
Mozilla will use the code to host a new open source project called Tamarin to accelerate the development of a standards-based approach for creating rich and engaging Web applications.
The Tamarin project will implement the final version of the ECMAScript Edition 4 standard language, which Mozilla will use within the next generation of SpiderMonkey, the core JavaScript engine embedded in Firefox.
As of today, developers working on SpiderMonkey will have access to the Tamarin code in the Mozilla CVS repository, with contributions to the code managed by a governing body of developers from both Adobe and Mozilla.
"Adobe's work on the new virtual machine is the largest contribution to the Mozilla Foundation since its inception," said Brendan Eich, chief technology officer at Mozilla and creator of JavaScript.
"Web developers now have a high-performance, open source virtual machine for building and deploying interactive applications across Adobe Flash Player and the Firefox Web browser.
"We are excited about joining the Adobe and Mozilla communities to advance ECMAScript."
Kevin Lynch, senior vice president and chief software architect at Adobe, added: "This is a major milestone in bringing together the broader HTML and Flash development communities around a common language, and empowering the creation of even more innovative applications in the Web 2.0 world.
"By working with the open source community we are accelerating the adoption of a standard language for creating and delivering richer, more interactive experiences that work consistently across PCs and mobile devices."
Tamarin implements the ECMAScript standard used by languages such as JavaScript, Adobe ActionScript, and Microsoft's JScript, the primary languages used by developers for building rich internet applications.