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-   -   You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform' (https://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=10956)

RogerS 2007-10-25 03:48
You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
Quote:
Best news for me over the last ten days is the new MicroB Gecko-based browser for the Nokia internet tablets.

As it happens, I'm just finishing writing my first Firefox extension.* I'm no magician, but I can manage a satisfactory amount of prestidigitation in Javascript. Having an appropriately scaled venue at last for my talent and ambition (an extension, get it? not a whole app) gratifies me immensely.

And hopefully the overhead of implementing XUL ("zool," rhymes with "tool"), the Mozilla-created XML UI language, will drop in future and I can use that familiarity on the tablet, too.

__________
* I'll let people know when it's officially out. It's a dictionary extension -- highlight a word and choose "look up [that word]" in the context menu. Unlike other extensions, this one returns the results in a side or bottom panel. And, um, at the moment it works only with the Khmer, Thai, Lao and Burmese dictionaries at SEAlang.net . . .
Read the full article.

BarneyC 2007-10-25 04:03
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
So Roger will your extension work both on Firefox and MicroB?

I'd just love to get some of the cool Firefox plugins working on my N800.

RogerS 2007-10-25 04:17
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BarneyC (Post 86754)
So Roger will your extension work both on Firefox and MicroB?
No, not without some real re-working.

For one thing, I've coded the UI using XUL. I'll have to rethink that and re-code it with GTK+/Hildon.

And the N800/810 doesn't display complex scripts like Khmer, so I can't use the extension on the websites where I can use it (if you get my meaning).

The first release is pretty workmanlike. But I'll be adding the ability for the user to enter any online dictionary (or several), which should make it useable on the Nokia tablets and more useful on the desktop.

Traecer 2007-10-25 08:40
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RogerS (Post 86758)
No, not without some real re-working.

For one thing, I've coded the UI using XUL. I'll have to rethink that and re-code it with GTK+/Hildon.
Though I applaud Nokia's use of the Gecko rendering engine, I have to say no XUL support really spoils it for me. Without XUL, all those cool desktop Firefox plugins are machina non grata(TM) on the N8x0.

tso 2007-10-27 20:31
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
well given the difference between the firefox ui and the hildon browser ui, most of the xul would have to be recoded anyways.

thats really a big issue with portable devices in general, the computer desktop ui dont really work on them.

so even if a device can run a desktop app, the ui will just not fit on it.

look at claw mail for example, the ui there is imo insane.

RogerS 2007-11-12 15:34
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
I've posted a follow-up that explains what this extension does, "The weekend programmer contributes his mite."

It includes screen captures of Click SEAlang so you can see what it's about and a link to the beta download page.

Of course, this version won't be useful to anyone who hasn't installed fonts for Khmer, Thai, Lao or Burmese.

Not till a future version will users be able to supply their own dictionary choices.

Roger

Traecer 2007-11-12 16:55
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
Wow, I need a vacation. I apparently read this article and commented on it, and must have forgotten about doing either, as I commented on the followup article as if it were a new topic entirely. Still, Firefox extensions are cool and I want to get into writing them. I wonder if Greasemonkey can help plug the gaps between XUL and Hildon in any way? I know Greasemonkey isn't really for "plugins" per se, but it does give access to some of the Gecko API stuff, right?

jhford 2007-11-23 01:34
Re: You say 'browser,' I say 'development platform'
 
What would really be great for OS 2008 would be for someone to convert grabanddrag.xpi.


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