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| 2 | 2 |
| 3 <section id="technical-overview"> | 3 <section id="technical-overview"> |
| 4 <span id="overview"></span><h1 id="technical-overview"><span id="overview"></spa
n>Technical Overview</h1> | 4 <span id="overview"></span><h1 id="technical-overview"><span id="overview"></spa
n>Technical Overview</h1> |
| 5 <div class="contents local" id="contents" style="display: none"> | 5 <div class="contents local" id="contents" style="display: none"> |
| 6 <ul class="small-gap"> | 6 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 7 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#introduction" id="id2">Introduction</a>
</li> | 7 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#why-use-native-client" id="id9">Why use
Native Client?</a></li> |
| 8 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#why-use-native-client" id="id3">Why use
Native Client?</a></li> | 8 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#benefits-of-native-client" id="id10">Be
nefits of Native Client</a></li> |
| 9 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#common-use-cases" id="id4">Common use c
ases</a></li> | 9 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#common-use-cases" id="id11">Common use
cases</a></li> |
| 10 <li><p class="first"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-native-client-work
s" id="id5">How Native Client works</a></p> | 10 <li><p class="first"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-native-client-work
s" id="id12">How Native Client works</a></p> |
| 11 <ul class="small-gap"> | 11 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 12 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#security" id="id6">Security</a></li> | 12 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#toolchains" id="id13">Toolchains</a></l
i> |
| 13 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#portability" id="id7">Portability</a></
li> | 13 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#security" id="id14">Security</a></li> |
| 14 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#toolchains" id="id8">Toolchains</a></li
> | 14 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#portability" id="id15">Portability</a><
/li> |
| 15 </ul> | 15 </ul> |
| 16 </li> | 16 </li> |
| 17 <li><p class="first"><a class="reference internal" href="#native-client-in-a-web
-application" id="id9">Native Client in a web application</a></p> | 17 <li><p class="first"><a class="reference internal" href="#structure-of-a-web-app
lication" id="id16">Structure of a web application</a></p> |
| 18 <ul class="small-gap"> | 18 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 19 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#pepper-plugin-api" id="id10">Pepper Plu
gin API</a></li> | 19 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#pepper-plug-in-api" id="id17">Pepper pl
ug-in API</a></li> |
| 20 </ul> | 20 </ul> |
| 21 </li> | 21 </li> |
| 22 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#versioning" id="id11">Versioning</a></l
i> | 22 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#versioning" id="id18">Versioning</a></l
i> |
| 23 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#where-to-start" id="id12">Where to star
t</a></li> | 23 <li><a class="reference internal" href="#where-to-start" id="id19">Where to star
t</a></li> |
| 24 </ul> | 24 </ul> |
| 25 | 25 |
| 26 </div><h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> | 26 </div><p><strong>Native Client</strong> (NaCl) is an open-source technology for
running native |
| 27 <p><strong>Native Client</strong> (NaCl) is an open-source technology for runnin
g native | |
| 28 compiled code in the browser, with the goal of maintaining the portability | 27 compiled code in the browser, with the goal of maintaining the portability |
| 29 and safety that users expect from web applications. Native Client expands web | 28 and safety that users expect from web applications. Native Client expands web |
| 30 programming beyond JavaScript, enabling developers to enhance their web | 29 programming beyond JavaScript, enabling you to enhance your web applications |
| 31 applications using their preferred language. This document describes some of | 30 using your preferred language. This document describes some of the key benefits |
| 32 the key benefits and common use cases of Native Client.</p> | 31 and common use cases of Native Client.</p> |
| 33 <p>Google has implemented the open-source <a class="reference external" href="ht
tp://www.chromium.org/nativeclient">Native Client project</a> in the Chrome brow
ser on Windows, Mac, | 32 <p>Google has implemented the open-source <a class="reference external" href="ht
tp://www.chromium.org/nativeclient">Native Client project</a> in the Chrome brow
ser on Windows, Mac, |
| 34 Linux, and Chrome OS. The <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/sdk
/download.html"><em>Native Client Software Development Kit (SDK)</em></a>, itsel
f an open-source project, lets developers create web | 33 Linux, and Chrome OS. The <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/sdk
/download.html"><em>Native Client Software Development Kit (SDK)</em></a>, itsel
f an open-source project, lets you create web applications |
| 35 applications that use NaCl and run in Chrome across multiple platforms.</p> | 34 that use NaCl and run in Chrome across multiple platforms.</p> |
| 36 <p>A web application that uses Native Client generally consists of a combination
of | 35 <p>A Native Client web application consists of JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and a NaCl |
| 37 JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and a NaCl module that is written in a language supported | 36 module written in a language supported by the SDK. The NaCl SDK currently |
| 38 by the SDK. The NaCl SDK currently supports C and C++; as compilers for | 37 supports C and C++; as compilers for additional languages are developed, the SDK |
| 39 additional languages are developed, the SDK will be updated to support those | 38 will be updated.</p> |
| 40 languages as well.</p> | 39 <div class="figure"> |
| 41 <img alt="/native-client/images/web-app-with-nacl.png" src="/native-client/image
s/web-app-with-nacl.png" /> | 40 <img alt="A web application with and without Native Client" src="/native-client/
images/web-app-with-nacl.png" /> |
| 42 <h2 id="why-use-native-client">Why use Native Client?</h2> | 41 <p class="caption">A web application with and without Native Client</p> |
| 42 </div> |
| 43 <p>Native Client comes in two flavors: traditional (NaCl) and portable (PNaCl). |
| 44 Traditional, which must be distributed through the Chrome Web Store lets you |
| 45 target a specific hardware platform. Portable can run on any Chrome browser. A |
| 46 bitcode file that can be loaded from any web server is downloaded to a client |
| 47 machine and converted to hardware-specific code before any execution. For |
| 48 details, see <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/nacl-and-pnacl.h
tml"><em>NaCl and PNaCl</em></a>.</p> |
| 49 <h2 id="why-use-native-client"><span id="id1"></span>Why use Native Client?</h2> |
| 43 <p>Native Client open-source technology is designed to run compiled code | 50 <p>Native Client open-source technology is designed to run compiled code |
| 44 securely inside a browser at near-native speeds. Native Client puts web | 51 securely inside a browser at near-native speeds. Native Client gives web |
| 45 applications on the same playing field as desktop software—it provides the | 52 applications some advantages of desktop software. Specifically, it provides the |
| 46 means to fully harness the client’s computational resources for applicatio
ns | 53 means to fully harness the client’s computational resources for applicatio
ns |
| 47 such as 3D games, multimedia editors, CAD modeling, | 54 such as:</p> |
| 48 client-side data analytics, and interactive simulations. | 55 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 49 Native Client also aims to give C and C++ (and eventually other languages) the | 56 <li>3D games</li> |
| 50 same level of portability and safety that JavaScript provides on the web today.<
/p> | 57 <li>multimedia editors</li> |
| 51 <p>Important benefits of Native Client include:</p> | 58 <li>CAD modeling</li> |
| 59 <li>client-side data analytics</li> |
| 60 <li>interactive simulations.</li> |
| 61 </ul> |
| 62 <p>Native Client also aims to give C and C++ (and eventually other languages) th
e |
| 63 same level of portability as JavaScript, but with greater safety.</p> |
| 64 <h2 id="benefits-of-native-client"><span id="id2"></span>Benefits of Native Clie
nt</h2> |
| 65 <p>Benefits of Native Client include:</p> |
| 52 <ul class="small-gap"> | 66 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 53 <li><strong>Graphics, audio, and much more:</strong> Running native code modules
that render 2D | 67 <li><strong>Graphics, audio, and much more:</strong> Running native code modules
that render 2D |
| 54 and 3D graphics, play audio, respond to mouse and keyboard events, run on | 68 and 3D graphics, play audio, respond to mouse and keyboard events, run on |
| 55 multiple threads, and access memory directly—all without requiring | 69 multiple threads, and access memory directly—all without requiring the use
r |
| 56 the user to install a plugin.</li> | 70 to install a plug-in.</li> |
| 57 <li><strong>Portability:</strong> Writing your applications once and running the
m on operating | 71 <li><strong>Portability:</strong> Writing your applications once and running the
m on multiple |
| 58 systems (Windows, Linux, Mac, and Chrome OS) and CPU architectures (x86 and | 72 operating systems (Windows, Linux, Mac, and Chrome OS) and CPU architectures |
| 59 ARM).</li> | 73 (x86 and ARM).</li> |
| 60 <li><strong>Easy migration path to the web:</strong> Leveraging years of work in
existing | 74 <li><strong>Easy migration path to the web:</strong> Leveraging years of work in
existing |
| 61 desktop applications. Native Client makes the transition from the desktop to a | 75 desktop applications. Native Client makes the transition from the desktop to |
| 62 web application significantly easier because it supports C and C++.</li> | 76 a web application significantly easier because it supports C and C++.</li> |
| 63 <li><strong>Security:</strong> Protecting the user’s system from malicious
or buggy | 77 <li><strong>Security:</strong> Protecting the user’s system from malicious
or buggy |
| 64 applications through Native Client’s double sandbox model. This model offe
rs | 78 applications through Native Client’s double sandbox model. This model offe
rs |
| 65 the safety of traditional web applications without sacrificing performance and | 79 the safety of traditional web applications without sacrificing performance |
| 66 without requiring users to install a plugin.</li> | 80 and without requiring users to install a plug-in.</li> |
| 67 <li><strong>Performance:</strong> Running at speeds comparable to desktop applic
ations (within | 81 <li><strong>Performance:</strong> Running at speeds within 5% to 15% of a native
desktop |
| 68 5-15% of native speed). Native Client also allows applications to harness all | 82 application. Native Client also allows applications to harness all available |
| 69 available CPU cores via a threading API; this enables demanding applications | 83 CPU cores via a threading API. This enables demanding applications such as |
| 70 such as console-quality games to run inside the browser.</li> | 84 console-quality games to run inside the browser.</li> |
| 71 </ul> | 85 </ul> |
| 72 <h2 id="common-use-cases">Common use cases</h2> | 86 <h2 id="common-use-cases"><span id="id3"></span>Common use cases</h2> |
| 73 <p>Typical use cases for Native Client include the following:</p> | 87 <p>Typical use cases for Native Client include the following:</p> |
| 74 <ul class="small-gap"> | 88 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 75 <li><strong>Existing software components:</strong> With support for C and C++, N
ative | 89 <li><strong>Existing software components:</strong> Native Client lets you to rep
urpose existing |
| 76 Client lets you to reuse existing software modules in web applications. You | 90 C and C++ software in web applications. You don’t need to rewrite and debu
g |
| 77 don’t need to rewrite and debug code that already works.</li> | 91 code that already works.</li> |
| 78 <li><strong>Legacy desktop applications:</strong> Native Client provides a smoot
h migration | 92 <li><strong>Legacy desktop applications:</strong> Native Client provides a smoot
h migration |
| 79 path from desktop applications to the web. You can port and recompile existing | 93 path from desktop applications to the web. You can port and recompile existing |
| 80 code for the computation engine of your application directly to Native Client, | 94 code for the computation engine of your application directly to Native Client, |
| 81 and need rebuild only the user interface and event handling portions for the | 95 and need rebuild only the user interface and event handling portions for the |
| 82 browser.</li> | 96 browser.</li> |
| 97 <li><strong>Existing functionality:</strong> Native Client allows you to embed e
xisting |
| 98 functionality in a web page. This lets your application take advantage of |
| 99 things the browser does well such as handling user interaction and processing |
| 100 events. You can also take advantage of the latest developments in HTML5.</li> |
| 83 <li><strong>Heavy computation in enterprise applications:</strong> Native Client
can handle the | 101 <li><strong>Heavy computation in enterprise applications:</strong> Native Client
can handle the |
| 84 number crunching required by large-scale enterprise applications. To ensure | 102 number crunching required by large-scale enterprise applications. To ensure |
| 85 protection of user data, Native Client enables you to build complex | 103 protection of user data, Native Client lets you run complex cryptographic |
| 86 cryptographic algorithms directly into the browser so that unencrypted data | 104 algorithms directly in the browser so that unencrypted data never goes out |
| 87 never goes out over the network.</li> | 105 over the network.</li> |
| 88 <li><strong>Multimedia applications:</strong> Codecs for processing sounds, imag
es, and movies | 106 <li><strong>Multimedia applications:</strong> Codecs for processing sounds, imag
es, and movies |
| 89 can be added to the browser in a Native Client module.</li> | 107 can be added to the browser in a Native Client module.</li> |
| 90 <li><strong>Games:</strong> Native Client lets web applications run at close to
native | 108 <li><strong>Games:</strong> Native Client lets web applications run at close to
native |
| 91 speed, reuse existing multithreaded/multicore C/C++ code bases, and | 109 speed, reuse existing multithreaded/multicore C/C++ code bases, and |
| 92 access low-latency audio, networking APIs, and OpenGL ES with programmable | 110 access low-latency audio, networking APIs, and OpenGL ES with programmable |
| 93 shaders. Native Client is a natural fit for running a physics engine or | 111 shaders. Native Client is a natural fit for running a physics engine or |
| 94 artificial intelligence module that powers a sophisticated web game. | 112 artificial intelligence module that powers a sophisticated web game. |
| 95 Native Client also enables applications to run unchanged across | 113 Native Client also enables applications to run unchanged across |
| 96 many platforms.</li> | 114 many platforms.</li> |
| 97 <li><strong>Any application that requires acceleration</strong>: Native Client f
its seamlessly | 115 <li><strong>Any application that requires acceleration:</strong> Native Client f
its seamlessly |
| 98 into web applications—it’s up to you to decide to what extent to use
it. | 116 into web applications. It’s up to you to decide to what extent to use it. |
| 99 Use of Native Client covers the full spectrum from complete applications to | 117 Use of Native Client covers the full spectrum from complete applications to |
| 100 small optimized routines that accelerate vital parts of web applications.</li> | 118 small optimized routines that accelerate vital parts of web applications.</li> |
| 101 </ul> | 119 </ul> |
| 102 <h2 id="how-native-client-works"><span id="link-how-nacl-works"></span>How Nativ
e Client works</h2> | 120 <h2 id="how-native-client-works"><span id="link-how-nacl-works"></span>How Nativ
e Client works</h2> |
| 103 <p>Native Client is an umbrella name for a set of related software components th
at | 121 <p>Native Client is an umbrella name for a set of related software components fo
r |
| 104 provide a way to develop C/C++ applications and run them securely on the web.</p
> | 122 developing C/C++ applications and running them securely on the web. At a high |
| 105 <p>At a high level, Native Client consists of:</p> | 123 level, Native Client consists of:</p> |
| 106 <ul class="small-gap"> | 124 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 107 <li><strong>Toolchains</strong>: Collections of development tools (compilers, li
nkers, etc.) | 125 <li><strong>Toolchains:</strong> collections of development tools (compilers, li
nkers, etc.) |
| 108 that transform C/C++ code to Native Client modules.</li> | 126 that transform C/C++ code to Portable Native Client modules or Native Client |
| 109 <li><strong>Runtime components</strong>: components embedded in the browser or o
ther | 127 modules.</li> |
| 110 host platforms that allow execution of Native Client modules | 128 <li><strong>Runtime components:</strong> components embedded in the browser or o
ther host |
| 111 securely and efficiently.</li> | 129 platforms that allow execution of Native Client modules securely and |
| 130 efficiently.</li> |
| 112 </ul> | 131 </ul> |
| 113 <p>The following diagram shows how these components interact:</p> | 132 <p>The following diagram shows how these components interact:</p> |
| 114 <img alt="/native-client/images/nacl-pnacl-component-diagram.png" src="/native-c
lient/images/nacl-pnacl-component-diagram.png" /> | 133 <div class="figure"> |
| 115 <p>The left side of the diagram shows how to use Portable Native Client | 134 <img alt="The Native Client toolchains and their outputs" src="/native-client/im
ages/nacl-pnacl-component-diagram.png" /> |
| 116 (PNaCl, pronounced “pinnacle”). Developers use the PNaCl toolchain | 135 <p class="caption">The Native Client toolchains and their outputs</p> |
| 117 to produce a single, portable (<strong>pexe</strong>) module. At runtime, a tran
slator | 136 </div> |
| 118 built into the browser translates the pexe into native code for the | 137 <h3 id="toolchains"><span id="id4"></span>Toolchains</h3> |
| 119 relevant client architecture. Translation occurs before any code is executed.</p
> | 138 <p>A Native Client toolchain consists of a compiler, a linker, an assembler and |
| 120 <p>The right side of the diagram shows how to use (non-portable) Native Client. | 139 other tools that are used to convert C/C++ source code into a module that is |
| 121 Developers use a nacl-gcc based toolchain to produce multiple | 140 loadable by a browser.</p> |
| 122 architecture-dependent (<strong>nexe</strong>) modules, which are packaged into
an | 141 <p>The Native Client SDK provides two toolchains:</p> |
| 123 application. At runtime, the browser decides which nexe to load based | 142 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 124 on the architecture of the client machine.</p> | 143 <li>The left side of the diagram shows <strong>Portable Native Client</strong> (
PNaCl, |
| 125 <h3 id="security">Security</h3> | 144 pronounced “pinnacle”). An LLVM based toolchain produces a single, p
ortable |
| 145 (<strong>pexe</strong>) module. At runtime, a translator built into the browser
translates |
| 146 the pexe into native code for the relevant client architecture. Translation |
| 147 occurs before any code is executed.</li> |
| 148 <li>The right side of the diagram shows <strong>(non-portable) Native Client</st
rong>. A gcc |
| 149 based toolchain produces multiple architecture-dependent (<strong>nexe</strong>)
modules, |
| 150 which are packaged into an application. At runtime the browser determines |
| 151 which nexe to load based on the architecture of the client machine.</li> |
| 152 </ul> |
| 153 <p>The PNaCl toolchain is recommended for most applications. The nacl-gcc |
| 154 toolchain should only be used for applications that wont be distributed on the |
| 155 open web.</p> |
| 156 <h3 id="security"><span id="id5"></span>Security</h3> |
| 126 <p>Since Native Client permits the execution of native code on client machines, | 157 <p>Since Native Client permits the execution of native code on client machines, |
| 127 special security measures have to be implemented:</p> | 158 special security measures have to be implemented:</p> |
| 128 <ul class="small-gap"> | 159 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 129 <li>The NaCl sandbox ensures that code accesses system resources only through | 160 <li>The NaCl sandbox ensures that code accesses system resources only through |
| 130 safe, whitelisted APIs, and operates within its limits without attempting to | 161 safe, whitelisted APIs, and operates within its limits without attempting to |
| 131 interfere with other code running either within the browser or outside it.</li> | 162 interfere with other code running either within the browser or outside it.</li> |
| 132 <li>The NaCl validator statically analyzes code prior to running it | 163 <li>The NaCl validator statically analyzes code before running it to make sure i
t |
| 133 to make sure it only uses code and data patterns that are permitted and safe.</l
i> | 164 only uses code and data patterns that are permitted and safe.</li> |
| 134 </ul> | 165 </ul> |
| 135 <p>The above security measures are in addition to the existing sandbox in the | 166 <p>These security measures are in addition to the existing sandbox in the |
| 136 Chrome browser—the Native Client module always executes in a process with | 167 Chrome browser. The Native Client module always executes in a process with |
| 137 restricted permissions. The only interaction between this process and the | 168 restricted permissions. The only interaction between this process and the |
| 138 outside world is through sanctioned browser interfaces. Because of the | 169 outside world is through defined browser interfaces. Because of the |
| 139 combination of the NaCl sandbox and the Chrome sandbox, we say that | 170 combination of the NaCl sandbox and the Chrome sandbox, we say that |
| 140 Native Client employs a double sandbox design.</p> | 171 Native Client employs a <strong>double sandbox</strong> design.</p> |
| 141 <h3 id="portability">Portability</h3> | 172 <h3 id="portability"><span id="id6"></span>Portability</h3> |
| 142 <p>Portable Native Client (PNaCl, prounounced “pinnacle”) employs st
ate-of-the-art | 173 <p>Portable Native Client (PNaCl, prounounced “pinnacle”) employs st
ate-of-the-art |
| 143 compiler technology to compile C/C++ source code to a portable bitcode | 174 compiler technology to compile C/C++ source code to a portable bitcode |
| 144 executable (<strong>pexe</strong>). PNaCl bitcode is an OS- and architecture-ind
ependent | 175 executable (<strong>pexe</strong>). PNaCl bitcode is an OS- and architecture-ind
ependent |
| 145 format that can be freely distributed on the web and <a class="reference interna
l" href="#link-nacl-in-web-apps"><em>embedded in web | 176 format that can be freely distributed on the web and <a class="reference interna
l" href="#link-nacl-in-web-apps"><em>embedded in web |
| 146 applications</em></a>.</p> | 177 applications</em></a>.</p> |
| 147 <p>The PNaCl translator is a component embedded in the Chrome browser; its task
is | 178 <p>The PNaCl translator is a component embedded in the Chrome browser; its task
is |
| 148 to run pexe modules. Internally, the translator compiles a pexe to a nexe | 179 to run pexe modules. Internally, the translator compiles a pexe to a nexe |
| 149 (a native executable for the client platform’s architecture), and then exe
cutes | 180 (described above), and then executes the nexe within the Native Client sandbox |
| 150 the nexe within the Native Client sandbox as described above. It also uses | 181 as described above. The translator uses intelligent caching to avoid |
| 151 intelligent caching to avoid re-compiling the pexe if it was previously compiled | 182 re-compiling the pexe if it was previously compiled on the client’s browse
r.</p> |
| 152 on the client’s browser.</p> | |
| 153 <p>Native Client also supports the execution of nexe modules directly in the | 183 <p>Native Client also supports the execution of nexe modules directly in the |
| 154 browser. However, since nexes contain architecture-specific machine code, | 184 browser. However, since nexes contain architecture-specific machine code, they |
| 155 they are not allowed to be distributed on the open web—they can only be | 185 are not allowed to be distributed on the open web. They can only be used as part |
| 156 used as part of applications and extensions that are installed from the | 186 of applications and extensions that are installed from the Chrome Web Store.</p> |
| 157 Chrome Web Store.</p> | |
| 158 <p>For more details on the difference between NaCl and PNaCl, see | 187 <p>For more details on the difference between NaCl and PNaCl, see |
| 159 <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/nacl-and-pnacl.html"><em>NaCl
and PNaCl</em></a>.</p> | 188 <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/nacl-and-pnacl.html"><em>NaCl
and PNaCl</em></a>.</p> |
| 160 <h3 id="toolchains"><span id="id1"></span>Toolchains</h3> | 189 <h2 id="structure-of-a-web-application"><span id="link-nacl-in-web-apps"></span>
Structure of a web application</h2> |
| 161 <p>A toolchain is a set of tools used to create an application from a set of | |
| 162 source files. In the case of Native Client, a toolchain consists of a compiler, | |
| 163 linker, assembler and other tools that are used to convert an | |
| 164 application written in C/C++ into a module that is loadable by the browser.</p> | |
| 165 <p>The Native Client SDK provides two toolchains:</p> | |
| 166 <ul class="small-gap"> | |
| 167 <li>a <strong>PNaCl toolchain</strong> for generating portable NaCl modules (pex
e files)</li> | |
| 168 <li>a <strong>gcc-based toolchain (nacl-gcc)</strong> for generating non-portabl
e NaCl modules | |
| 169 (nexe files)</li> | |
| 170 </ul> | |
| 171 <p>The PNaCl toolchain is recommended for most applications. The nacl-gcc | |
| 172 toolchain should only be used for applications that will not be distributed | |
| 173 on the open web.</p> | |
| 174 <h2 id="native-client-in-a-web-application"><span id="link-nacl-in-web-apps"></s
pan>Native Client in a web application</h2> | |
| 175 <p id="application-files">A Native Client application consists of a set of files
:</p> | 190 <p id="application-files">A Native Client application consists of a set of files
:</p> |
| 176 <ul class="small-gap"> | 191 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 177 <li><strong>HTML</strong>, <strong>CSS</strong>, and <strong>JavaScript</strong>
files, as in any modern web | 192 <li><p class="first"><strong>HTML and CSS:</strong> The HTML file tells the brow
ser where to find the manifest |
| 178 application. The JavaScript code is responsible for communicating with the | 193 (nmf file) through the embed tag.</p> |
| 179 NaCl module.</li> | 194 <pre class="prettyprint"> |
| 180 <li>A <strong>pexe</strong> (portable NaCl) file. This module uses the <a class=
"reference internal" href="#link-pepper"><em>Pepper</em></a> API, which provides
the bridge to JavaScript and | 195 <embed name="mygame" src="mygame.nmf" type="applicat
ion/x-pnacl" /> |
| 181 browser resources.</li> | 196 </pre> |
| 182 <li>A Native Client <strong>manifest</strong> file that specifies the pexe to lo
ad, along with | 197 </li> |
| 183 some loading options. This manifest file is embedded into the HTML page | 198 <li><p class="first"><strong>Manifest:</strong> The manifest identifies the modu
le to load and specifies |
| 184 through an <code><embed></code> tag, as shown in the figure below.</li> | 199 options. For example, “mygame.nmf” might look like this:</p> |
| 200 <pre class="prettyprint"> |
| 201 {... |
| 202 ... |
| 203 "url": "mygame.pexe", |
| 204 } |
| 205 </pre> |
| 206 </li> |
| 207 <li><strong>pexe (portable NaCl file):</strong> A compiled Native Client module.
It uses the |
| 208 <a class="reference internal" href="#link-pepper"><em>Pepper API</em></a>, which
provides a bridge to JavaScript and |
| 209 other browser resources.</li> |
| 185 </ul> | 210 </ul> |
| 186 <img alt="/native-client/images/nacl-in-a-web-app.png" src="/native-client/image
s/nacl-in-a-web-app.png" /> | 211 <div class="figure"> |
| 212 <img alt="Structure of a web application" src="/native-client/images/nacl-in-a-w
eb-app.png" /> |
| 213 <p class="caption">Structure of a web application</p> |
| 214 </div> |
| 187 <p>For more details, see <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devg
uide/coding/application-structure.html"><em>Application Structure</em></a>.</p> | 215 <p>For more details, see <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devg
uide/coding/application-structure.html"><em>Application Structure</em></a>.</p> |
| 188 <h3 id="pepper-plugin-api"><span id="link-pepper"></span>Pepper Plugin API</h3> | 216 <h3 id="pepper-plug-in-api"><span id="link-pepper"></span>Pepper plug-in API</h3
> |
| 189 <p>The Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI), called <strong>Pepper</strong> for convenience
, is an | 217 <p>The Pepper plug-in API (PPAPI), called <strong>Pepper</strong> for convenienc
e, is an |
| 190 open-source, cross-platform C/C++ API for web browser plugins. From the point | 218 open-source, cross-platform C/C++ API for web browser plug-ins. Pepper allows a |
| 191 of view of Native Client, Pepper allows a C/C++ module to communicate with | 219 C/C++ module to communicate with the hosting browser and to access system-level |
| 192 the hosting browser and get access to system-level functions in a safe and | 220 functions in a safe and portable way. One of the security constraints in Native |
| 193 portable way. One of the security constraints in Native Client is that modules | 221 Client is that modules cannot make OS-level calls. Pepper provides analogous |
| 194 cannot make any OS-level calls directly. Pepper provides analogous APIs that | 222 APIs that modules can use instead.</p> |
| 195 modules can target instead.</p> | |
| 196 <p>You can use the Pepper APIs to gain access to the full array of browser | 223 <p>You can use the Pepper APIs to gain access to the full array of browser |
| 197 capabilities, including:</p> | 224 capabilities, including:</p> |
| 198 <ul class="small-gap"> | 225 <ul class="small-gap"> |
| 199 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/message-s
ystem.html"><em>Talking to the JavaScript code in your application</em></a> from
the C++ code in your NaCl module.</li> | 226 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/message-s
ystem.html"><em>Talking to the JavaScript code in your application</em></a> from
the C++ code in your NaCl module.</li> |
| 200 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/file-io.h
tml"><em>Doing file I/O</em></a>.</li> | 227 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/file-io.h
tml"><em>Doing file I/O</em></a>.</li> |
| 201 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/audio.htm
l"><em>Playing audio</em></a>.</li> | 228 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/audio.htm
l"><em>Playing audio</em></a>.</li> |
| 202 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/3D-graphi
cs.html"><em>Rendering 3D graphics</em></a>.</li> | 229 <li><a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/devguide/coding/3D-graphi
cs.html"><em>Rendering 3D graphics</em></a>.</li> |
| 203 </ul> | 230 </ul> |
| 204 <p>Pepper includes both a C API and a C++ API. The C++ API is a set of bindings | 231 <p>Pepper includes both a <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/c-a
pi.html"><em>C API</em></a> and a <a class="reference internal" href="/native-cl
ient/cpp-api.html"><em>C++ API</em></a>. |
| 205 written on top of the C API. For additional information about Pepper, see | 232 The C++ API is a set of bindings written on top of the C API. For additional |
| 206 <a class="reference external" href="http://code.google.com/p/ppapi/wiki/Concepts
">Pepper Concepts</a>.</p> | 233 information about Pepper, see <a class="reference external" href="http://code.go
ogle.com/p/ppapi/wiki/Concepts">Pepper Concepts</a>.</p> |
| 207 <h2 id="versioning">Versioning</h2> | 234 <h2 id="versioning"><span id="id7"></span>Versioning</h2> |
| 208 <p>Chrome is released on a six week cycle, and developer versions of Chrome are | 235 <p>Chrome is released on a six week cycle, and developer versions of Chrome are |
| 209 pushed to the public beta channel three weeks before each release. As with any | 236 pushed to the public beta channel three weeks before each release. As with any |
| 210 software, each release of Chrome may include changes to Native Client and the | 237 software, each release of Chrome may include changes to Native Client and the |
| 211 Pepper interfaces that may require modification to existing applications. | 238 Pepper interfaces that may require modification to existing applications. |
| 212 However, modules compiled for one version of Pepper/Chrome should work with | 239 However, modules compiled for one version of Pepper/Chrome should work with |
| 213 subsequent versions of Pepper/Chrome. The SDK includes multiple versions of the | 240 subsequent versions of Pepper/Chrome. The SDK includes multiple versions of the |
| 214 Pepper APIs to help developers make adjustments to API changes and take | 241 Pepper APIs to help you make adjustments to API changes and take |
| 215 advantage of new features: <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pe
pper_stable">stable</a>, <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pepp
er_beta">beta</a> and <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pepper_
dev">dev</a>.</p> | 242 advantage of new features: <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pe
pper_stable">stable</a>, <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pepp
er_beta">beta</a> and <a class="reference external" href="/native-client/pepper_
dev">dev</a>.</p> |
| 216 <h2 id="where-to-start">Where to start</h2> | 243 <h2 id="where-to-start"><span id="id8"></span>Where to start</h2> |
| 217 <p>The <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/quick-start.html"><em>
Quick Start</em></a> document provides links to downloads and | 244 <p>The <a class="reference internal" href="/native-client/quick-start.html"><em>
Quick Start</em></a> document provides links to downloads and |
| 218 documentation that should help you get started with developing and distributing | 245 documentation to help you get started with developing and distributing Native |
| 219 Native Client applications.</p> | 246 Client applications.</p> |
| 220 </section> | 247 </section> |
| 221 | 248 |
| 222 {{/partials.standard_nacl_article}} | 249 {{/partials.standard_nacl_article}} |
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