Mozilla's Flash-killer 'Shumway' appears in Firefox nightlies

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Anonymous Coward
in internet on (#3CQG)
story imageIn November 2012 the Mozilla Foundation announced "Project Shumway", an effort to create a "web-native runtime implementation of the SWF file format." Two-and-a-bit years, and a colossal number of Flash bugs later, Shumway has achieved an important milestone by appearing in a Firefox nightly, a step that suggests it's getting closer to inclusion in the browser.

Shumway's been available as a plugin for some time, and appears entirely capable of handling the SWF files. Few average users know of Shumway's existence, never mind seek it out. So the inclusion of the software in Firefox's nightlies will give it greater exposure. For now the code can only play certain videos hosted on Amazon.com, but developers intend to expand the list of sites from which Shumway will play SWF files. For now, Shumway-in-Firefox-nightlies works only on Windows Vista or later versions of Windows, and OSX. But expanded support is promised.
Reply 5 comments

Unfortunate timing for the devs (Score: 3, Insightful)

by lmariachi@pipedot.org on 2015-02-19 09:12 (#3D1A)

Just as SWF is being dropped left and right. Like releasing an open alternative to RealPlayer in 2009.

I reckon there will be legacy Flash games and doodads floating around for a while yet, but it's in its autumn for sure.

Re: Unfortunate timing for the devs (Score: 2, Insightful)

by nightsky30@pipedot.org on 2015-02-19 13:12 (#3DEX)

If for nothing else other than to let me continue watching Homestar Runner, I welcome our new SWF overloards!!!

Re: Unfortunate timing for the devs (Score: 2, Interesting)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2015-02-19 14:09 (#3DJJ)

For years, I used gnash or other open source flash implementations to view homestar. They worked well enough. Everynow and then there was an artifact. I wouldn't be surprised if shumway didn't have similar issues. Reverse engineering the format and implementing action script with all of its versions and variants isn't trivial.

Re: Unfortunate timing for the devs (Score: 2, Funny)

by bryan@pipedot.org on 2015-02-19 19:35 (#3E5S)

I welcome anything that helps kill off the constantly vulnerable and non-free flash player.