Does extension check newer version automatically?

[exemplary1]

Hello,
I have installed an abandoned extension on localhost. When I enabled it, the localhost website took bit longer than usual. So my question is, does extension try to connect to origin website ? Because I see the website is currently unreachable.

[danieltj]

It’s possible that it’s checking a third party site. Open the composer.json file in the root of the extensions files and see if there’s anything under the version_check heading. There’s also a possibility that somewhere else in the code there’s a call to a third party website.

It obviously goes without saying that you shouldn’t use abandoned extensions.

[nou nou]

It obviously goes without saying that you shouldn’t use abandoned extensions.

Ah, that's debatable!

[exemplary1]

It’s possible that it’s checking a third party site. Open the composer.json file in the root of the extensions files and see if there’s anything under the version_check heading. There’s also a possibility that somewhere else in the code there’s a call to a third party website.

It obviously goes without saying that you shouldn’t use abandoned extensions.

Yes, the version_check in composer.json file has a link to his website. His extensions posted here has a phpbb.com link, while other extensions (posted on his website) have links to his website. (Now his website is up).

[danieltj]

Yeah that’s probably it then. If his website is down the check in composer probably doesn’t have a short enough time out period.

If it’s running super slow and slowing down your forum, you can remove the version check to bypass the slowing down of your forum but of course that means you won’t be alerted to updates so be cautious.

[Mick]

It obviously goes without saying that you shouldn’t use abandoned extensions.

Ah, that's debatable!

Also there’s no support for abandoned extensions you need to contact the author.

[nou nou]

Or find a developer who is willing to take over.

A lot of perfectly fine ideas and code are out there, I have often counted on other devs and this very community to keep them going over the years. Sometimes until a new and better solution comes along, sometimes old stuff just keeps working. Sure there's risk assessment to be done, and currently I'm feeling the pain of porting to PHP8 which is taking me a lot longer than I had hoped, but I enjoy that side of it too