A modernized version of TbSync v5 for Thunderbird 153

This version has gone through extensive testing, but it is still an early beta release. Please be prepared for data duplication or data loss issues, and have a backup of your calendar and contacts data at hand.

Because of the internal changes in this release, it is probably best to disable all your accounts and re-enable them afterwards, to start fresh. This re-downloads everything from the server and clears out any stale local state.

You can install the beta version of TbSync v5 by dragging the .xpi file links from the Assets section below into Thunderbird’s Add-on Manager. Thunderbird will see the link and download and install the add-on automatically.

Update your providers as well. This release changes the internal protocol between TbSync and its providers. Any provider still on v5.0.12 or older will refuse to connect until it is updated too.

Release plan

This version will auto-update to every new released beta version. At some later time, the version will also be published on ATN (addons.thunderbird.net) for general availability.

Technical notes

This rewrite is on track to eliminate the use of Experiment APIs and become fully compatible with Thunderbird's Release Channel. TbSync and its providers will become pure WebExtensions.

The current beta versions still rely on Experiments for:

• Migrating existing data to WebExtension storage
• Calendar support

See: jobisoft/EAS-4-TbSync#309 for discussions.

Important bug fixes in v5.0.13

• your provider is detected again after a Thunderbird restart. An installed, enabled provider could disappear from TbSync entirely after a restart — the manager listed it as Not installed and offered to install it again, and the only way back was to disable and re-enable the add-on, until the next restart. The two add-ons announced themselves to each other on a timer, and whichever started first gave up before the other was ready. TbSync now tells providers when it is listening, so it no longer depends on who won the race
• the protocol TbSync speaks to its providers moves from 1.2 to 1.3

Changes carried forward from v5.0.12

Important bug fixes

• an authentication failure no longer deletes your local data — previously, when a server rejected an account's credentials (an expired password, a revoked token), TbSync tore the account down as if you had disconnected it: every address book and calendar it had created was deleted, the folder list was dropped and the sync state was reset, so recovering meant a full re-download. The account now keeps everything and only pauses syncing until you authenticate again
• an account that needs authentication now shows the red toolbar badge; previously it showed none
• Disconnect is now available on an account that needs authentication
• the two separate commands TbSync used to ask a provider to raise an open account window have been replaced by one

Changes

• the "Sign in again" button is now labelled Authenticate. Depending on the account it opens a sign-in window or the account's settings

Changes carried forward from v5.0.11

Important bug fixes

• the beta version of TbSync points to the GitHub release pages of the providers, instead of ATN
• the manager no longer opens a second manager window after Thunderbird restart

New features in v5

• TbSync action button in the toolbar has context menu entries to sync without opening the manager