To: mozilla-java@mozilla.org
From: Sunny Hundal <sandeephundal*remove-me*@netscape.net>
Subject: Jazilla Newbie FAQ (13th Oct 98)
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 12:06:44 +0100

*******The Jazilla Newbie FAQ*******


- What is Jazilla ?

Jazilla is simply a Java version of Netscape's Navigator 5.0 source
code.
The aim is basically to rewrite most of the source code which is in
C/C++. The code is still in development, and a certain amount of
attention has to be paid to new events in Mozilla.
  

- What is Mozilla ?

Mozilla is the code name for the developmental releases of Netscape
Navigator. Netscape Communications decided a while back to facilitate
the development of the browser with the help of the internet community,
thus releasing the source code on 31st March. You can find more
information at http://www.mozilla.org.
 

- What is/isn't discussed at our newsgroup ?

Our disussion primarily are concerned with putting Java into the Mozilla
C/C++ code, or any related questions to Jazilla. We always welcome new
members who wish to help or have any ideas for the development team. The
same goes for bug reports or any related information.
Please do not misinterpret this newsgroup to be a help forum for help on
Java, Netscape Products or Javascript.
Try http://help.netscape.com or http://www.ufaq.org for help with
Netscape products.
news:comp.lang.java.help is a good place to start for help on
non-Jazilla Java questions.
news:comp.lang.javascript - is a forum for help with Javascript.


- Why a Java Version ?

Obviously there advantages and disadvantages to re-writing the code in
Java. The idea here is to make use of the advantages presented to us and
try to minimise the disadvantages as much as possible. This, we think,
can make Jazilla a very feasible application. For more Java related
issues, please check our Developer FAQ (currently unavailable :( ) which
has more detail.
 

- What license is Jazilla under ?

Well actually nothing. The Jazilla team is comitted to free software and
the public availablity of source code, an idea opitimized by the Free
Software Foundation.
There is also a brilliant paper titled 'The Cathedral and the Bazaar'
[http://www.redhat.com/redhat/], which tries to explain why we do what
we do. 
We don't charge anything for using our software or browser, but the
source code is released under the Netscape Public License
(http://www.mozilla.org/npl) which would be advisable to read if you
want to do something the code. The NPL is slightly different from the
GNU [http://www/gnu.org/] public license which projects like Linux are
released under. 


- Is there a release date ?

Since the project is still in its infancy, we have decided not to
publicise any release dates or anytime that the browser will be
introduced to the outside world. We don't have any marketing pressure
since we there is no economic benefit here. We also don't like hyping
non-existing products, so we're keeping quiet about release dates until
we have something substantial. The only timeline we do have is the news
section [http://www.jazilla.org/news/] maintained by Al Sutton.
Another aspect is that since this project relies on voluntary help, it
is hard to make sure people have time to contribute and get parts of the
code finished on time. After all, they have to earn money / study too !
The only way we can bring the date forward is if you contribute too !


- How can I help ?

The first thing to do would be to join the mailing list / newsgroup,
details of which can be found on
http://www.mozilla.org/community.html#mozilla-java . A lot of questions
can also be answered by reading up on the FAQ and following up links
from our website. Jazilla.public gives everyone regularly updated
information on the status of every project and changes made recently.
After that, all the remains to be done is for you to either download the
source code from Mozilla.org and re-write that, or contribute towards
any mini-project that would help. Alternatively you could download our
code too and look over that, posting bug fixes or patches. Maybe you
just want to clean it up :-)


- What if I can't code ?

Hey, that's no problem.	We feel that the whole internet community can
help towards the Jazilla project, not just programmers and developers.
The primary way you could help us is by help us getting publicity. For
this you could design some nice eye-catching icons, link us back from
your homepage using our official button, or maybe you could tell your
local / international magazine - or webzine - about us. Anything which
would generate more positive interest in what we do and what we're
trying to develop. If you have any ideas or contacts which could come in
handy, email us or just mail to the
newsgroup, and we could work on your ideas together.


[NewbieFAQ release 1.5 | Last modified on 19th Sept. 98]
[This text file is posted every week, near the beginning]
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-- 
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ec95ssh2@brunel.ac.uk              (University)
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