Jazilla Milestone 1 Released

mcbridematt writes "Many of the long time Slashdot readers will remember the Jazilla project to rewrite the Mozilla browser in Java. It went into hibernation in 2000 and I took it over last August. I have completely rewrote the browser which now follows a more Mozilla-like architecture. The Result: Jazilla Milestone 1 has been released. Download it from here. No prizes for guessing that it's Alpha software." Read on below for a list of what Jazilla can do, so far.

"Significant (implemented) features include:

• chrome:// support
• JavaScript implemented for the GUI thanks to the Mozilla.org Rhino engine. HTML Scripting coming.
• GUI in part, uses XUL and W3C DOM
• Written in 100% Java
• Open Source
• Uses the NetBrowser renderer, which is actually based on Jazilla-classic work."

Comments

its interesting

[jeepee]

dont get me wrong i think its an interresting project but why write in Java a software that is already available on a huge variety of platforms (its mainly the advantage of writing java apps).

also Mozilla is lacking a bit of speed im sure you wont help in java.....

Re:IE, Mozilla, and Opera are all I need!

[evilviper]

Other than being Java-based, what's the point of this web browser?

I could probably name 100+ embedded devices that support java. Having an Open Source java browser is a good thing.

Besides that, I could also harp about the security of java.

Hmm, it would be ironic if Jazilla had a problem running applets.

Re:Too much time on their hands

[jfengel]

There's more to Java than cross-platform. In fact, with all the various versions running around, I'd say its cross-platform qualities are significantly overrated.

Java is far more important in its security and software engineering features (which are actually very closely related). I find that I'm far more productive in Java than I ever was in C++ and C. I find that's even truer for less experienced programmers. Java increases the ability of programmers to work together through better memory management, better type enforcement, exceptions, etc.

You don't really need to hear all this. At this point you either believe it or not and I'm not going to convince you.

I haven't been able to compare it to C#, which appears to offer many of the same advantages over C/C++. I think of Java in a different class from languages like Perl and PHP, which are less well-suited to teamwork, which is an important goal of mine.

So the reason for this is not because we need another browser (boy, do we not) but because Java needs a browser for use in its environment. Java is still very poor on the client side, for a host of reasons, one of which is its lack of browser integration. Applets were always a stupid idea, I'm afraid, because software distribution via applets just isn't ready and the toys are generally beneath contempt.

You need a browser as part of Java. It's the best way to view text, whether for help, mail, etc. Java has several, but none are really any good because they're not 100% compatible with the lastest rounds of HTML/HTTP/Javascript. A browser, compatible with IE and Mozilla, will help make Java a decent client environment.

Re:Running this puppy

[axxackall]

assuming Java is properly installed on your machine, you need only run: java org/jxul/xulrunner/Main

Assuming that mozilla is properly installed on your machine, you need only run: /usr/bin/mozilla

And presuming I run anything only if sources are available, I don't want any Java VM on my machine.

Re:Who pay for it?

[JohnnyCannuk]

+3 Insightful? WTF? Did the all the anti-Java FUD /.ers get their mod points today?

First you place the blame on Java as one of the bloat/UI "candies" that are forcing people to upgrade thier PC. Then you say that Java has mostly expanded on the server market. So which is it? They aren't big currently big in the GUI department (although if you go here, you'll see that is changing). So tell me again how Java, which runs mostly on servers, is forcing people to upgrade their PC because of UI bloat?

Or how this is part of this conspiracy since Java is made by a company that doesn't make a desktop PC, a company that until recently didn't even support the x86 architecture very well, a company that makes high-end servers and workstations that have exceeded your "typical" PC mentioned above for years?

I agree that Java does on the server "what was easy to program and cheap to run using Apache/CGI/PHP/Perl/Python". It also does it faster (Python, by about 20%), with more maintainable code (Perl) and more securely (CGI). Apache (and by extension Jakarta) has always worked hand-in hand with Java quite well. But then, there are times when Perl and Python are the better choice, so use the right tool for the job.

Comparing Swing to Flash is like comparing Gnome with HTML. That's right....apples and oranges. Excellent strawman attack but it doesn't work. The two are for totally different UI environments.

Mods, just because you don't know Java or agree with the FUD doesn't make this guys tripe right.

Re:mmmm

[bill_mcgonigle]

any idea why anybody would want or need to use that?

They wouldn't. It's not about the users, it's about the developers.

I use Mozilla, but I rarely hack on it. Why? I hate C++. It's a miserable language for developing an application. Java, on the other hand, is a great language for application development. The performance issues will melt away very soon as both the JRE and hardware improve. If I find a problem with Jazilla, I'm very likely to try to fix/enhance it.

Plus, I happen to know both C++ and Java, but most kids coming out of school have never hacked C++. They've all hacked Java. These are the most likely hackers to work on a web browser.

Let's come back in a year and see if Jazilla is more interesting to users, when it's fast, stable, and pretty, due to all the volunteer efforts.

Short of a WxRuby port of Mozilla, this is what really has me interested.