Testing areas include website compatibility, Push Notifications, Login AutoFill

Mar 19, 2014 08:57 GMT  ·  By

Apple is offering new Safari betas for download on OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks, advising developers to focus on areas like AutoFill, extensions, website compatibility, and more.

Safari 6.1.3 for OS X Lion requires OS X 10.7.5 with Security Update 2013-002, whereas Safari 6.1.3 for OS X Mountain Lion requires OS X 10.8.5, Apple reportedly tells developers.

According to a person who is familiar with the testing initiative, Safari 7.0.3 for OS X Mavericks is to be installed on systems running OS X 10.9.2. Apple plans to include the browser in OS X 10.9.3, which means that customers who download the Mavericks update will not have to upgrade Safari as well.

Developers are told to focus on a number of key areas while testing the new Safari versions, including general website compatibility, Push Notifications, Login AutoFill, Credit Card AutoFill (OS X Mavericks only), and Extension Compatibility.

Apple reportedly tells testers, “This build is being provided to you for testing and development purposes. Should you encounter any problems, please submit a bug report using the online Bug Reporter at http://bugreporter.apple.com/. Please make sure to include ‘Safari 7.0.3” in the bug title and description.”

The company usually asks developers to include as much relevant information as possible about any scenario in order to parse bugs quickly and efficiently.

“Please also include the build number in your description (in the Safari menu, select ‘About Safari’; the build number is available there in parentheses. For example, ‘Version 7.0.3 (7537.75.10)’). This information will ensure that your bug is processed quickly,” says the Mac maker.

Testers reporting bugs in Full Screen mode are given additional instructions. They must note which bars are visible before entering full screen mode (address bar, bookmarks bar, extensions bars, tab bar, status bar), and which bars are always visible after entering full screen mode.

The Cupertino giant further offers important information about crashing bugs, kernel panics, hanging issues, and how to deal with these problems when faced with one.

Apple recommends that Safari testers use SysDiagnose, a tool for diagnosing a number of issues. To invoke it, developers can use the Control-Command-Option-Shift-Period keyboard shortcut.

Safari 6.1.3 for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion and Safari 7.0.3 for OS X Mavericks will be released in tandem with the system update OS X 10.9.3 for Mavericks customers. Sources say the release could occur as early as this week.