XUL Tutorial - Single Document Version

XUL Tu torial
1. Introduction
Introduction
This tutorial guides you to learning XU L (XML U ser-i nterface Language) which is a cross-
platform language for describing user interfaces of applications.
This tutorial will demonstrate creating a simple find file user interface, much like that provided by
the Ma cintosh's Sh erlock or the find file dialog in W indows. Note that only the user interface will
be created and some limited functionality. The actual finding of files will be not be implemented.
A blue line will appear to the left of a paragraph where the find file dialog is being modified. Yo u
can follow along at these sections.
What is X UL an d why w as i t created?
XU L (p ronounced zool and it rhymes with cool) was created to make development of the Mo zilla
browser easier and faster. It is an XML language so all features available to XML are also
available to XU L.
Mo st applications need to be developed using features of a specific platform making building
cross-p latform software time-co nsuming and costly. A number of cross-p latform solutions have
been developed in the past. Ja va, for example, has portability as a main selling point. XU L is
one such language designed specifically for building portable user interfaces. It takes a long
time to build an application even for only one platform. The time required to compile and debug
can be lengthy. W ith XU L, an interface can be implemented and modified quickly and easily.
XU L has all the ...