Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Hi2all,

Thanks for sending me e-mail, haven't noticed there is some interest about it....

Here is some explanation about what is going on and roadmap...
Originally I was doing embedding API's which would allow to share common functionality between different ports of Native Mobile Firefox (Android, Win8, IOS, Maemo et.c.), also allow to build "quick" browser using these embedding API's and make it works out of the box with IPC or OMTC(multi-thread rendering).

I did both in this patch queue: http://hg.mozilla.org/users/romaxa_g...e/file/default
embedhelper - OMTC
ipcembedding - IPC - patches
also here is test Qt embedding library which allow to embed this new embedding particularly into Qt/Qml scene.
http://hg.mozilla.org/users/romaxa_gmail.com/qtmozembed

Next step is to merge IPC and OMTC API's and make them similar, so qmozemedtest will work in IPC or OMTC mode just by pref change.

Two big tasks TODO:
1) Make this embedding API as part of mozilla native firefox browser (so it will be supported as part of the product)
2) Find and adopt native/QML UI which would work on top of these API's

This would be useful for Nokia N9, Qt environment and probably for future Jolla phone.

I've managed to make default Nokia N9 browser work with these IPC Lite API, and it actually works, but Default browser UI and source code is closed, so I need to find something working in opensource, or write new Qt/QML UI from scratch (too much nitky-pitky work need to be done).

(Now I'm traveling and we'll be back at end of September), sorry for bad response if such.

Br, Oleg

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

May be plasma active devs will be interested in working on such kind of UI as well? Having Firefox engine enabled browser in Qt mobile OSes (including Plasma Active and Jolla) with responsive UI will be a real killer product.

http://www.davetitus.com/mozilla/mcomproducts.jpg

But I think it's good to reproduce current Fennec mobile UI (which has a handset and tablet flavors). Mozilla did a great job on design, so Qt based Firefox shouldn't be any inferior if it to be comparable with other versions. May be we can make a community effort of reproducing it. I'm interested in participating.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

@romaxa - both me and zeq tried to follow your build instructions here. Unfortunately both of us had no success, the patches don't apply. Mind to have a look when you have some spare time?

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

QT5 snowshoe browser is opensource and already runs on N9, maybe you can reuse the UI (which seems to be great).
http://snowshoe.qtlabs.org.br/?about
https://github.com/snowshoe/snowshoe


Or HeliumReborn UI, hint: the author of it worked for Nokia and is now working at Jolla ;)
http://veskuh.blogspot.de/2011/12/he...-for-nemo.html
https://github.com/veskuh/HeliumReborn

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

I think it'd be preferable somehow to unify the UI design paths for Mozilla, in order to avoid totally different approaches. I.e. their design development for "native" or XUL Fennec as applied to the Qt based embedded one. Unless they'll go too much into Android specifics (I'm not familiar with that). It requires some thinking (if it's even possible at all). Ideally, in the future Mozilla can switch to using embedded IPC even on Android, so having a unified design somehow formalized is a plus. Though it'll probably require some declarative translation between some metaspec and resulting native variants. Just an idea. Right now they are too engrossed in Android, but it's bad. Since more native platforms will come up, they need some shared metadata to define the UI if they want it to be similar across platforms.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

I think the native UI is based on the Australis UX which will be used in future versions of Desktop Firefox (afaik) --> https://wiki.mozilla.org/Tab_Strip_Visual_Redesign

Here is the Mozilla WIKI site about Mobile native UI:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fennec/NativeUI/UserExperience

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

I personally would much rather see an update of the XUL-based version using OMTC and a UI that looks more similar to the Firefox for Android UI.
Just because Android sucks enough that it made it impossible to do a decent versuon using the glorious web technologies for UI, it doesn't mean that's true everywhere.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Bringing the XUL UI up to date is an option, but will the XUL build automatically benefit from OMTC when it'll be fully enabled in the code, or it'll require some modifications? If responsiveness of the XUL UI will significantly improve - there won't be a need for Qt one, since XUL is naturally portable already. But right now it's a real pain to use (I'm testing it on N950). Constant freezing and unresponsive behavior are just bugging the whole experience. I'm not sure though if it's Harmattan's specific problem or not. I didn't test it on Nemo yet.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Oh, I've been working on different branch.... now it is in default, you can try again

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Well XUL was slow on Android too. I'm sure it's XUL's fault. Even all desktop Firefox versions are being slown down by XUL. Thats the main reason why everyone thinks Chrome is fast, because it's UI is fast.

In my opinion they should have gone all-in for QT in mobile and desktop Firefox versions long time ago. You got all major OS targets nowadays in Qt (Win / MacOS / Linux / Android / QNX / MeeGO).

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Some more informations about Australis UI philosophy:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hxljjkp1rm...02-MozCamp.pdf

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Seems to be rather light on technical details. :)

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

it has a unicorn in it tho!

Is there any opportunity for sharing or synergy between this project and Snowshoe? I find both projects to be very promising.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

News about this project?
I think that this is our last chance to have an awesome browser on our devices.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...6&postcount=41

Romaxa had posted about him being back only in end-September so i think he might just be starting further development...

If you want further info you can PM him too but I think you should hold on for a couple of weeks...

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

hell this is fast! :) i hope it develops.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

From what I gather, it's probably a better idea to bring XUL fennec UI in sync with the rest of the builds, and wait until Mozilla's OMTC will catch up:

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Platform/GF...eadCompositing

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Would this have any positiv affect to the swype keyboard in Firefox? Its a shame that it still isnt supported.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Personally I'm hoping for Swype support in Opera Mobile. I've pretty much given up on Firefox.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

What's the status on this?

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Looks like romaxa has resumed work on it :D

http://hg.mozilla.org/users/romaxa_gmail.com/qtmozembed

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Did he solved the UI problem?

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Send him a PM and ask him to update on this thread?

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

No UI problem not yet solved, I just started QML UI prototype using Threaded rendering model, which is very close to Android Firefox rendering model.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

I just wanted to say that I can't wait for a release of this with a decent UI.. I will be more than happy to test it out and give feedback!

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

romaxa,

any indication on when we may get it?

Thanks!

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

romaxa: What do you think about the progress of OMTC development? If it can work efficiently (i.e. produce very responsive UI), then there won't be a need for extra UI layer - just regular XUL UI would need to be brought in sync with current mobile Firefox design.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Is there a .deb file for test this browser?

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

An HeliumReborn-like UI would be awsome. Simple, desktop fashioned, self explanatory icons, no obscure gesture-based actions to do simple things. I really hate these "touch friendly" UIs where everything has to be totally different from desktop UIs (with non self-explanatory icons or gestures) with all buttons hidden by default unless you tap somewhere to make them appear. I mean there is enough space on the screen to show basic buttons and avoid the Mobile Firefox UI. MicroB UI was great, it gathered the best of both worlds. Helium UI has some similar pros.

Whatever the UI, keep up the great work Romaxa!

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Bump !
Any update on the matter !:cool:

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

PM to romaxa sent...

I'm sure when he is able to take some time out he'll post an update :)

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Basically if Firefox (15.0) could optimized, it would become very nice to use.
As of today it is nicely full-featured, stable, however too laggy.
I have also installed version 17.0 , however it worked once and after that it was crashing at every start.

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Hope this will update soon!

I guess the most important feature needed is to be able to interact with contents. :D

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

There seems to be a new version for Nemomobile (compiled for MER), but I couldn't get it to run on harmattan. Seems a lib file is outdated/incompatible on harmattan :(

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

That's a testing build for Mer and it has issues still:

http://romaxa.info/mer/

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

This might be slightly off topic, however I couldn't find the N9 Firefox thread. I've been trying to replace the default homescreen icon for Nightly yet I've been unsuccessful, does anyone know where the icon is located? I've been trying to replace:
/usr/share/themes/blanco/meegotouch/icons/fennec.png
as that is where members on the MeeGo forums say the Firefox icon is located. Does anyone know of a different location? :confused:

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

/usr/share/themes/blanco/meegotouch/icons/icon-l-fennec.png

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

I've asked Romaxa if he could provide me an harmattan build of that new version for MER above and he did! :)

http://www.abload.de/img/2013-01-05_16-12-04hqbyq.png


My findings:

• seems to be included now into Fennec instead of Xulrunner
• still old UI from last test, as it seems all changes done are under the hood so far
• clicking links work now
• entering text only works with the workaround to bring out the VKB by pressing URL area first
• crashes often when loading a link
• still fast as hell :)
• pinch to zoom is a bit buggy sometimes

Install:

• download this tarball http://romaxa.info/mer/mozbuildhm.tar.gz
• copy the downloaded tarball to your user directory (for example /home/user/MyDocs/Documents/)
• extract it with tar -xvzf /home/user/MyDocs/Documents/mozbuildhm.tar.gz -C /opt/

Start:

• cd /opt/mozbuildhm/
• ./qmlMozEmbedTest

Re: Qt based Fennec (Firefox) - IPCLiteAPI - Hell it's fast!
 

Just tried! Very smooth and fast compared to firefox (the one in the store) but of course not usable atm... :)