Mozilla application framework
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The Mozilla application framework is a collection of
software components that make up the Mozilla applications. It was originally known as XPFE, an abbreviation
of cross-platform front end. It was also known as XPToolkit. To avoid confusion, it is now referred to as the Mozilla application framework.
While similar to generic cross-platform
Qt and wxWidgets, the intent is to provide a subset of cross-platform functionality suitable for building network applications like web browsers
, leveraging the cross-platform functionality already built into the Gecko layout engine.
The following are the various components of the framework:
- Gecko
- Gecko is a standard-based layout enginedesigned for performance and portability.
- Necko
- Necko provides an extensible API for several layers of networking from transport to presentation layers.
- XUL
- widgets, control elements, template, etc. It is similar in many ways to HTML.
- XBL
- XBL allows one to define their own widget for use in XUL.
- XPCOM
- XPCOM is an object interface that allows interfacing between any programming language for which a binding has been developed
- XPConnect
- XPConnect is the binding between XPCOM and JavaScript.
- XPInstall
- XPI.
- Web services
- Mozilla includes built-in support for popular web services standards XML-RPC, SOAP (dropped since Gran Paradiso Alpha 7[1]), and WSDL as well as a simple XMLHttpRequest object similar to the one in Internet Explorer.
- Others
- The framework supports a number of open or common standards, including , etc.
Applications that use the framework
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- Netscape Navigator 9 web browser
- Mozilla Firefoxweb browser
- Flock web browser
- Wine compatibility layer (Gecko is used in the built-in web browser component)
- SeaMonkey Internet suite
- Mozilla Thunderbird email client
- ChatZilla IRC client
- KompoZer WYSIWYGweb authoring
- Mozilla Sunbird calendar
- Komodo IDE and Komodo Edit since version 5 of both
- Songbird media player
- Former IPTVclient
- Celtx screenplay writing application
- Mirointernet TV application
- Boxee media center software
- Instantbird instant messaging client
See also
References
- ^ "Bug 332174 - Drop SOAP support". Bugzilla@Mozilla. August 11, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- Syd Logan: Cross-Platform Development in C++: Building Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows Applications, Addison-Wesley, 2007. ISBN 0-321-24642-X
External links
- The Mozilla Application Framework in Detail
- Mozilla as Platform
- Rapid Application Development with Mozilla - a book by Nigel McFarlane, published by Prentice Hall, part of the Bruce Perens' Open Source Series (freely downloadable in PDF format)
- MozDev.org: Site for projects based on the Mozilla Application Framework; not affiliated with Mozilla Corp. or the Mozilla Foundation