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RISC OS Firefox developments

By Chris Williams. Published: 3rd Jul 2005, 15:15:01.

Getting cosy with the desktop

Firefox logoWhilst the userbase sinks its teeth in the recent first release of the Firefox web browser for RISC OS, Jon Ripley has sought to integrate the mammoth application with the RISC OS desktop. Currently still in development, the ported X Windows based browser is drawing mixed reactions from punters and is currently alien to various RISC OS user interface metaphors, such as the iconbar and drag and drop.

According to Jon, his program acts as a user friendly 'wrapper' around the web browser, and "helps integrate Firefox into the RISC OS desktop. Features include: iconbar icon, drag and drop support, URI file support and the ability to double-click on a HTML file to launch it into Firefox."

He said: "At the moment Firefox Integration is a personal project to add the features to Firefox that I would ultimately like to see in later releases. The primary goal has been to make current releases of Firefox much easier to use. There is certainly functionality that can be added to Firefox Integration for future releases. Other RISC OS users and developers are welcome to help out with actual code or ideas."

John also added that he's also willing to help develop the X windows related libraries used in the Firefox port to make the port more RISC OS friendly.

Meanwhile, Peter Naulls has uploaded a second, updated beta version of the ported web browser for users to test drive. Peter was unavailable for comment on the progress made since the first beta test release from earlier this month.

Links
Firefox RISC OS Integration
Peter Naulls is a drobe.co.uk writer.

Discussion

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I downloaded the first Beta last Thursday and I'm impressed by what Peter has achieved. The browser is reasonably stable and fast enough to be usable (on Iyonix at least); it is well ahead of Oregano 2 and Webster XL in its ability to render sites.

In use it feels like an alien program running in a RISC OS window, it does crash sometimes (but not often) and it is a little slow - but this is the first Beta!

I was a little wary but I would now encourage everyone to try it. Well done Chocky, I'm off to try the second Beta.

is a RISC OS UserTonyStill on 3/7/05 10:23PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Beta 2 version of FireFox is much quicker in user interaction.

is a RISC OS Usersa110 on 4/7/05 10:06AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

But FFb2 needs the Tinct module which the UPP site will not let me access: 'you do not have permission to access this server'. Another poster to c.s.a.apps had this problem also. Takeup will be limited until this is fixed, I fear...

George

is a RISC OS Userbucksboy on 4/7/05 2:51PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

bucksboy:

The Tinct module is nothing to do with the UPP site. I entered Tinct into Google and found the latest version withing seconds. Did you make any attempt at intiative at all?

[link]

is a RISC OS Userfylfot on 4/7/05 2:57PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

UPP subscribers get full support via the UPP mailing list. I would suggest subscribing if you are having problems and need help.

You are told from where you can obtain Tinct in both the start up error message (if Tinct is not available) and also in the !Help file.

is a RISC OS Userjonix on 4/7/05 6:15PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Just tried Firefox beta2 today on VirtualRiscPC. I was dreading a long ReadMe with detailed installation instructions but it was all concise and simple. Created the /mozilla directory in UnixHome, tried running it. !Firefox told me to update Tinct and SharedULib, so quickly found these using Google, and then it ran fine. Must have taken me all of four minutes.

It is one thing seeing Firefox demonstrated at a show, but quite another trying it out on your own machine. Well done Peter!

is a RISC OS Usergovind on 4/7/05 9:21PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

I got FFb1 to run a couple of times last week, but now FFb2 with the Tinct (and SharedULib) it will load up as far as Deer Park and then stops (Crash/?). I can only think that it is the 41Mb of RAM on my RISC PC 600 / RO 4.02 not sufficient to run FF? I cannot get the PassWord Manager to remember my school servers access/password settings. The "tick" box in the Password Manager Dir won't accept my click/tick.

is a RISC OS UserSawadee on 4/7/05 11:46PM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Yes. I forgot to say that I needed to increase the memory allocated to VirtualRiscPC from 32Mb to 128Mb. Otherwise, it gets as far as drawing a blank browser window with "Transferring data from mozilla.org" in the status window, and then exits without warning.

is a RISC OS Usergovind on 5/7/05 9:30AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Sawadee: I've succesfully run Firefox beta 1 & 2 on an ARM710 RiscPC with about 40MB of RAM free. It can be made to work, just make sure you've read the accompanying !Help file thoroughly and have installed the latest SharedUnixLib and Tinct. You also might consider re-booting the machine and running Firefox on a clean system.

If you should encounter any more unexplained phenomena, try to make them reproduceable and contact mrchocky.

is a RISC OS UserhEgelia on 5/7/05 10:09AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

Ha..I have found a web site that (I presume) the geko engine (on windows) cannot manage well, yet fresco is able to (with the odd Java script error).

www.londonstockexchange.co.uk

Try looking up "tph" in firefox then in IE and then in fresco and RISC OS firefox ;)

Nice speed ups & it runs better than the windows one.

is a RISC OS Userem2ac on 8/7/05 10:37AM [ Reply | Permalink | Report ]

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