Which version should I be using?

[mapsonx]

Your question

Is there a central changelog somewhere, that provides the latest details, and advises whether the stable or beta versions should be used. It's very confusing.

I've been using the beta for some time now, currently v9.5.0.0 , Very pleased with it, but I go to the download page, and it's dated last time edited July 2024.

Then I see the latest stable version is v9.5.0.2, May 28, 2025.

If there is not one already in place, please establish a link on the community page to the place where we can easily find the answers to there questions.

Addon & CoApp version and details

v9.5.0.2
v9.5.0.0

[Mattmjs]

See #2141 , the youtube language fix is not in the beta.

[Mattmjs]

Well I'm a user like you and not the developer so I can't provide answers on any change log. If you're using the beta you will only
have updates for this version. Same with the stable version, only updates for this version.

If you want to have both stable and beta versions then make a separate firefox profile like I have.

[mapsonx]

I appreciate your help. I just want to have the latest changes.

Are there any moderators out there that have an explanation how to assure that? Usually the latest beta is more advanced than the stable, but in this case the version number for the stable is higher. Does that mean they are identical, in which case just keep the beta because it will be eligible for updates as a beta?

Is there anywhere we can go to see which we should be using at a given time? How would the average user even know there is a beta available? and why is a beta even available if the stable is the latest?

[jcfrog]

The beta channel is used to provide quickly fixes to be tested.
The stable version publishing might be much longer but is "safer".
Generally when the stable version is published, the beta is updated too.

[mapsonx]

The beta channel is used to provide quickly fixes to be tested. The stable version publishing might be much longer but is "safer". Generally when the stable version is published, the beta is updated too.

Thank you. I understand beta vs stable.

Just curious. Please explain. If the latest beta is updated when the stable version is published, why would the stable be much longer? Would it not have all the features of the stable? Or are we saying that going forward, the experimental features/structure of the beta "may" make it "shorter" in some way (size occupied in the profile?).

How about the change log question? Even the "Video DownloadHelper version history" page has no information. Where do we learn about the new/improved features that are available, and how to use them?

Are v9.5.0.0 beta and v9.5.0.2 stable identical? How does the v9.5.0.0 beta get updated when a the later stable is issued?

I'm really not trying to be difficult, but I think it would be so much easier for everybody in the long run, including the moderators, to publish the info.

[jcfrog]

There are very long reviews by Mozilla before getting published on their store, betas are immediately delivered on our servers.

[GrampaWildWilly]

I do not work for VDH. I'm just another user. Also, please read #2214.

There is no easy way to determine which is newer, the general availability release or the beta. Whichever one of those you have, that's the one that is queried when you click the Check for updates button on the Manage Your Extensions page. If you are using the beta, you need to go to the Mozilla Extensions repository to check for a new version of the general availability release. If you are using the general availability release, you have to go into our Wiki & check the chapter on Beta Versions. Do not actually click the green button there for installing the beta. Rather, pop up the context menu on the green button. Then execute the Save Link As... entry on the context menu. That will launch a file selection dialog showing the file name of the beta. This includes the latest beta version number. You can then decide whether to proceed with actually getting the beta. These days, I've been getting to the point of seeing the version number & dismissing the dialog without doing the download.

Yes, it's annoying. There's nothing you can do about it. One or the other channel of VDH will always require an extra step. At the moment, the general availability version is newer than the beta so you should move away from the beta to the general availability version. At the moment. This will not always be true. It is true now. But be prepared for things to change eventually.