldi updates are far and few between.
Vivaldi on the other hand benefits from delta updates as well. Besides making customers happy, the company saves on its bandwidth bill. Imagine having to deliver a 40 Megabyte update to one million users, or an update that is just 4 Megabyte in size.
The bandwidth needed would drop from 40 million Megabytes to just 4 million Megabytes (40 Terabyte to 4 Terabyte).
One caveat is that delta updates are only available for Windows versions of Vivaldi currently. The company announced however that it is working on bringing the delta update feature to Mac and Linux versions of the Vivaldi web browser in the near future.
Closing Words
Many major browsers, Firefox and Chrome for instance, make use of delta updates already. It is good to see Vivaldi introducing the functionality to the web browser as well.
Now You: What's your take on the change and the direction Vivaldi is heading in general?
Using Vivaldi recently. It seems very configurable and easy to use/understand.
Seems like Firefox, maybe even Opera.
Looking forward to smaller updates..we often don’t need as much as is offered, maybe making updates “configurable” would let the user pick what WE want to update…
ps: as for the flame wars in forum chat..geez, it’s the internet, someone will always be upset with something said…this will never change…just go on to the next post..etc.etc.etc..
It’s easier to update right now, a friend of mine uses Vivaldi but hate the updates.
Sorry Vivaldi, I would never trust a closed source browser, there’s too much spy BS lately.
https://vivaldi.com/source/
This delta update consists of …
Minor translation updates to Slovakian and Chinese
… which is completely useless to me and most people reading this post, but it *is* a good example. That said, since a lot of Vivaldi is actually written in Javascript and thus not available as a pre-compiled code but in a plain-text format, a significant part of most updates to the browser (interface) and functionality should never need the full setup download. I like when developers are smart like this.
the devs might be smart but they are so proud of Vivaldi that they even refuse to explain some questions the cummunity made in the past, which gave me the feeling that they have the same mindset as the devs from Elementary OS: our software is too good for you so you don’t deserve a response, nor to use our software.
I’ve been reading the vivaldi forum many months before testing the browser. when the moderators don’t say it (indirectly) themselves or are rude to people that just asked a simple question, there’s always a high contributer defending that position of them. they say “a browser for our friends” but I don’t find the staff that friendly… that’s why I uninstalled it, because of their arrogance (even in emails) and because it’s simply too fresh. it still needs to eat some more bits in order to become a program, if you know what I mean…
I sent an email about if they are planning making Vivaldi opensource (cuz I love opensource), i received an extremely rude email with such arrogance that it felt like I was commiting a crime.
@Khidreal
Yes, I also read them. They had a discussion to review it and make some updates to make it clearer but only small errors were fixed.
The policy is pretty straight forward, all user data is only used by Vivaldi and no info is shared to others, even aggregated data. Advania, their hosters, hold the info but don’t have access to it as it’s encrypted.
Within the browser you can control the privacy:
1) There’s an option that prevents Vivaldi to send info about how you use Vivaldi features (Info collected is how many times you used shortcuts or opened a certain panel, no info about the accessed sites is shared. A better explanation should be provided IHMO and I’ll let them know)
2) Options to disable Google services that come with Chromium (like Google Phishing Protection and Report Security Problems to Google)
3) You can disable search suggestion (which stops what you type being sent to the provider) and even choose a more privacy oriented search (like DuckDuckGo or StartPage)
There still exists one connection to Google that Vivaldi makes that I have no idea what’s the purpose and I’ve already reported to the team. A second connection might exist if you install extensions as then there’ll exist a connection to check for extension updates.
An_dz
well, with you my thoughts about the team changed, but there are still those high contributors that mess my head. well, just complementing a bit, opensourcing is indeed something ideologic. I don’t mind that a program is closed source, as long as the company makes a good security and privacy statement (yeah, I read those) where they explain what they collect (exactly) and how they do it. when a company does not has a clear privacy statement and come with those hyper extra big books about their privacy statement, that means 1 thing: they’re trying to hide something. and well, vivaldi statements aren’t really that clear, well, they are clear enough, but still feels that they trying to hide something.
anyway, my thoughts about the company are good now, I’m trusting on you, but my thoughts about some community members still remain. and well, I guess I can just put those on the garbage bucket :) maybe I’ll try vivaldi sometime near in the future, when it gets some more bytes under the hood :D
@Khidreal
Just to end the discussion then:
Most of the open-source discussion was before the team asked for more politeness and stronger push towards rudeness. I don’t know if it’s better or worse as I don’t visit the forums much.
And yes, there are some contributors/mods also replying the emails. Also I’ve seen an email they received where the reporter was very sarcastic, satirical.
The problem with discussions on making something go open-source is that it’s an ideological discussion. There’s always four types:
– The rare person that discuss in a constructive way
– The one saying that open-source is the only answer and that since it’s closed-source everybody is an idiot
– That one that says that open-source is ridiculous and idiot
– And obviously there’s the other one that gets over-reacted with the previous two
I don’t like ideological discussions because people are too close minded, they can’t just ask, they must demand that everybody abides to their view, if not, you are an idiot.
I can’t say what exactly happened with your email, but the team is great and it saddens me to see that someone has a bad impression of them.
As for whether Vivaldi can be open-source it all lays on Jón and Tatsuki, the founders. FYI there are some devs that agree with open-sourcing Vivaldi, never heard any saying no as well.
@An_dz
well, thx for keeping it constructive, I apreciate.
well, on the forums there are a lot of those guys, truly, but even on emails, don’t know if there’s some high contributor or a moderator or anybody else answering them. I asked if they had plans to make Vivaldi opensource, explained why I would like it. the reply that came to my mailbox was arrogant and later on called me stupid and dumb, indirectly. what makes me think of them as rude was the chosen words and how they got organized. I love to write, and a part of that is giving the feeling, through words, give the feeling you want people to feel. if you want people to feel happy, maybe a “!” is enough, if you want people to feel you are writting aggainst your will or you are upset with something, just write in a way that feels you need to read it fast and organize the words/sentences in a way they feel sharp. that’s enough to give the reader a sense of rudeness or asking the reader “did I did something wrong?” and that answer was made like that, feels sharp, like a knife and transmites a feeling similar to “you messed with the wrong people”. maybe the person was over reacting or, well, had some problems at home or something, but made me have a bad idea about the team. what enforces me to believe they are arrogant persons, is also because of the forum. there are there those arrogant high contributers that insult people (just see the a thread where a guy asked about opensourcing vivaldi and he got a rude reply) and the moderators did nothing. they could at least remove that reply, besides adding nothing to the discussion, makes everyone who reads it feel bad. Also, if you send some reply criticizing the browser in any way even if you say it politely, your comment is deleted, which shows once again, arrogance.
Anyway, this is already getting hard, this will lead into a sort of “nich of ideas” that is/will add nothing to the topic, nor this is the place to discuss it. if I knew my reply would create so much trouble, wouldn’t had post it. (sry for long posts, as I said, I love the write)
Hi Khindreal, I know the devs and if they did not answer is probably because they don’t have time. Vivaldi only has 2 or 3 employees to talk with the community and even the dev team is pretty small.
As for some moderators or high posters being rude I confirm seeing it in some posts in the past. In most it was because the OP was also a dick, talking like the team is a bunch of retards that don’t know what they are doing. But I can assure that the Vivaldi team has gave an earful on the mod team about this and to always be respectful even when the other is not. And if it still occurs I’ll personally stand on talking with them and make sure the team also gets more aggressive with the mods and high posters about this.
Disclaimer: I don’t work for Vivaldi, but I know the team.
@RRR13
well, what you said means nothing to me in first place, I expressed my opinion and my experience, just that. it’s up to you to believe it or not; when you say, in this case, a browser for our friends, friends is a beam, human or not but the word browser specifies to what that slogan is adderessed to. so here, “A browser for our friends” means one thing. if you can’t find the meaning, well, I won’t find it for you. that slogan is just hironic and sarcastic. if you don’t know what those are, than you will never understand it.
than, if I am “brat” or “obnoxious” let it be, I never failed in cortesy on my reply, besides I don’t see where I put your name to come here and insult me;
if you worked for vivaldi, well, I would not really care LOL. besides, those emails get saved, so even if you insulted me (like you did on this reply with obnoxious little brat) I could easily go into a court and get some pocket change out of the Vivaldi company enough to pay a new car, because of moral abuse and defamation, which would probably result on you being fired, just saying.
I won’t provide a link for the forums, because I just don’t have them; search them yourself LOL, I ain’t your mamma. what I have is a couple of emails, which I aint share cuz they are not your business nor I have anything to prove to you.
if I am faking all of this or not, it’s up to you to believe or not. I don’t force anybody to do it;
next time you reply to someone, think better what will you say: your reply shows me that you are a hot potatoe (even if you seem calm from the outside) and that you are childish, even if you are an adult. an adult that acts like an adult, would never insult people, nor use words like “stop being such a child, kid”, an adult that acts as an adult, tries to keep everything constructive, just saying. I showed what I think, I do not really care if you believe them, nothing will change in my life.
if you decide to go to the forums hunting those replies, I hope you know what is sarcasm (at least) and fully understand a reply; when you said your stuff about “a browser for our friends” you clearly stated (indirectly) that you just don’t know what it means. I suggest you to read more books, they are awesome to learn new words and understanding text.
You’re lucky I don’t work for Vivaldi, cuz, for asking to opensource Vivaldi, I would have sent you an e-mail reply to remember for the rest of your life.
“A browser for our friends” can mean a lot of things, but it sure doesn’t mean everybody thinking about using it will automatically be friends; especially since some are probably obnoxious little brats like yourself.
Can you provide a link to the forums, where the moderators were rude to you? I have a feeling you probably had it coming IF it ever happened.
Stop being such a child, kid!