Future versions of Firefox on Windows 98

[BenoitRen]

Yes, as I learned earlier today, not only a shim library, but some work on Cairo too has to be done to achieve Win9x compatibility. But that won't be easy, because of API calls like SetWorldTransform, and such.

I don't know how many W APIs are implemented in Microsoft's Layer for Unicode, and would prefer to avoid it if possible. As I said, Gecko already has the necessary functions to convert to Unicode and back.

Good news: one of the developers who was instructed to participate in removing Win9x support is going to help me put it back. And he only lives one time zone apart.

[galahs]

That's excellent news!

[rainyd]

This is indeed a great news! BenoitRen, big thanks for your try.

[Analada]

Yes, as I learned earlier today, not only a shim library, but some work on Cairo too has to be done to achieve Win9x compatibility. But that won't be easy, because of API calls like SetWorldTransform, and such.

I don't know how many W APIs are implemented in Microsoft's Layer for Unicode, and would prefer to avoid it if possible. As I said, Gecko already has the necessary functions to convert to Unicode and back.

Good news: one of the developers who was instructed to participate in removing Win9x support is going to help me put it back. And he only lives one time zone apart.

Good luck to you BenoitRen! Let us all know when you have tacked on to a firefox website project, or set-up a web page. I guess there will be some way provided for others to comment/help-out?

[ivanbuto]

If this project is successful, it should also resolve the SVG issues with Firefox and Windows 98, because they also have to do with Cairo.

Furthermore, it could help other applications that use Cairo with Win9x compatibility, for example GTK+.

[BenoitRen]

What do you mean? Cairo hasn't been used in any final releases as of yet. The problem is the VC6 compiler, it compiles parts of the SVG library incorrectly.

[ivanbuto]

What do you mean? Cairo hasn't been used in any final releases as of yet. The problem is the VC6 compiler, it compiles parts of the SVG library incorrectly.

Hmm, I'm not quite sure, but I was referring to this:

http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/SVG_in_Firefox

[BenoitRen]

OK, I asked on IRC, and Cairo is indeed used for SVG since Gecko 1.8.1 (that's Firefox 2.0 and SeaMonkey 1.1, folks). Cairo has always been used for canvas, though. Before Gecko 1.8.1, GDI+ was used for SVG.

Looks like it's mainly the text rendering part of Cairo that is incompatible with Win9x.

[erpdude8]

new official releases of Firefox versions 1.5.0.10 and 2.0.0.2 have been posted:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/2.0.0.2/releasenotes/

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/releases/1.5.0.10.html

I'm beta testing firefox 3.0 alpha 2 (aka Gran Paradiso) on my WinXP home ed. machine

[Rainmaker]

Preserving 98 reminds me of keeping that old classic car around.

Why throw years of experience in an OS away, when it still works?

Noticed this too: Firefox Version 4.0

On October 13, 2006, Brendan Eich, Mozilla's Chief Technology Officer, wrote about the plans for Mozilla 2.0, the platform on which Firefox 4 is likely to be based. These changes include improving and removing XPCOM APIs, switching to standard C++ features, just-in-time compilation with JavaScript 2 (known as the Tamarin project), and tool-time and runtime security checks.

Edited March 8, 2007 by Rainmaker

[erpdude8]

Rainmaker, I wonder if you would like to try out Firefox 3.0 alpha 2 on a Win98 machine.

get it here:

http://download.mozilla.org/?product=granp...〈=en-US

firefox 3 is code named "gran paradiso"

[erpdude8]

Gran Paradiso [Firefox 3] alpha 3 now available:

http://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index...e-for-download/

[Analada]

Gran Paradiso [Firefox 3] alpha 3 now available:

http://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index...e-for-download/

Is this topic -- developing Firefox 3 for win98SE - going to have a dedicated website, or an enlarged forum for contributors?

Newbies please note: Firefox 3 won't work on win98SE.

Edited March 26, 2007 by Analada

[BenoitRen]

Depends on if I heard right that MoFo will allow such a project to be hosted. By the way, it's all about Gecko. And Cairo, named Thebes in the source.

I got side-tracked, and now I have exams again. I'll resume work soon. I was in the process of documenting what needed to be done.

[ivanbuto]

Depends on if I heard right that MoFo will allow such a project to be hosted. By the way, it's all about Gecko. And Cairo, named Thebes in the source.

I got side-tracked, and now I have exams again. I'll resume work soon. I was in the process of documenting what needed to be done.

Hi BenoitRen!

It would be great if you could get through the initial phase of the project (i.e. document what exactly needs to be done and hopefully start up a devoted page on www.mozilla.org) while Firefox 3 is still in Alpha stage. Of course nobody can "demand" anything from you, seeing as you are the only one who has voluntarily shown some initiative regarding this issue.