14 DAY TRIAL // Mozilla has issued the first update to its Firefox Add-on SDK since major 1.0 release. Add-on SDK 1.1 is mostly a bug-fixing release, understandable since it comes after a major milestone, but it also packs a few new features.
The Add-on SDK enables developers to create Firefox extensions using only web technologies, JavaScript in particular. The aim is to make it easier for more people to extend Firefox's functionality.
Apart from the lowered entry level for developing an add-on, this SDK has the advantage of enabling developers to create restartless add-ons that don't require users to restart Firefox before they work.
"The Jetpack team is pleased to announce the release of Add-on SDK 1.1," Mozilla's Dave Mason announced.
"This version is the first update since the 1.0 release of Mozilla’s downloadable software development kit for easily building Firefox add-ons. This release mostly contains stability work and bug fixes," he said.
Here's what's new in Add-on SDK 1.1:
"Better transition/porting of modules that use 'Components' to help developers porting traditional XUL/XPCOM add-ons to the Add-on SDK," Mason said.
"Context-menu module now supports adding images to your context menus. Made –strip-xpi the default to reduce the size of your add-on," he added.
With Add-on SDK 1.1, the Jetpack team which oversees its development will be moving to a rapid release cycle similar to Firefox's. New Add-on SDK versions were already coming out quite frequently and following a regular schedule, so it won't be much of a change for its developers.
From now on, you can expect an update to the SDK two weeks prior to a major Firefox update. This would imply that Firefox 7 is coming in about two weeks' time, confirming the official schedule. Mozilla Add-on SDK 1.1 is available for download here.