In the newest indication that Firefox has become mainstream, IBM is trying to hire programmers to adapt the open-source Web browser to work well with Big Blue's server software.
A job ad posted on IBM's Web site said an emerging technologies team in IBM's software group wants programmers for "enhancing the Mozilla Firefox Web browser with new features complimentary to IBM's On Demand middleware stack."
An IBM representative on Wednesday said that the ad was for one position in the company's advanced technology group. The individual will make contributions to the Firefox project, the representative said.
The Firefox work could dovetail with IBM's effort to build its Workplace software, which moves several personal computer applications to a server that users access with a Web browser. IBM is spending $100 million on ensuring Linux computers can tap into Workplace servers.
Among Workplace abilities are instant messaging, word processing and spreadsheet calculations. Today, IBM supports use of Workplace with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla--including Linux support with the latter.
RedMonk analyst James Governor helped surface the hiring move by pointing to an advertisement Wednesday that proved to be available only fleetingly. The ad was still available later on IBM's Web site.
According to the job ad, candidates should have "acceptance as a contributor in (the) Mozilla community," and programmers should have experience with the browser's Gecko rendering technology and the XPCOM technology for writing software that runs on different computer systems.
Since the rise of the Firefox browser last year, programmers involved in the project have seen a corresponding increase in their employment prospects.
Google has fueled speculation about its own interest in producing a Web browser by recruiting aggressively from Mozilla Foundation staffers and volunteers. In January, it hired both Ben Goodger, the lead engineer for Firefox, and Darin Fisher, who worked on back-end infrastructure while maintaining a post at IBM.
In recent weeks, Google also added
Mozilla engineer Brian Ryner to the payroll.
One long-term study of open-source software development has shown that participation in an open-source project can help boost job prospects.
CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica contributed to this report.
Does anyone like the firefox puns, such as "IBM on the hunt..." We get it, it has fox in its name. Please stop it with the puns. Otherwise it's a great browser.
... how does an ad for one position justify the headline? IT %#&*ING DOESN'T!! Why do C|Net/ZDNet have to suck us into R-ingTFA with misleading headlines. Between R-ingTFA and venting in this Talkback, it's 10 minutes I'll never get back.
Most big software companies have people on staff who regularly contribute to FLOSS projects. No big deal. The author found a simple recruitment ad on a web site and called it a news story.
After large numbers of longtime 'Burners' failed to get tickets during the event's recent selection process, many claimed organizers had failed to adopt a sensible system. Now, those organizers are trying to calm community anger.
Creating a tiny version of a coaxial cable, researchers at the University of California at San Diego create smallest laser to date, an advance that could lead to optical computer chips or high-resolution displays.
Apple and Google dominate mobile browsing so much that the Web is being infected with proprietary technologies again, just like the bad days of IE6, Daniel Glazman says.
SolarReserve hits a milestone on a 110-megawatt solar power plant that will have between 10 and 15 hours of energy storage in tanks of molten salt for supplying Nevada.
Most big software companies have people on staff who regularly contribute to FLOSS projects. No big deal. The author found a simple recruitment ad on a web site and called it a news story.