Synopses & Reviews
A must-have read for anybody interested in learning to build sophisticated applications with the Mozilla application framework.
—Mitchell Baker, President, The Mozilla Foundation
Mozilla has grown to become a powerful framework for building cutting-edge web applications. Rapid Application Development with Mozilla is an indispensable guide for developers of such applications.
—Brendan Eich, Chief Architect, The Mozilla Foundation, and Creator of JavaScript
Far more than just a web browser, Mozilla is the platform of choice for today's application and web developer. An innovative blend of XML vocabularies, easy-to-use scripting languages, and pre-existing software objects, Mozilla is a powerful, standards-compliant platform whose functionality guarantees rapid application development (RAD).
In Rapid Application Development with Mozilla, web, XML, and Open Standards expert Nigel McFarlane explores Mozilla's revolutionary XML User interface Language (XUL) and its library of well over 1,000 pre-built objects. Using clear and concise instruction, McFarlane explains what companies such as AOL, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and others already know—that Mozilla and XUL are the keys to quickly and easily creating cross-platform, web-enabled applications. Coverage includes:
- A detailed introduction to the fundamentals and capabilities of Mozilla
- Full descriptions of Mozilla tools, including XUL, XBL, and XPCOM
- The RDF data format and its interactions with XUL, including Listboxes, Chrome, Overlays, Trees, and Templates
- Events, Forms, Menus, Navigation, and Commands using DOM, JavaScript™, and XUL
- Tips for integration into Windows® and Mac® systems
- A guide to deployment of finished applications
- Hundreds of examples, screenshots, and code listings
An additional feature of Rapid Application Development with Mozilla is the NoteTaker Web browser add-on—a sample Mozilla application that is developed throughout the book. When installed in a browser it allows you to add notes to web pages—even pages on other people's web sites! It is a memory and commentary tool that enhances repeat visits to a given site. This simple application provides a real-world example of all technologies used in the book.
If you're an application programmer or a web developer and you're looking for a productive, state-of-the-art, cross-platform programming tool, then Rapid Application Development with Mozilla is essential reading.
Synopsis
Mozilla (www.mozilla.org) is an Open Source toolset that programmers can use to rapidly develop user-oriented software applications without having to suffer restrictions of HTML-based Web development. It's an innovative interpretation of XML, JavaScript and component technologies, conveniently bundled together. Simply put, Mozilla is to Linux what Visual Basic is to Windows: an entry-level tool that can do simple jobs fast. This latest book in Bruce Perens' Open Source Series provides a clear, complete and easy-to-absorb introduction to Mozilla and its related technologies: XUL, XBL and XPCOM, and takes a competent programmer from zero to full understanding. Packed with screenshots, code fragments and shorter code listings, you'll learn a new, efficient development process and trend for UIs and how to create "thick client" UIs with Mozilla technology. Learn to translate basic HTML and programming skills into a new, simple system for software development and produce quick and portable user-oriented software systems. Note - there are one million users, thousands of mozilla.org contributors, and hundreds of Netscape engineers behind Mozilla.
Synopsis
Rapid Application Development with Mozilla, part of the Bruce Perens Open Source Series, is a concise guide for any programmer who wants to learn the versatility and compatibility of Mozilla, an open source toolset with over a thousand objects and components. An additional feature of Rapid Application Development with Mozilla is the NoteTaker Web browser add-on-a sample Mozilla application that is developed throughout the book. Written by Web and XML expert Nigel McFarlane, this book is the perfect addition to the library of any user-interface software engineer, cross-platform developer, or any programmer looking to discover the benefits of rapid application development.
About the Author
NIGEL MCFARLANE is a science and technology writer, analyst, and programmer. He is the author of many articles on Web, XML, JavaScript, and other technologies, and his work has appeared in periodicals such as DevX, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Builder.com. Nigel is also the author of Instant JavaScript and Professional JavaScript. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Table of Contents
1. Fundamental Concepts.
Understanding Mozilla Product Names. The XML Environment. Platform Concepts. The RAD Environment. Effective RAD Projects with Mozilla. Hands On: Cranking Up the Platform. Debug Corner: Debugging from Outside. Summary.
2. XUL Layout.
XUL Means Boxes. Principles of XUL Layout. Box Layout Tags. A Box Improvement: and . General-Purpose XUL Attributes. Good Coding Practices for XUL. Style Options. Hands On: NoteTaker Boilerplate. Debug Corner: Detecting Bad XUL. Summary.
3. Static Content.
XUL and HTML Compared. XUL Content Tags. Understanding Font Systems. Style Options. Hands On: NoteTaker Boilerplate. Debug Corner: The DOM Inspector. Summary.
4. First Widgets and Themes.
What Makes a Button a Button? The Origins of XUL Widgets. XUL Buttons. Themes and Skins. Style Options. Hands On: NoteTaker Buttons and Themes. Debug Corner: Diagnosing Buttons and Skins. Summary.
5. Scripting.
JavaScriptÕs Role as a Language. Standards, Browsers, and