Originally uploaded by mattyturner.
Nice to see someone is still reading ‘Creating Applications With Mozilla‘! Sure, it’s badly dated after 3 years in some places, but much of it is still relevant for digging deeper into topics such as XBL and XPCOM. I’m proud of the achievement of getting that book out a time when the platform was less recognised and Mozilla technologies in general were a moving target.
There’s been a couple of books of equal scope since, including Nigel Mc Farlane’s ‘Rapid Application Development with Mozilla’. I never did read it, but heard that it is excellent. I’m wondering if the time is ripe for another Mozilla development book. What do you think? What new topics are missing in print? For example, coverage of XULRunner. Are tech books even relevant anymore in an age when the information is available at our fingertips?
For a comprehensive list of Mozilla related books, head on over to …
http://www.mozdev.org/community/books.html
Seriously, there needs to be a new book for Mozilla development. I blogged about how insanely, needlessly difficult I found XUL.
http://camendesign.blogspot.com/2006/02/fed-up-of-foss.html
I’ve tried convincing people there’s a need for a second edition, without much success. I’m even willing to help write it.
It’s hard to give a valid comment without actually reading the book, but I’d expect that three years have brought enough changes to warrant at least an update to the book if not a new one.
I’d certainly love to see a book that would explain where and how to place Mozilla (platform) in a world, where web applications play ever more prominent role. I believe that like many overworked developers I’m struggling with this and that many would appreciate an introduction, where benefits to me are practically immediate and they keep on coming with my progress through the book. If that’s possible of course.
YES!
Please update the book, I’d love to have a printed resource for this kind of information that is current. I’ll even review it for you :)
Robin Monks
CivicSpace Web Developer
O’Reilly recently sent out a message encouraging the authors to start plogging (whatever that means) on the Creating Applications with Mozilla book page. I signed up and posted something just to see what sort of response we would get. Everyone here is welcome to post too. If we can get a discussion going there, maybe we can demonstrate that there is some interest in a new edition?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596000529/102-7672926-2680912?n=283155
David
“Rapid Application Development with Mozilla” is really a great book! It’s definitely a must-read for everyone new to mozilla (ok, it’s a bit outdated, but still good enough for newbies to start somewhere).
Yep, i ran into a problem after about two chapters. I didn’t realise it was so old when I ordered it.
I found the easiest way to get into it was to unpack someone elses XPI (i’m interested in making a toolbar) and then look at that code plus use the book as reference.
I think with so many APIs that people are interested in integrating with the browser there would be interest in a new revision or a more up to date book.