Mozilla Labs Launches Open Web Tools Directory for Developers
We already know that Mozilla has fostered an impressive ecosystem around Firefox and its other products, but today, Mozilla Labs also launched a new directory full of interesting web apps and tools for developers. As Mozilla points out in the launch announcement, there is currently no central index of these tools, and Mozilla would like to fill this gap with the Open Web Tools Directory.
One interesting aspect of the directory is that Mozilla decided to eschew a standard, table-based layout for the directory in favor of an HTML 5 canvas based design that focuses on the products' logos. Because of this, the directory will only work on modern browsers like Safari, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox, but Internet Explorer users will be locked out.
Pretty - But Hard to Use
As of now, only a small number of tools are in the directory, but, keeping in style with the purpose of the directory, Mozilla is using a Google Spreadsheet that allows developers to submit their applications.
We have to say, however, that the layout of the directory can be rather confusing and given that all a user sees is a product's logo, it is rather hard to figure out what a tool really does. As Mozilla adds more products, it will only get harder to use, though thankfully, Mozilla does also offer a plainer version of the directory.
More to Come
In the long run, Mozilla also plans to roll out comments, more social features, and ranking tools (maybe similar to what Launchly does).
As is typical for Mozilla Labs products, Mozilla is releasing this early and encouraging feedback from the community.
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That is new. Not even in Google cache yet. I'll stick to the doc pages for now. I hate having to load an application just to get to info that could be easily done in html.
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