[tor-reports] Pearl Crescent Report – February 2015

[Mark Smith]

Tor-related work that the Pearl Crescent team did in February
(Kathy Brade and Mark Smith):

* Firefox Updater for Tor Browser:

We tested the updaters that are included in Tor Browser 4.0.4 and 4.5a4.

We assisted with a couple of tickets:
   "Download missing MAR files for incrementals"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14959

   "Log certificate if there is an error while checking for updates"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14971


* Tor Browser and Torbutton:

We spent some time discussing the results from the recent UX Sprint 
event and reviewed the usability problems that are covered by existing 
and newly-filed tickets.

We helped with bug triage, code reviews, and worked on various fixes.

Tickets that we fixed for Tor Browser 4.5a4:
   "Tor Browser 4.0 make use of the updater and stop directing users to
    download-easy.html.en"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13406

   "Write Firefox patch for removing third-party HTTP auth. tokens"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13900

Interesting tickets for which we did code reviews:
   "Torbutton's browsing history pref requires restart"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/8400

   "TBB new identity surprises users by closing all tabs"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/9906

   "Circuit display fails to show new bridge settings"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13882

Other interesting tickets that we worked on (more to do):
   "Tor Browser Script can't be launched from desktop"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13375

   "Create preference to disable MathML"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13548

   "Users that try to run from DMG files run into "Another copy of
    Firefox is running" (awaiting review)
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14631


* Tor Launcher:

We spent some time on bug triage and usability improvements.
Tickets that we fixed for Tor Browser 4.5a4:
   "Can we reverse the order on Tor Browsers' network
    connection questions"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/13271

   "Disappearing Back/Next buttons on first Tor Launcher screen"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14336

Other interesting Tor Launcher tickets that we worked on:
   "Tor Launcher should have accessibility support."
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14923

   "Improve error message 'Connecting to a relay directory failed (no
    route to host).'"
   https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/15006


* We participated in the weekly Tor Browser dev meetings on IRC and
   in various design discussions on IRC and on the mailing lists.


* Planned for March 2015:
     - Fix various tickets, do code reviews, etc. for Tor Browser 4.5.

     - Address any updater issues that occur in the field and work
       to improve the updater user experience.

     - Make some progress on design and implementation for:
         "Implement update verification via Tor consensus in Tor Browser"
         https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/14676

     - Look at additional Tor Browser, Tor Launcher, and Torbutton issues
       that were exposed during the UX Sprint.

     - Assist with getting Tor Browser patches merged into Firefox
       for the upcoming ESR 38 release.

     - Learn what happened at the Valencia Tor dev meeting and follow up
       on issues.

-- 
Mark Smith
Pearl Crescent
http://pearlcrescent.com/