XTF - New XUL Tag Plugin "Architecture" For Mozilla

Hello,

   Alex Fritze (of Croczilla fame - SVG support for
Mozilla) has created an alternative XUL tag plugin
"architecture" for Mozilla called XTF - eXtensible Tag
Framework that ends the XBL (XML Binding Language)
misery.

   Alex writes in the FOSDOM 2004 talk slides about
Mozilla and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics):


   Lessons from our Crocodile Maths experience

   * XBL has many shortcomings (at least for our
application area)
   * -> XTF: Extensible Tag Framework - allows
'plugging' new tags into Mozilla

   Problems with XBL

   *  Actually quite good for many interactive apps
(xbl-shapes, Crocodile Maths)

   But...

   * Many bugs, e.g. prototype chain forking not
working, document element can't be bound, etc.
   * No data hiding, no public/private interfaces
   * No 'real' inheritance (forking bug, but also no
virtual methods)
   * Forces 'visual-directed programming'. OK for some
apps. Not OK for e.g. apps with multiple views -> Want
document-view (or MVC) split
   * Performance overhead; no C++ implementations
possible
         
   XTF - An eXtensible Tag Framework

   * New elements implemented in 'plug-in' XPCOM
module
   * Allows us to do almost anything that XBL can do.
And more!
   * Can use proper inheritance
   * Data hiding, public/private interfaces
   * Control over interfaces exposed for scripting
   * Tags can be coded in any xpcom-compatible
language
   * Can code html/xul/svg compatible tags


   Alex is not all talk but has also created the full
XTF machinery and some examples such as the <similey>
tag (see below). Alex writes "Technology similar to
XTF (XTL) is in Crocodile Maths now. Order of
magnitude speed improvement.".

     
  Full story @ http://www.croczilla.com/xtf
   and http://www.croczilla.com/~alex/fosdem2004
   and http://www.croczilla.com/svg
   and http://www.mozilla.org/projects/svg
 
     - Gerald


PS: <smiley> tag example using XTF:

   <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
     <smiley xmlns="urn:mozilla:xtf:tests:shapes"
          transform="translate(120,150)"/>
    <smiley xmlns="urn:mozilla:xtf:tests:shapes"
          style="fill:red;"
          transform="translate(100) rotate(30)
scale(0.5)"/>
    <smiley xmlns="urn:mozilla:xtf:tests:shapes"
          style="fill:green;"
          transform="translate(200,50) rotate(-30)
scale(0.5)"/>
   </svg> 
         
Source:
http://www.croczilla.com/~alex/fosdem2004/xtf-tags.html
 



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