Firefox OS Architecture

Question

Is there any information available on the core architecture of the Firefox OS? I don't mean developer-facing information only. I am interested in the underlying architecture similar to that of Android available here: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/burnette/how-android-works-the-big-picture/515

Answer 1

In few words, Firefox OS is an environment where running HTML5-based applications (not only the mark-up language but all associated technologies including JavaScript, CSS3, web APIs...).

These applications run on an special browser called Gecko. You can consider Gecko as a Firefox with steroids with applications replacing web pages. In some aspects it lacks of some browser functionality but it implements a lot of APIs to provide a safe access to the devices.

Gecko is supported by the actual SO, Gonk. Gonk is a very simple distribution of GNU/Linux and it holds the Hardware Abstraction Layer or HAL placed between the device hardware and Gecko. Gonk translates low level hardware access to C++ interfaces and Gecko offers these interfaces to developers in form of JavaScript standard APIs.

More info in Mozilla Wiki

Answer 2

It is mainly Gonk (underlying linux kernel), Gecko (Firefox engine) and Gaia (user interface). On the Mozilla wiki you can find the full info on these layers; Mozilla wiki

Answer 3

The main Firefox OS architecture is

• Application (Gaia)
• Platform (Gecko)
• Infrastructure (Gonk)

There's a Overview and High Level Architecture slide(english) from Firefox OS AppDay in Spanish that elaborate the Architecture more concisely.

Answer 4

Check out the below link for full Firefox OS architecture along with security information:

Click here

Answer 5

On MDN you'll find a very similar image that explains exactly how Firefox OS works: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Firefox_OS/Platform/Architecture