[uf-discuss] Microsummaries in Firefox redux

[Paul Bryson]

Chris Messina wrote:
> http://wiki.mozilla.org/Microsummaries#Microsummary_Generators
> 
> Maybe I'm daft, but I don't get it. Nor do I see how most mortals will
> grok "microsummaries" or how to create them
> (http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/147071018/).

I suspect that most people won't know what it is.  Then again, most 
people don't know what Firefox is.

> Can someone please share with me what the big idea is and why this is
> shipping in Firefox 2 by default?

In relation to Microformats, which is referenced down at the bottom of 
the page with the text:

"The microsummary generator dialect and the use of the <link rel> 
element to specify microsummaries should be standardized by appropriate 
bodies. Appropriate bodies for standardization may include the 
microformats group and the WHATWG."

Microsummaries simply offers a way to parse microformat-type formats, 
where the format may be a user defined format.  The example given on 
that page is similar to creating an ATOM feed for a page that doesn't 
have one.

I might create an XSLT file that says, "for this particular page, look 
for this element/class, and return it to be used as the name of the 
bookmark."  In this way, looking at the bookmark will give you the 
latest blog entry title, or product price.

If a blog is marked up using hATOM, the ability to use this function 
should be almost automatic (assuming FF2 ships with the appropriate XSLT).

As for it shipping in FF2, I guess that depends on if it is working and 
if it is dependent on Places, which has been removed from FF2.  Assuming 
it works fine and doesn't create any noticeable overhead, I don't see 
why they wouldn't include it.  Although, I'm betting that it requires 
Places, and so won't be included anyway.


Atamido