java.mozdev.org: Initiative To Add Java to Mozilla Goes Live

Hi,

  Kevin "The Burtonator" Burton (of Apache Jetspeed
and NewsMonster fame) and Brad "GNUberg" Neuberg have
launched a new mozdev.org initiative chartered to turn
Java into a first-class Mozilla XUL runtime citizen.

   Here's the official mission statement:

  Turn Java into a first-class citizen of the
Mozilla/XUL platform. This will enable developers to
build applications where a Java backend can be used to
interact with a Mozilla/XUL front-end, combining the
power of Java's server libraries with the
interactivity and user interface capabilities of
Mozilla. 

 
  For now the java.mozdev.org initiative includes two
projects, that is, BlackConnet and Java XPI.

  * BlackConnect
    ============

    Allows interoperability between Java and XPCOM
components. It is possible to implement XPCOM
components written in Java instead of C++ or
JavaScript. 

    More info @ http://java.mozdev.org/blackconnect
        
 
  * Java XPI 
    ========

    Provides XPIs for easy installation of Java within
Mozilla. 

    More info @ http://java.mozdev.org/java_xpis


    MozillaZine also covers the java.mozdev.org
initiative kick off. To quote from Brad's MozillaZine
story:

    First is a new build of BlackConnect for Mozilla
1.4 and JDK 1.3.1. BlackConnect is a pretty aggressive
project... a full port of XPCOM to Java. This will
allow developers to write components in JavaScript,
C++, or Java and seamlessly integrate components used
in other languages within the Mozilla platform. The
second major project on java.mozdev.org are XPI builds
of the Java Runtime, making installation of Java
within Mozilla seamless for your Java-based Mozilla
plugins.

  The MozillaZine also includes a discussion. Brad,
for example, answers why using Java through a local
loopback server to serve up XUL isn't enough:

  Jeti, both Kevin and I have done this approach in
our own Mozilla/Java projects. While it seems simple,
it begins to create ugly and unmaintainable code as
your project size increases and makes it difficult to
deeply integrate into Mozilla. I even created an
XML-RPC bridge to link my Java code to my Mozilla
JavaScript code, using the XML-RPC code in Mozilla. It
became a big unmaintainable mess.

    Full MozillaZine story @
http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=3482

    Kevin also covers the java.mozdev.org kick off
with a blog story of his own. If I may quote:

  Imagine this. You create a component in Java and
then a Mozilla C++ component can use it without any
special configuration. Say you have a component
written in JavaScript and you want to use it from
Java. No problem. 

  This isn't just an intellectual exercise. XPCOM is
here today and implemented in Mozilla right now. This
will really be a boon for Java developers. There are
advantages to developing in different languages. For
example imagine using a Java component in a scripted
environment like JavaScript. 

  Mozilla makes this all real. While you can use XPCOM
standalone there aren't very many components. If you
want to hack Mozilla to say add another network
protocol you can now do so in Java. 

  I plan on replacing the network code in NewsMonster
to use this code as soon as it is stable. 
   
    Full blog story @
http://www.peerfear.org/rss/permalink/2003/07/24/JavaXPCOM
       
  That's it.      

  Full story @ http://java.mozdev.org

  - Gerald


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