Extending OSS with Mozilla: Creating a DND Look Up Extension for Mozilla Thunderbird

Project Description Test the extensibility of open source software Create an extension for Thunderbird that allows DND Look Up Determine how easy it is to become a part of the OSS community

Why Bother? Blitzmail doesn’t support key features, such as embedded html and pictures There is no Linux version of Blitzmail

How does it work? Thunderbird and Firefox support extensions Extensions are similar to plug-ins, but without the messy “back-end” coding Programming: – JavaScript – XUL – XML

How are we going to do this? Online Research

Tutorials The OSS community is full of handy tutorials Hello, World!

Graphic Design Snazzy GUI design and icons

Interfacing with DND Adapt Michael Fromberger’s Python code Determine how look up works Read documentation Put the pieces together Test

Conclusion Create the DND Look Up extension – Learn from Tutorials – Interface with the DND – Program in JavaScript, XUL, XML Determine: – How easily OSS can be put to practical use – Problems of creating extending OSS