How to support native interfaces on the Web

I posted an article about supporting native interfaces in Mobile Firefox. Byt the way, I found information regarding my post from here. This paper explained the native interfaces I talked as sensors on device and introduced how to send their sensed data to servers via the Web.

The sensor means a device that reads data from the user's physical environment. By the way, I am interested in how to get data from the native interfaces via web browser. I have not considered yet how a browser sends data to a server.
Anyway, this paper seems to be useful to extend technologies of web browser in a standard way.

Getting a location data from a GPS sensor was already realized on Firefox. Doug introduced this news in his blog and he implemented a prototype. I think it needs to be standardized

Performance test of the microB patches

I have tested the microB patches based on Mozilla1.9(Firefox3 alpha6 pre.)

- The microB package contains more 200 patches and several patch sets.
- It is released with Firefox3 alpha6 pre. now.

Two kinds of test case are used.
- Tinderbox DHTML Test
- CSS Rendering

Target Device : PAX320, RAM 256MB

And I got the following results on TestGtkEmbed in Mozilla.

* Tinderbox DHTML Test:
The microB patched Mozilla is 2.2 % faster than Mozilla1.9 (Firefox alpah6 pre).

* CSS Rendering:
The microB patched Mozlla is 5.6 % slower (?) than Mozilla1.9

I applied the default patch set of microB to Mozilla1.9

I can't understand why the microB patches is slow in the case of CSS Rendering.

The following items are performance related patches in the default patch set.

#Performance improvements
perf_addon/attachment.cgi?id=246204.diff
perf_addon/new_cached_scale.gtk2.diff
perf_addon/bug54205.diff
perf_addon/540_BUG54340_js_malloc.diff
perf_addon/545_BUG54340_findkeyword_inline.diff
perf_addon/550_BUG54340_optimization_options.diff
perf_addon/thread_wait_block.diff
perf_addon/spidermonkey_alloc.diff
perf_addon/605_css_erros_parsing_disable.diff

There are also some patches on Cairo.

I did not go through what each patch means.

Looking forward to your opinion & thought about the results.

Thanks

p.s. There is the same article on Mozilla newsgroup.

Teach yourself Mozilla in 5 days

Mozilla project and Senecac college have worked together on Mozilla related research and development projects. And they are opening some courseworks for Mozilla and open source.

The results are now posted on the project wiki so you can find various projects and technical reports made by students. Particularly, there is the lab of "Real World Mozilla" that leads students to learn and practice how to develop on the Mozilla platform from building to testing Firefox. It is also helpful to anyone who interest on development on Mozilla because it is documented well in the wiki.

In Korea, Daum corporation and Jeju national university made a open source related course together. So I think if they make and share the results related with open source projects, it will foster the proliferation of open source culture and movements in Korea.

Ideas on supporting native interfaces in Mobile Firefox

I'd like to share my ideas on native interface support in Mobile Firefox.
These ideas are based on Christian's Mobile Goal.
http://www.christiansejersen.com/blog/2007/11/20/mobile-goals/

Goal
Provide mobile web application environment which can use native interfaces.
- It can make XUL add-ons & web applications use native interfaces
through JavaScript

Types of Native Interfaces
(Most of mobile platforms support APIs for easy of use for camera, GPS, contact, and etc..)

There are two types of native interface:
* native interfaces from hardware
- GPS
- Camera
- Phone Call

* native interfaces from application engine
(HTML5)

libpng patch for Mobile Firefox

There are submitted patches for Mobile Firefox on the Mozilla wiki.
http://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Patches

My colleague tried to apply the png patch to Mozilla and get a good result related to performance improvement.

As you know, we can build the libpng fixed point routines like the above patch.
(Use #define PNG_NO_FLOATING_POINT_SUPPORTED in mozilla/modules/libimg/png/mozpngconf.h )

In this case, he can get 8.6% performance improvement.
It's great. I think this patch is valuable to use on Mobile Firefox.

However, there is the following problem in this patch.
Mozilla handles some floating point values to get image information from the libpng so the patch commented those parts in the info_callback() function. (mozilla/modules/libpr0n/decoders/png/nsPNGDecoder.cpp)
The problem is that color management feature should get color profile information from the libpng. The following code shows the example:

void
info_callback(png_structp png_ptr, png_infop info_ptr)
{
...

if (gfxPlatform::IsCMSEnabled()) {
decoder->mInProfile = PNGGetColorProfile(png_ptr, info_ptr,
color_type, &inType, &intent);
}
...
}

We can check the value of gfx.color_management.enabled through the gfxPlatform::IsCMSEnable() method.

If the gfx.color_management.enabled is true, you can use the color profiles embedded in images to adjust the colors to match your computer's display. In this case, Mozilla should call the PNGGetColorProfile() method. But this method handles floating point values.

Fortunately, Mozilla sets the value of gfx.color_management.enabled to false as default. The PNGGetColorProfile() method is not called. Nevertheless, the patch commented this part because a user may try to set the value to true.
Anyway, the color management feature is not used basically now.


If Mobile Firefox should use the color management feature, the png patch needs more tweaks.

How do you think about that?

Korea Mozilla Community Party

I attended the Korea Mozilla Community Annual Party 2007 last week which was hosted by Channy.
Channy is the leader of KoMoCo, a contributor for localization of Firefox. Actually, his company, Daum has supported many open source communities including KoMoCo. So, I always thank for Daum and his efforts.

For more details, I'd like to share some blog articles regarding the party.

• KoMoCo Anual Pary Photos in Flickr
  
• Mozllia Japan Gen Kanai's introduction about KoMoKo anual party
• John’s Blog
  

Firefox3 beta1 & Cairo Graphics

As expected, Mozilla finally has started the beta test of Firefox3 after finished the alpha8 test. Actually, the official version of Firefox3 should have been released this time. However, the release date is behind the schedule as the alpha test was recently finished. Anyway, we expect that Firefox would be officially released in the first half of next year

The major feature of Firefox is to use Cairo as the graphic engine for rendering all of things. Cairo is designed to provide primitives for 2-dimensional drawing across a number of different backends
Firefox2 has only made use of Cairo in its Gecko layout engine for rendering SVG and Canvas.
However, all graphics rendering would be done through Cairo in Firefox3. The major reason of using Cairo is that SVG, Canvas, and font rendering need to use 2D vector drawing and it allows the drawing to be accelerated by GPU. In the future, Firefox is going to have the capabilities of drawing vector graphics as much as Flash so that it allows users to paint the Web in a standard way. We can already find out many examples of the future Web graphics when surfing the Web.
Click the following links for more details.

• Firefox3's new features for users
  
• Firefox3's enhanced technologies for developers
• Beta1 Release Notes

Firefox3's SVG Demo

I got a presentation on the future of firefox from the web

The slide introduced the coming features of firefox3 such as SVG, canvas3D, Offline and XMLHttpRequest++.

Actually, I am not sure that all features can be added to firefox3 because some features are very experimental. Anyway, I think SVG is very interesting among the new features.

SVG is a standard technology to create vector graphics on the web and even can be embedded in HTML pages

You can see a SVG demo using the foreignobject on the following page.

http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2007/07/firefox-3-svg-foreignobject/

What is the foreignobject?

The foreignobject can make any HTML tag to embed into SVG. It means that HTML tag can be worked as a primitive of SVG such as line, circle, and rectangle. So you can apply transform effect on HTML tag.

I think that SVG will be able to change a way of rendering the web in future.

2007 South-North Korean Summit

South Korean president Rho Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jeong-il had a historical summit meeting at Pyungyang in North Korea.

This is the second summit between the two Koreas.

During the summit, Two leaders had several talks about Korean peace, economic investment, reunification on North Korea.

I wish that the two Koreas could archive piece and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

Flickr Launching Party at Seoul

Flickr Launching Party at Seoul, originally uploaded by joone4u.

I attended Flickr Launching Party at Seoul.

Anyone couldn't attend the party, only invited users could attend the party.
Actually I have used Flickr for 1 year. so I have uploaded many beautiful photos on Flickr.

Anyway, it was a very enjoyable party that offered games, cocktail show, and quiz.

Introduction to Mozilla based web browsers

We are using Firefox browser that has been developed by Mozilla. As you may know, Firefox is based on the Mozilla application framework that provides a good way of supporting cross-platform for running applications.

However, supporting cross-platform has some weak points. The first weak point is performance, the second is that it can not utilize the native user interface.

Some web browsers are based on the Mozilla application framework with a native user interface. So they are tightly integrated into the specific platform such as Windows, Mac, and Gnome Desktop to provide their own look and feel. But they are still based on the technology of the Mozilla application framework such as the component model and the 2D layout engine.

These are good examples:

• Camino is a web browser for Mac OSX based on Mozilla’s Gecko layout engine using Cocoa framework.
• Galeon is a web browser for GNOME based on Mozilla's Gecko layout engine.
• K-Meleon uses native Windows API to create the user interface (instead of using Mozilla's cross-platform XUL layer), and as a result, is tightly integrated into the look and feel of the Windows desktop.

There is another kind of Mozilla based web browser. That is Flock.

• Flock is a special web browser that offers some famous web service such as flickr viewer, blog uploader, and RSS Reader.

You can choose any web browser depends on your taste.

The change of Apple Inc.

Apple had leaded the personal computer market until the beginning of 80s before IBM released the IBM-PC. Apple also created new personal computer, the Macintosh that provides the GUI firstly. It was very innovative.
However, IBM-PC had become the mainstream of the personal computer. IBM opened the architecture of the computer and many computer manufacturers could make compatible IBM-PCs. Microsoft provided a DOS & Windows as an OS for the PCs. It was not innovative and easy to use, but it was cheaper than the Macintosh.

The Macintosh is very popular to designers, students and teachers. But it is insufficient to become a mainstream of personal computer. Apple has still fewer than 10% of the market share of personal computer. Most of PC is now using Microsoft Windows.
Now, it is not important issue, because Apple is not just a computer manufacturer any more. Apple changed their business way now to be an electric consumer company like SONY, SAMSUNG. The success of iPod can make Apple changed.

I am looking foward to activities of Apple from now on.

A proposal

joone_developer
Originally uploaded by joone4u.

"I want you to work for the planning group"

BarCamp Seoul 2006

Do you know the BarCamp?

BarCamp is a informal meeting that don't have any subject.
All attendee can speak anything without formality.
Speaking only is Ok. A presentation is no problem.
But, we have 20 minutes of speaking time include Q&A.

This Barcamp was held in Korea firstly. Some companies support this Barcamp include DAUM, OnNet and TatterTools,

I delighted to have an opportunity of attending the Barcamp because the number of attendee was limited to 50.

I made a presentation about the story of programmers. This story is based on my blog.

This BarCamp was very useful and so I would like to attend the next Barcamp.

Richard Stallman comes to Korea

Next week he is going to vist Korea to address the new GPL and free software.

He plans to attend a conference & serveal lecture meeting.

I think that it's good chance to understand the new GPL and free software from RMS directly. ( He wants to call him RMS)

For more information, click the following sites.

Thanks.

http://kldp.org/node/74749
http://korea.gnu.org/rms-speech-in-2006.html
http://ipleft.or.kr/stallman/061102.php
http://www.powerofcommunity.net

Dangerous Nuclear Test...

North Korea carried out its first nuclear bomb test on Monday (Oct. 9).
Actually, we had anticipated their first nuclear bomb test at the end of the year.
But, they committed the test quickly.
I think that it is a “flagrant and brazen” violation of international opinion.

Seoul has made every effort to maintain the peace of the Korean peninsula. Gaesong Industrial park and the Mt. Gumgang(Gumgansan) tour are good examples of the effort.

There was good chance for North Korea in terms of the six-way talks. But the US didn't think that North Korea is a partner. They imposed sactions on North Korea such as financial. So North Korea tried to test their missile in east sea. As a result, North Korea tested nuclear weapon.

Now the US has to change the altitude for North Korea. Because
North Korea want to have diplomatic intercourse with the US.

Distorting Ancient History

Goguryeo
Originally uploaded by Khitai.

Seoul warns beijing against distorting ancient History.
There are 3 countries in east asia such as Korea, China and Japan.
As you know, China and Japan alway make problems.

Japan have distorted their history for a long time.
They have tried to hide their war of aggression

So Seoul have Urged Tokyo not to distort history in textbooks.
China also joined the road of distroing history with Japan. --;

China is trying to hide the anicient history of Korea such as the Kingdom of Gogureyo, Balhae and making it their history.
I think that China & Japan reveal their nature of aggression.

As One of Korean, I am worrying about asian future.

On the top of CheonwangBong in JiriSan

지리산 천왕봉 정상에서 On the top of CheonwangBong in JiriSan
Originally uploaded by joone4u.

I enjoying hiking a mountatin.
There are so many mountains & national parks in Korea.
I think that Mt.JiriSan is the most beautiful mountatin in Korea.
I had hiked Mt.JiriSan serveral times.
As you may know, there are many tops in Mt.Jirisan
You can reach many tops when traverse the mountain ridge of Mt.Jirisan. And You can see beautiful sights from the tops like the above photo. This photo was taken at the top of CheonwangBong that is the most highest top in Mt. Jirisan.
At that time, the season was winter and the weather was very clear as you can see. This was the first time to get the clear sky like this after I had hiked up the CheonwangBong.
Anyway, I recommand that you will hike up Mt. Jirisan if you have free time.

Thanks.

KLDP Conference

 

It was the conference for celebrating 10th anniversary of KLDP. KLDP is the acronym of Korea Linux Documentation Project, but now KLDP is a community group for free/open source softwares. Actually, KLDP started from a personal web site and now have developed to the largest Linux & free/open source software community. As a result, KLDP now provides a lot of Linux documentation based on wiki system, open source project hosting, web boards and blogs for the community.

If you are interested in F/OSS, please join this conference. For more information, Click this link

Web Accessibility in Korea

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more.
Howerver it is very dangerous if these resources only can be accessible for a specific web browser.

As you know, Most of people use Internet Explorer as web browser in Korea.
Internet Explorer supports incompatible features such as ActiveX, Some of JavaScript.
The problem is that Many web sites support the features include the government web sites in Korea.

Actually, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web. But It is more dangerous that web sites can be accessible for the specific web browser.

Now, Many linux & Mac users can not use internet banking, shopping mall sites, steaming service. Because these features are only implemented using ActiveX technology.

Moreover, Many web sites still use table tag for making the frame of web site. Other web browser can not render the web pages like Internet Explorer. So instead of using table tag for framing web pages, we have to use CSS, XHTML for making web pages.

Fortunately, the market share of Firefox is increasing now. And many people realize the problem of web accessibility.

I'm looking forward to browseing any web sites using any web browser.