Mobile/AddonsTrainingWeek/SpeakerNotesB

User Interface Considerations

presentation published here

• UI is very different. Read about the mobile UI guidelines.
  • You will not be able to assume the desktop XUL overlays will "just work".
  • Dialogs and Preferences are handled very differently.
  • Screen size becomes very important and a limiting factor. Work on your layout.
  • Maintaining "touch-friendly" widgets is critical.
  • Simplify everything.
• Guidelines
  • Minimize your UI
  • Delay initialization
  • Blend into the application
  • Support touch and panning
  • Support portrait and landscape
  • Read the best practices document for more pointers.

Common How-tos

presentation published here

• Different XUL structure
  • No TabBrowser
  • No main menu - Site Menu provides some space for commands
  • Context Menu uses an extensible, but restrictive design
• Multi-process
  • No direct DOM access
  • No DOM event bubbling
  • Move DOM sensitive into frame scripts
  • Learn how to use IPC messaging