Lightning (software)

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This article is about the Thunderbird calendar extension. For the just-in-time compilation library, see GNU lightning.
Lightning
Developer(s)Mozilla Foundation / Mozilla Corporation
Initial release0.1 (March 2006)
Stable release6.2.6.1 (March 25, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-25)[1]) [±]
Preview release6.8b3 (Beta) (March 8, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-08)[2][3]) [±]
Written inC++, XUL, XBL, JavaScript
Operating systemLinux, Windows, macOS, others
Available in50 languages
TypePersonal information manager
LicenseMPL 2.0
Websitewww.thunderbird.net/calendar/

Lightning is a project from the Mozilla Foundation originally designed as an extension ("add-on") that adds calendar and scheduling functionality to the Mozilla Thunderbird mail client and SeaMonkey internet suite. It superseded the previous Mozilla Sunbird and the older Mozilla Calendar extension.[4] With version 38 of Thunderbird, the Lightning add-on was integrated and preloaded by default;[5] since version 78 of Thunderbird (released 2020), Lightning is part of Thunderbird and no longer an add-on extension. Lightning is compatible with iCalendar calendars.

History[edit]

The Lightning project was announced on December 22, 2004 in an effort to integrate Mozilla Sunbird into Mozilla Thunderbird.[6] Sun Microsystems contributed significantly to the Lightning Project to provide users with an alternative free and open-source choice to Microsoft Office by combining OpenOffice.org and Thunderbird with the Lightning Extension.[7] In addition to general bug-fixing, Sun focused on calendar views, team/collaboration features and support for the Sun Java System Calendar Server.[8]

Version 0.9 was the last planned release for Thunderbird 2. A calendar was originally to be fully integrated into Thunderbird 3, but those plans were changed due to concerns with the product's maturity and level of support.[9][10] Lightning 1.0b2 is compatible with Thunderbird 3.1, Lightning 1.0b5 is compatible with Thunderbird 5 and 6, and Lightning 1.0b7 is compatible with Thunderbird 7.[11][12]

Lightning 1.0 was released to the public on November 7, 2011. It was released alongside Thunderbird 8.0. Following that, every Thunderbird release has been accompanied by a compatible Lightning point release. Lightning finally started shipping with Thunderbird with version 4.0, on Thunderbird 38.0.1 released in 2015.[5][13] With the 2020 release of Thunderbird 78, Lightning is now a permanent part of the program.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Calendar Versions - Mozilla | MDN". Mozilla.org. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  2. ^ "Lightning :: Versions :: Add-ons for Thunderbird". Mozilla.org. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  3. ^ "Calendar Versions - Mozilla | MDN". Mozilla.org. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  4. ^ Lightning Project Launched to Provide Calendar Features for Mozilla Thunderbird- MozillaZine - MozillaZine article announcing the Lightning project and its aims.
  5. ^ a b "There is no Lightning 4.0 | Mozilla Calendar Project Blog". blog.mozilla.org. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  6. ^ "Mozilla's Lightning to strike Outlook?". CNET. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  7. ^ "Calendar Weblog". Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  8. ^ Interview On Mozilla Lightning and OpenOffice.org
  9. ^ "Lightning 0.9 Release Notes". September 23, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  10. ^ David Ascher (February 18, 2009). "Lightning-in-Thunderbird status update". Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  11. ^ "Lightning 1.0 Beta 2 and Compatibility". June 17, 2010. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  12. ^ "Lightning :: Add-ons for Thunderbird". July 29, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  13. ^ "Thunderbird — Release Notes (38.0.1)". Thunderbird. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  14. ^ Sipes, Ryan (2020-07-16). "What's New in Thunderbird 78". The Thunderbird Blog. Retrieved 2023-10-23.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lightning (software).


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