Why does my configure run well on the version updated at 9/05/2012, can not run on the others versions updated after 9/05/2012

[SunshineTech]

In my magento application, there is a configure in layout.xml:

[default]
[reference name="head"]
[action method="setTemplate"][template]SunshineBiz_Permission::page/head.phtml[/template][/action]
[action method="setTitle" translate="title"][title]Backend Admin[/title][/action]
[/reference]
[reference name="menu"]
[action method="setTemplate"][template]SunshineBiz_Permission::menu.phtml[/template][/action]
[/reference]
[reference name="footer"]
[action method="setTemplate"][template]SunshineBiz_Permission::page/footer.phtml[/template][/action]
[/reference]
[/default]

On the version updated at 9/05/2012, it runs well. But it can not run on the version updated at 9/13/2012 and 9/27/2012. It run a long time, and display a blank page. Forthermore, there aren't logs in system.log, no warn, no error, nothing. I have to change the configure by removing the "menu" reference as following:

[default]
[reference name="head"]
[action method="setTemplate"][template]SunshineBiz_Permission::page/head.phtml[/template][/action]
[action method="setTitle" translate="title"][title]Backend Admin[/title][/action]
[/reference]
[reference name="footer"]
[action method="setTemplate"][template]SunshineBiz_Permission::page/footer.phtml[/template][/action]
[/reference]
[/default]

Then it can run. Why is it so? How can I change the menu's template?
Any suggest is welcome!

[SunshineTech]

The Block menu exists in Mage_Backend. But the configure ablout Block menu in layout.xm are dfferent in the version updated at 9/05/2012 and the version updated after 9/05/2012.

The configure ablout Block menu in layout.xm in the version updated at 9/05/2012:

[default]
[reference name="root" after="header"]
[block type="Mage_Backend_Block_Menu" name="menu" as="menu" template="Mage_Backend::menu.phtml"]
[block type="Mage_Backend_Block_Menu_Container" name="menu_container_renderer" template="Mage_Backend::menu/container.phtml" /]
[block type="Mage_Backend_Block_Menu_Item" name="menu_item_renderer" template="Mage_Backend::menu/item.phtml" /]
[action method="setContainerRendererBlock"][renderer]menu_container_renderer[/renderer][/action]
[action method="setItemRendererBlock"][renderer]menu_item_renderer[/renderer][/action]
[/block]
[/reference]
[/default]

The configure ablout Block menu in layout.xm in the version updated after 9/05/2012:

[default]
[reference name="root" after="header"]
[block type="Mage_Backend_Block_Menu" name="menu" as="menu" template="Mage_Backend::menu.phtml" /]
[/reference]
[/default]

[magento-team]

Hi. Yes - we have changed the navigation schema and now you can validate it and it is easier to extend in custom modules. Is your github issue an error report? Do you have any issues with the new format?

[SunshineTech]

Thanks a lot. My configure can run well on the version updated at 10/11/2012.