Mozilla proposes greater transparency offered by Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
Although it is better known for its open source browser Firefox, Mozilla Foundation is also responsible for a series of software products created under the same model and mainly based on the Gecko layout engine.
Recently, the company announced plans for a project that seems to be the largest initiative in the history of Mozilla: an operating system for smartphones and tablets, called Boot to Gecko (B2G).
In the ad and additional comments, they are explaining that B2G will be based on the Linux kernel and connectors available. Also use elements already created for the Android platform, so that the system easier to implement in various units and terminals. As it is known, Android is used by a wide range of manufacturers of smartphones and tablets.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mozilla ensures that there is a difference between B2G and Android.
“We intend to use Android as possible. Our interest is to use the connectors on the kernel, like libc and associated elements. It is unlikely that we use Java APIs for Android. Good to begin with things known, having both accesses to the units that interest to us,” writes Mike Shaver, vice president of Mozilla technology.
Being a community where everyone can express their ideas, Shaver admits that other approaches may have different or better on the subject, so welcomes divergent views and proposals to B2G.
Something that is clear is that B2G minimally, or even absent, will offer a specific programming interface for a system. Applications may be based on existing and future APIs. The project will develop APIs that provide access to the functionality of the operating system and the unit itself, such as phone, sms, and camera, USB, Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication).
Also, Mozilla privilege develop a model that ensures the functionality and features to be incorporated into websites and applications safely.
Andreas Gal, Mozilla, said that the work will be fully transparent and that the source code is published in real time, while demonstrably successful extensions will be forwarded to the relevant standardization groups. Gal said that “It is our intention to create applications that can only be executed in Firefox. We want applications that can be executed on the web”.
Boot to Gecko is now in the planning stage, except for some initial tests with existing technologies. Mozilla has not provided a timetable for project development, so it may be ignored when the results of the work now announced.