Mozilla launches Webmaker programme

Mozilla has announced the launch of a new programme called Webmaker that is designed to encourage users around the world to learn about and use "the open building blocks of the web". According to the non-profit organisation behind the open source Firefox web browser, the goal of the development initiative is to "help millions of people move from using the web to making the web".

Mozilla Webmaker consists of three components: tools, projects and the community. The authoring tools include Mozilla software such as Hackasaurus and the Popcorn HTML5 media toolkit, while projects will include "practical starter projects, how-tos and recipes" aimed at users of all skill levels. To bring the community together, Mozilla is launching the Summer Code Party learning campaign which will kick off on 23 June, and will see various community events take place across the globe. A number of organisations, including Tumblr, Creative Commons, the San Francisco Public Library and the London Zoo, have already partnered with Mozilla to take part in the 2012 Summer Campaign.

"The web is becoming the world's second language, and a vital 21st century skill – as important as reading, writing and arithmetic," said Mozilla Executive Director Mark Surman, "It's crucial that we give people the skills they need to understand, shape and actively participate in that world, instead of just passively consuming it. That maker spirit and open ethos is vital to Mozilla, our partners, and the web."

Further information about initiative, including a full list of Webmaker projects, can be found on the project's homepage, where people also can sign up to get updates via email, and on the Webmaker Mozilla Wiki page. A new web site for Mozilla Webmaker will launch on 6 June.

See also:

• Mozilla Spaces opens in London, a report from The H.
• Popcorn.js 1.0: Mozilla's new HTML5 media toolkit, a report from The H.

(crve)