6 Things You Didn’t Know About Firefox OS

Firefox OS is all over the tech news and for good reason:  Mozilla's finally given web developers the platform that they need to create apps the way they've been creating them for years -- with CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.  Firefox OS has been rapidly improving, adding features and APIs to provide device control and other standard mobile functionality.  Much is not known about Firefox OS, however, and here are a few items you may find interesting!

The Firefox Marketplace is Open Source

Everyone knows that the components of Firefox OS are open source.  Not many know this fact:  the Firefox Marketplace is a Django-based application, code-named 'zamboni', used not only for the Marketplace but also for AMO (Add-Ons). Like Firefox OS' gaia (the web-based operating system) zamboni is freely available on GitHub.  This means that you could fork zamboni, update the design, and create your own store for HTML5 apps!

You Can Buy a Test Device

Everything Mozilla does is open so it is common knowledge that you can create your own Firefox OS build if you have a supported device.  What many people may have missed is the announcement of a test device available for purchase from  Geeksphone.  While the Firefox OS Simulator does a good job of allowing users to test apps get the general gist of the platform, there's nothing like having a comparative-hardware device to test with.  Even if you don't plan on creating your own Firefox OS apps, it's still nice to have a test device around to test your own websites.

Loads of APIs are Being Implemented

For the skeptics who don't believe the HTML5 spec provides enough device control:  think again.  Mozilla has been rolling out dozens of WebAPI features to allow access to all types of device APIs:  Battery, Camera, Contacts, WebSMS, Storage, Vibration, Settings, Alarm, Browser, and many more.  Each API is either planned, in development, or completed, and may be available on different types of devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).  Bookmark the WebAPI chart to keep track of where each API is in its development stage!

Install Apps from Any Domain!

Mozilla doesn't hold users hostage when it comes to installing new apps; instead of needing to jump over to the device's app store app, Mozilla provides a JavaScript API for installing web apps from any allowed domains:

var manifestLocation = "http://areatweet.com/manifest.webapp"; // your domain here
var installRequest = navigator.mozApps.install(manifestLocation);

installRequest.onsuccess = function(data) {
    // App installed successfully!
};

installRequest.onerror = function(err) {
    // App couldn't be installed!
    console.log("Install error!");
};

It's incredibly liberating to allow installation from outside an app store; no more tyranny, no more unnecessary proprietary crap.

Web Activities!

The amazing Mozilla Hack Blog recently introduced Web Activities:  a system for adding context-specific controls within an app.  The screen where a user would see a Web Activity would look like this:

Web Activities provide a system by which you can specify the desired input result and a callback based on the activity's success and failure.  Code for said activity and result could look like:

var pick = new MozActivity({
   name: "pick",
   data: {
       type: ["image/png", "image/jpg", "image/jpeg"]
   
}
});

pick.onsuccess = function () {

    // Create image and set the returned blob as the src
    var img = document.createElement("img");
    img.src = window.URL.createObjectURL(this.result.blob);
 
    // Present that image in your app
    var imagePresenter = document.querySelector("#image-presenter");
    imagePresenter.appendChild(img);
};
 
pick.onerror = function () {

    // If an error occurred or the user canceled the activity
    alert("Can't view the image!");
};

Web Activities are relatively new so they'll take a bit of playing around with to get the full picture of how they work and what role they can play for your app. Robert Nyman has created a Firefox OS Boilerplate App which shows how you can use these.

The Browser App is Created with... HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

All of Firefox OS' native apps are written with basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript -- the same way you'll be creating your own apps.  Don't believe me?  Check out the source for yourself!  Browsers are a complex beast to create but Firefox OS' browser app shows that HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are ready for prime time device app performance!

There will no doubt be more information about Firefox OS on this blog.  The tidbits above should give you an advantage over other developers, allowing you to get started with advanced APIs, stores, and more!