Product Description

A revolutionary new technology for the rapidly expanding world of e-commerce, XUL (XML User Interface Language) is an XML-based user interface language that gives Web developers control over all aspects of the
Web interface. Featuring two tutorials on programming with XUL, this book shows developers how to use basic XUL elements to build a sample interface for an e-commerce site, then goes on to explore more sophisticated applications by creating an information portal inside an application. Readers will find expert tips and advice on how to get started writing XUL code as well as how to extend it into Java and other non-Netscape interfaces.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #807295 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-20
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review
**** Rating
"this is the only book I have seen, at the time of writing, dealing entirely with XUL" (The Computer Bulletin - BCS, March 2002)

Book Info
An in-depth tutorial in developing XUL-based applications, for programmers and developers. Introduces the technology, terminology and information needed to get started, focusing on the core components of XUL technology. Features a systematic approach to creating XUL applications. Softcover.

From the Back Cover
Start building XUL-based applications with this introduction to XUL and its technologies

With so many different programming languages and operating systems, developers have been clamoring for a single "meta-language" to develop user interfaces that are cross-platform and cross-device. Mozilla.org responded by creating the eXtensible User interface Language (XUL), which allows developers to break from platform dependencies and develop rich, dynamic user interfaces in record time. Mozilla.org designed XUL to work together with such technologies as Resource Description Framework (RDF), XBL (XML Binding Language), JavaScript, XML (eXtensible Markup Language), and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

Essential XUL Programming provides developers with an in-depth tutorial on developing XUL-based applications. This detailed reference covers four major areas:
* Getting Started: Includes definitions of key XUL terminology, information to get started writing XUL code, and fundamentals of XML and CSS
* XUL in Depth: Focuses on core XUL technologies and examines a step-by-step process for creating XUL applications
* XUL Applications: Provides case studies of how XUL can be applied to the real world
* References and Appendices: Offers reference information needed to develop XUL applications, details all XUL elements and attributes, and contains visual examples of XUL interfaces

The authors have also developed an open source software project called jXUL at www.jXUL.org. The jXUL library allows for the development of dynamically compiled Swing user interfaces using a XUL document as a description language for the user interface. The jXUL library represents the beginning of open source development of a XUL framework for the Java Programming Language.

The companion Web site at www.xulbook.com features:
* Source code and examples from the book
* Corrections, updates, and XUL news
* Links to other XUL resources on the Web

Wiley Computer Publishing
Timely. Practical. Reliable.
Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/
Visit the companion Web site at www.xulbook.com

Customer Reviews

weak, somewhat deprecated
xul appears to have changed a lot since this book was printed.
many of the xul tags discussed and used, the xul templates used,
have changed. thus, most of the xul examples in the book are
not going to work in firefox.

e.g. the xul css skin url is no longer the same. lots of tags
such as "titledbox" have been renamed.

i'd say this content is deprecated.

also, in my opinion, these chapters add no value
to the book and in general weakens the
existing content:

an xml primer
css
the jxul project

May-be wait for 2nd edition?
I bought this because of the JXUL project. To that end I found this book very handy to understand that basics, intermediate aspects and application of XUL, RDF, XBL, etc.

A lot of time is spent talking about Mozilla (obviously). The problem is that a lot of that content will be quickly out of date. Discussion of other projects like Luxor (like JXUL), Xavier (server side) and the enhancements made in Mozilla since being published would make a welcome second edition. May-be wait for Mozilla 1.0.

Quickly out of date - wait for 2nd edition?
I bought this because because of the JXUL project. To the end I found this book very handy to understand that basics of XUL programming and quickly got me up to speed.

A lot of time is spent talking about Mozilla (obviously). The problem is that a lot of that content will be quickly out of date. Discussion of other projects like Luxor, Xavier and the enhancements made in Mozilla since being published would make a welcome second edition. May-be wait for Mozilla 1.0.