3 replies to this topic

[Ironwil]

Yes, this is a very general question, and it's meant to be. I currently work as a web programmer, and want to understand more about the nuts and bolts of what happens under the hood of the browsers I create applications for. I did some searching online, and found several "click, click, click" methods outlined for creating web browsers in .NET - without understanding in the slightest how they're made. I want to write the code itself, not drag a ready-made control onto my IDE window.

I'm not set on a particular language, but I'm best in C#, and know quite a bit of JavaScript and ActionScript 3.0. I'm comfortable, but not great, in C++.

If anyone knows of good sources of information for either building a web browser or the details of its inner workings, please post your reply. Books, websites, articles - all are welcome.

[WingedPanther]

Well, you can download the source code for Firefox and examine it.

[Ironwil]

WingedPanther said:

Well, you can download the source code for Firefox and examine it.

True, thanks. Do you know of any good material that describes the processes within a browser? Although I can step through code, it's a lot easier to do that if I have a pretty good idea what I'm looking for.

[WingedPanther]

Unfortunately, no. You have the network activity (HTTP requests), JavaScript engines, formatting/layout engines, etc.

With all that said, you'll probably want to focus in on the Gecko engine and XULrunner.