atrus message for Decaf   

if/when i get the mozilla embedding thing running,  do you think it'd be possible 
to set up small tasks of recreating the Net+ gui and distribute them to newbe's as prorgamming lessons?  
such as create the addressbar/navigation buttons view thingie,   , and such ?  

most code can be found in /boot/optional/sample-code .  the tasks are well-defined, relatively small,  
and example code is pre-existing. it could be coordinated on a forum ( TBJ, BeClan, ... ) as well as beshare.  

someone, not necessarily me, could evaluate the code for OT standards and correctness  and/or integrate it into the main application.    

what's your thoughts ? 





	Net++ , 
	   NetPositive's increment

Goal:
	Recreate the NetPositive GUI. This will be called Net++ (NetPlusPlus, an incremented Net+ ).  
	Net++ will embed Mozilla's HTML rendering engine, Gecko.
	
	As with Haiku, the reason we are aiming for NetPositive's GUI is to provide a fixed target to work towards.   
	Also with OBOS, we will be dividing the browser elements into smaller tasks that can be coded independantly.
	This will help to reduce production time.
	
	Unlike Haiku, we plan to make this an opportunity for Be'bians to learn programming.  
	This will be achieved by providing pseudo code, Be's optional/sample-code examples, online feedback and mentoring, and other resources.  
	Even though there are current browser alternatives ( Mozilla/Firebird)  and projects to build a native browser (Themis) , 
	neither will be a --native-- GUI and utilize the Gecko rendering engine.  While Mozilla/Firebird has and continues 
	to make tremendous progress, it will always be limited in the amount it can intregrate with Be's functionality 
	( drag/dropping text and other data for example).  
	
	Themis, a project that is currently in the works, has decided to not utilize the Gecko engine and to forge on 
	with creating their own HTML engine.  Net++ will be the best of both projects; a powerful rendering engine and a beautiful GUI 
	that we have come to love and expect in BeOS.  
	
	Embedding Gecko has several benefits. First, it is a pre-made rendering engine.  
	This saves many, many hours of creating one.  Many web standards are supported, so as to provide a competitive browsing experience 
	with other OS's. In addition, Gecko is embedded on many platforms, ranging from *nix's , BSD's, Mac, Windows, QNX to name a few. 
	Finally and most importantly, it will be continued to be supported and improved by a large, powerful third party community; Mozilla!
	
	This key aspect, allows us to focus our efforts towards creating the best possible GUI for Mozilla's incredible rendering engine.




list of features that were not mentioned:

- Tabbed browsing,  
- Native NetPositive Bookmarks,  
- Native InternetFavorite Bookmarks, 
- Right click-> Open URL in Internet Archive,  
- Right click-> Queue download with wget (or similar tool),  
- Bookmark to continuously updated "hosts" file for Ad-Blocking, 
- Block unrequested windows,  
- Image view toggle,  
- Better use of keyboard shortcuts.  
- SSL and Javascript should be covered by Gecko. 
- Actual Java support is hopeful. 

These are most of the features on the drawing board right now.  

To recap this browser will look like NetPositive's GUI, have "advanced browser" features,  and will be powered by Gecko 
(and possibly KHTML depending on how things develop).




TASKS

General:  
	 In terms of appearance and functionality, the end result of these tasks should be identical to their NetPositive counterparts.  
	 Source code examples will range from Be's /boot/optional/sample-code to NetOptimist source to anything we see fit.  :) 
	 For tasks that source code is not directly applicable to, we will try to provide pseudo-code or a detailed description. 
	 All code will conform to OpenTracker's standards,  http://opentracker.sourceforge.net/guidelines.html .  
	 
	 Any and all feedback should be viewed as constructive criticism, same as you would get from a professor / teacher / mentor.   

	
Implement File, Open File:
	This will open the file selector window.
	/boot/optional/sample-code/interface_kit/scrollbarapp

--not in sample-code------
Implement File, New:
	This will spawn a new Net++ browser window.
	
Implement File, Open Location


Implement File, About Net++


Implement Edit, Preferences
	Can be taken from NetOptimist
	--suggest where to look for it--