Mozilla Firefox: Difference between revisions

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{{Applicationbox|image=firefox39x38.png|caption=Firefox icon|name=Firefox|author=[[User:Pnaulls|Peter Naulls]]|os=Not RISC PC or earlier|desc=This is a port of the [http://www.getfirefox.com/ Firefox] web browser for RISC OS.|translations=None|url=http://www.riscos.info/unix/firefox/|alt=[[NetSurf]], [[Oregano]]}}
{{Applicationbox|image=firefox39x38.png|caption=Mozilla Firefox icon|name=Mozilla Firefox|maintainer=[[User:Pnaulls|Peter Naulls]]|os=RISC OS 4/5/6|desc=This is a port of the [http://www.mozilla.com/ Mozilla Firefox] web browser for RISC OS.|languages=English|url=http://www.riscos.info/index.php/Firefox|alt=[[NetSurf]], [[Oregano]]}}


== About ==


Development of Firefox represents part of a long term effort to bring new applications to RISC OS and has involved significant time and effort to date. Your [[Donations|contribution]] is greatly appreciated.
----


{|cellpadding="5"
|width="50%" valign="top"|
== Mozilla Firefox 2 Non-RiscPC ==


For [[IYONIX pc]], [[A9home]], [[Omega]]. and [[VirtualRPC]] (StrongARM version only). This will '''not''' work on [[RiscPC|RiscPCs]].
== Versions ==
Currently, versions 1.5 and 2 have been released – further development is dependent on ongoing [[Donations|financial contributions]].


Release 8 for RISC OS (August 3rd 2009, upstream 2.0.0.20):
Firefox can be downloaded from [http://www.riscos.info/unix/firefox/ the Firefox port page].


* Via RiscPkg - http://www.riscos.info/packages/
== Mozilla Firefox 2 Downloads ==
* [http://www.riscos.info/unix/downloads/browser/firefox/firefox-2-r2.zip Firefox 2 for RISC OS Release 2]. For [[IYONIX]], [[A9home]], [[Omega]]. This will '''not''' work on [[RiscPC|RiscPCs]]. It may work on [[VirtualRPC]].
* [http://www.riscos.info/unix/downloads/browser/firefox/firefox-2-iyonix-r1.zip Firefox 2 for RISC OS Release 1]. For [[IYONIX]] only.


* Directly - [http://www.riscos.info/packages/BrowserDetails.html#firefox Firefox 2 for RISC OS Release 8].
=== Previous releases ===

Version 1.5 releases for all RISC OS machines (RISC OS 4 onwards) are [http://www.riscos.info/unix/downloads/browser/firefox/ still available], however there may be stability issues on some machines. Most users will find performance unacceptably slow on sub-300MHz machines.
This is a bug fix release only. Ensure you read the included !Help for full documentation and specific details of changes and history.

Releases 1 and 2 have been deprecated, since they offer no benefit over this version.

|valign="top"|
== Mozilla Firefox 2 RiscPC ==

This version is suitable for RiscPCs and older versions of VirtualRPC. It will work on newer systems, but with more limited performance. This version has been provided ''only'' because its use on such machines is preferable to the older 1.5 versions which have many issues (both in the RISC OS version and mainstream). Even so, most users will find performance unacceptably slow on sub-300MHz machines

You will need RISC OS 4 or later.

* Directly - [http://www.riscos.info/packages/BrowserDetails.html#firefox-riscpc Firefox 2 for RISC OS Release 4].

|-
|valign="top"|


== Installing and using Firefox 2 ==
== Installing and using Firefox 2 ==
Some users may experience difficulty in running Firefox for the first time, so here is a quick guide to get you going.


First make sure you have downloaded all the necessary parts. As well as the Firefox application you will also need:
Download all the necessary parts. As well as the Firefox application you will also need:

* [[Tinct]] – A module for high speed sprite plotting and image enhancement
* [[SharedUnixLibrary]] – UnixLib C library support module

ELFLoader and UnixHome are not required for this release.
|valign="top"|
== Building Firefox 2 from source ==

Firefox 2 can be built from source with patches in the [[GCCSDK#GCCSDK_Autobuilder|GCCSDK Autobuilder]]. Follow the [[Using GCCSDK]] tutorial for details.

The autobuilder also includes patches for [[Thunderbird]] which is based on the same sources, and Firefox 3.6 (see below).
|}


== Experimental Versions ==
* [[Tinct]] – A module that provides applications with support for high speed sprite plotting and image enhancement
* [[SharedUnixLibrary]] – A library of files required by many applications originating on the Unix platform
* [[ELFLoader]] – An object loader for elves


[http://www.riscos.info/downloads/wip/firefox Experimental versions] may exist for testing of new developments. Often, these are an executable only, which should be replace the one from the most recent release. These versions are discussed on the GCCSDK mailing list.
=== Setting up Choices ===
After checking you have all the necessary modules in the right place (ELFLoader can be put in <Choices$Write>.Boot.Predesk) you'll need to set up the Choices file for Firefox, as the current application fails to do this correctly (version 2r2):
# Press CTRL+F12 to bring up a [[taskwindow]].
# Enter the following: <code>Filer_OpenDir <Choices$Write></code>
# In the window that appears, look for a directory called ''Mozilla''. If it isn't there, create it.
# Open the Mozilla directory.
# Create a sub-directory called ''Default'' in the ''Mozilla'' directory.
# Load your favourite [[Text Editor]].
# Enter the following text '''exactly as shown''':<br><code>[General]<br>StartWithLastProfile=1<br>[Profile0]<br>Name=default<br>IsRelative=1<br>Path=Default</code>
# Save the file as ''profiles/ini'' inside the ''Mozilla'' directory.
# Run Firefox2 for the first time!


== Building Firefox from source ==
== Firefox for RISC OS Roadmap ==


This outlines plans and progress to move Mozilla Firefox forward on RISC OS, and to improve its obvious deficiencies. This will be regularly updated to indicate progress.
The best place to start is building Firefox 1.5, whose patches are already integrated in the GCCSDK autobuilder. The differences between Firefox 1.5 and Firefox 2 are mostly upstream changes. You'll need access to a Unix machine (or possibly Windows, though this is less well tested) since the build process makes use of tools which aren't available on RISC OS.


{|width="100%" border=1 cellspacing="0" style="background-color:#e0e0e0;"
To begin, follow the [[Using GCCSDK]] tutorial.
!Feature
!Progress
!Rationale
!Will help other programs
|-
|ChoX11 event code to own thread
|align="center"|75%
|Improve multitasking usability and performance
|Yes
|-
|Improve image handling
|align="center"|50%
|Image handling at present for RISC OS sits on top of X, and often creates 2 copies of images. Removing this will significantly improve memory usage, and have some performance improvements.
|No
|-
|Native scrollbars
|align="center"|0%
|Scrolling is presently with Mozilla-drawn scrollbars, which do not integrate well with RISC OS desktop.
|Maybe
|-
|Firefox 3.6 patches
|align="center"|80%
|Move patches from version 2 to 3.6 to enable future port, and submit upstream
|No
|-
|Native cairo/pango/fontconfig font handling
|align="center"|20%
|Almost any program using GTK2 requires these, and a straight port doesn't work in RISC OS. The X backend used in Firefox 2 has been removed, so any Firefox 3.6 port has to have these
|Yes, would immediately enable Gnumeric port
|-
|[[RUfl]] integration in ChoX11
|align="center"|10%
|Allow display of more than just 7-bit characters. This is somewhat tricky, since ChoX11 used DeskLib, and RUfl uses OSLib, which do not co-exist well.
|Yes
|-
|Shared Library Firefox
|align="center"|80%
|The present static build precludes the use of SSL certificates. There may be a way around this, but a static build may not be possible at all for Firefox 3.6.
|Yes
|}

Latest revision as of 17:22, 20 September 2009

Mozilla Firefox
Icon:
Mozilla Firefox icon
Maintained by: Peter Naulls
Description: This is a port of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for RISC OS.
OS Restrictions: RISC OS 4/5/6
Languages: English
Alternatives: NetSurf, Oregano
Website: http://www.riscos.info/index.php/Firefox


About

Development of Firefox represents part of a long term effort to bring new applications to RISC OS and has involved significant time and effort to date. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Mozilla Firefox 2 Non-RiscPC

For IYONIX pc, A9home, Omega. and VirtualRPC (StrongARM version only). This will not work on RiscPCs.

Release 8 for RISC OS (August 3rd 2009, upstream 2.0.0.20):

This is a bug fix release only. Ensure you read the included !Help for full documentation and specific details of changes and history.

Releases 1 and 2 have been deprecated, since they offer no benefit over this version.

Mozilla Firefox 2 RiscPC

This version is suitable for RiscPCs and older versions of VirtualRPC. It will work on newer systems, but with more limited performance. This version has been provided only because its use on such machines is preferable to the older 1.5 versions which have many issues (both in the RISC OS version and mainstream). Even so, most users will find performance unacceptably slow on sub-300MHz machines

You will need RISC OS 4 or later.

Installing and using Firefox 2

Download all the necessary parts. As well as the Firefox application you will also need:

  • Tinct – A module for high speed sprite plotting and image enhancement
  • SharedUnixLibrary – UnixLib C library support module

ELFLoader and UnixHome are not required for this release.

Building Firefox 2 from source

Firefox 2 can be built from source with patches in the GCCSDK Autobuilder. Follow the Using GCCSDK tutorial for details.

The autobuilder also includes patches for Thunderbird which is based on the same sources, and Firefox 3.6 (see below).

Experimental Versions

Experimental versions may exist for testing of new developments. Often, these are an executable only, which should be replace the one from the most recent release. These versions are discussed on the GCCSDK mailing list.

Firefox for RISC OS Roadmap

This outlines plans and progress to move Mozilla Firefox forward on RISC OS, and to improve its obvious deficiencies. This will be regularly updated to indicate progress.

Feature Progress Rationale Will help other programs
ChoX11 event code to own thread 75% Improve multitasking usability and performance Yes
Improve image handling 50% Image handling at present for RISC OS sits on top of X, and often creates 2 copies of images. Removing this will significantly improve memory usage, and have some performance improvements. No
Native scrollbars 0% Scrolling is presently with Mozilla-drawn scrollbars, which do not integrate well with RISC OS desktop. Maybe
Firefox 3.6 patches 80% Move patches from version 2 to 3.6 to enable future port, and submit upstream No
Native cairo/pango/fontconfig font handling 20% Almost any program using GTK2 requires these, and a straight port doesn't work in RISC OS. The X backend used in Firefox 2 has been removed, so any Firefox 3.6 port has to have these Yes, would immediately enable Gnumeric port
RUfl integration in ChoX11 10% Allow display of more than just 7-bit characters. This is somewhat tricky, since ChoX11 used DeskLib, and RUfl uses OSLib, which do not co-exist well. Yes
Shared Library Firefox 80% The present static build precludes the use of SSL certificates. There may be a way around this, but a static build may not be possible at all for Firefox 3.6. Yes
Retrieved from "http://www.riscos.info/index.php?title=Mozilla_Firefox&oldid=4873"