Programming Firefox

Chapter 11. Installation and Deployment

The most common way to implement a Firefox-related solution is through an extension to the Firefox browser. An extension is designed to run within the browser while attaching its interface elements to the browser’s existing window and menu hierarchy.

A second option for applications designed to run outside a browser is to run them as a XULRunner application.

XULRunner is a deployment method that uses the standalone Gecko runtime engine (also known as XULRunner) to launch XUL applications. The XULRunner executable must be downloaded onto the client’s computer. The newly developed XUL application must then be downloaded to the target client and installed through a xulrunner.exe --install-app "myApplicationName" command.

Developers can also distribute plug-ins—snippets of code that augment functionality for the browser but may not have an interface with the user.

Tip

Although plug-in deployment is a process that is generally similar to that of extensions, we do not cover plug-in development in this text.

Finally, developers are free to download new themes and skins, files that can provide a completely customized look to Firefox or other XUL-based applications.

This chapter covers the basics of deploying applications, extensions, and skins, including:

• The basic file structure for applications, extensions, and skins

• Packaging the files for distribution

• Deploying standalone applications for XULRunner

• Developing and installing skins

• Developing and installing ...