The Jetpack SDK allows developers to build Firefox extensions and standalone applications using web technologies. It provides a library of capabilities and APIs as well as tools to package and distribute extensions. The SDK aims to improve security and stability over traditional extensions through a stronger sandbox model and support for out-of-process extensions. It also includes core modules and proposals for single UI elements, panels, and a builder tool to enable rapid development of extensions.

1. The Jetpack SDK
Firefox Extensions Evolved
Brian King
LinuxTag, 12.6.2010, Berlin

2. The Future of
Extensions is
Here

3. Picture by jurvetson on Flickr

4. Hackability
Generative Web
Generative Browser
Read more: Tristan Nitot, Mozilla Europe
http://www.slideshare.net/nitot/hackability-what-it-means-why-its-important

5. Why Add-ons?
Core to the Mozilla mission of “choice & innovation”
Huge momentum versus other browsers.
Customization is one of the key differentiators for Firefox
and helps users feel like Firefox is “mine”
Innovation incubator
1st class deployment infrastructure at Mozilla Add-ons
(AMO)

6. Jetpack Principles
Web-Based : Attractive to Web Developers
More secure
Remixable
Robust - Versioned API
No restart / Silent updates

7. What is the Jetpack SDK?
An extensible library of capabilities and APIs for writing
Firefox add-ons, as well as stand-alone web-technology
based applications.
A set of command-line tools that package and security-
harden your code into distributable packages.

8. Security / Stability
Stronger sandboxed security model
Keep users safer + notificaitons for accessing data
Better stability and memory management (moving towards
out-of-process extensions)

9. Core Modules
More at: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Labs/Jetpack/JEP#Proposals

10. NOT
MUCH TO
HANG ON
TO

12. Single UI Element
Launch
Point
JEP 102
Bug 543585
widget.add(widget.Widget({ label: "my widget", content: "http:
//site/location.gif", onClick: function() {...} });

13. Panels
A rich content panel that floats above the browser window.
JEP 103
Bug 494238

14. FlightDeck
The Add-ons Builder will enable the community to rapidly,
collaboratively develop both extensions.

15. DEMO
TIME

16. Roadmap
More at:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Labs/Jetpack/Roadmap

17. Resources
FAQ: https://jetpack.mozillalabs.com/faq.html
Docs: https://jetpack.mozillalabs.com/sdk/latest/docs/
Discussion Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mozilla-labs-
jetpack
Source Code: http://hg.mozilla.org/labs/jetpack-sdk/
Blog Posts:
http://ehsanakhgari.org/blog/2010-05-31/my-experience-
jetpack-sdk
http://mitcho.com/blog/how-to/develop-with-jetpack-sdk-0-2/
http://mozillalabs.com/jetpack

18. Thanks!
Get in touch
@brianking
www.briks.si/kontakt