] Below we will propose a new application architecture ] based on the Gecko Runtime Environment (GRE), which can ] be shared between separate application processes. Before ] discussing the rationales and trade-offs, here are the ] implications and key elements: ] ] Switch Mozilla's default browser component from the ] XPFE-based Navigator to the standalone Phoenix browser. ] ] Develop further the standalone mail companion application ] to Phoenix already begun as Minotaur, but based on the ] new toolkit used by Phoenix (this variant has been ] codenamed Thunderbird). ] ] Deliver a Mozilla 1.4 milestone that can replace the 1.0 ] branch as the stable development path, then move on to ] make riskier changes during 1.5 and 1.6. The major ] changes after 1.4 involve switching to Phoenix and ] Thunderbird, and working aggressively on the next two ] items. ] ] Fix crucial Gecko layout architecture bugs, paving the ] way for a more maintainable, performant, and extensible ] future. ] ] Continue the move away from an ownership model involving ] a large cloud of hackers with unlimited CVS access, to a ] model, more common in the open source world, of ] vigorously defended modules with strong leadership and ] clear delegation, a la NSPR, JavaScript, Gecko in recent ] major milestones, and Phoenix. And much more interesting reading. The future of non-Microsoft web browsing appears to be split between Mozilla/Gecko and the camp at Opera. |