OSNews > Thread > "RE[4]: OK" by TQH !

Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 16th Jul 2007 16:03 UTC, submitted by jeanmarc

Syllable 0.6.4 has been released. "Syllable 0.6.4 contains many new features, enhancements and bug fixes from previous releases. Highlights of this release include a new version of ABrowse; the web browser has been re-written using the WebKit engine. A new version of Whisper, and the Contact address book is now included. A large number of usability and user interface fixes, largely curtesy of Anthony Morphett. New drivers for the SysKonnect Yukon1 network cards & ACPI CPU management and updated drivers for Radeon, GeForceFX, SiS and Trident video cards, HD Audio, Intel & VIA SATA controllers and Realtek 8169 network cards. The usual clutch of bug fixes and enhancements."

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RE[4]: OK

by TQH ! on Tue 17th Jul 2007 08:06 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: OK"

Member since:
2006-03-16

Absolutly correct, not only are FireFox and Gecko huge, but they are also a PITA to support on alternative platforms*. The main devs focus on Windows, Linux and Mac, and they don't write the code portable at all:
* almost no abstractions or interfaces, just macros depending on platform
* force new dependencies which in some cases arn't even viable on alt. OS'es
* more 'hacking' than coding

IMO WebKit seems to be more aware on all of the points above as well as actually encouraging ports.

*) In fact, I'm not even sure there will be a Firefox 3 on BeOS.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[5]: OK

by Vanders on Tue 17th Jul 2007 08:21 in reply to "RE[4]: OK"

Member since:
2005-07-06

force new dependencies which in some cases arn't even viable on alt. OS'es

That's certainly one of my biggest bug-bears, and you're right: Gecko and Firefox have them in spades.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[5]: OK

by predictor on Tue 17th Jul 2007 08:37 in reply to "RE[4]: OK"

Member since:
2006-11-30

"Absolutly correct, not only are FireFox and Gecko huge, but they are also a PITA to support on alternative platforms*. "

The Haiku folks made it work without that much effort.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[6]: OK

by phoudoin on Tue 17th Jul 2007 09:30 in reply to "RE[5]: OK"

Member since:
2006-06-09

"The Haiku folks made it work without that much effort."

You're right on the first part of your claim, but wrong on the end. Yes they do (thanks guys!). But with *much* effort.

Edited 2007-07-17 09:30

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[6]: OK

by Thom_Holwerda on Tue 17th Jul 2007 10:01 in reply to "RE[5]: OK"

Member since:
2005-06-29

The Haiku folks made it work without that much effort.

Haiku didn't have to do an awful lot about Firefox itself; it already ran on BeOS r5 and Zeta. And since Haiku is binary compatible with r5, it was only logical for Firefox to eventually run on Haiku.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1

RE[6]: OK

by TQH ! on Tue 17th Jul 2007 11:45 in reply to "RE[5]: OK"

Member since:
2006-03-16

The Bezilla-team, which is not directly connected to Haiku, is responsible for the BeOS/Haiku port of Mozilla's products. It just so happens that I am one of them, and probably the one that knows Firefox best of those. AFAIK we are the only port of Firefox that is moderatly successful and at a very high price in invested time.

Here are a few wiki entries I started:
http://wiki.bebits.com/page/BuildingFirebird
http://wiki.bebits.com/page/BuildingCairo

And here is our dev. blog:
http://community.livejournal.com/bezilla/

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1