What Is Mozilla Pancake And What Does It Mean For Web Development?

A few days ago, Mozilla (you know, those guys behind the Firefox search engine) announced that they are launching a new experiment, known under the name “Pancake”, that is said the change everything we know about the web. But the question that many are starting to ask is, how is Mozilla planning on revolutionizing the web and what will all this mean for those of us currently working in the web development industry?

There is an area of the Mozilla network, known as Mozilla Labs, that focuses solely on creating experiments that are designed to make the internet better and more easily used. The Pancake project aims to look specifically at how users search, browse, navigate, organize and discover things on the internet. The people behind the project hope that it’s results will help Mozilla to understand what people use the internet for, how they use it and why they use it in this way – ultimately, they are looking for ways to make the internet easier and more efficient.

Over the next few months, Mozilla Pancake has reported that they will be releasing the first phase of their experiment in the form of an application (or app, as they are commonly known) that will allow the general public to aid in the testing process. Pancake wants the testers (novice web developers, if you will) of their app (the details of which are yet to be released) to provide feedback and help with usability testing.

One of the things that Mozilla Pancake is said to be looking at as a part of their experiment is whether users need the URL’s that we have become so accustomed to over the years. Many people, web developers and the general public alike, have voiced their opinions on this seemingly radical idea, but this is not the first time Mozilla has toyed with the prospect of removing the URL bar. Google Chrome has also been known to experiment with hiding URL’s.

But what does the introduction of Mozilla Pancake and all the experiments they are set to conduct mean for web developers? Well, that is yet to be seen. There may be no changes to how web developers undertake their work, there may be stacks of changes – there is no way to tell until the results of the experiments have been released.

There is no reason, however, that web developers shouldn’t download the Pancake app when it is released and help in the experimentation process. In fact, it would be highly beneficial for web developers of all levels of experience to get in on the Mozilla Pancake project and lend their own feedback and ideas.