Amazing JavaScript Libraries
March 16th, 2006
It has been a year since Jesse James Garret first coined the term AJAX and based on his observations of Google's Gmail, Maps, Suggest, etc. and it's now officially annoying to use web apps that haven't replaced clunky html functionality with peppy AJAX goodness.
If you aren't using it, maybe it would help to know that there are now open-source JavaScript libraries available for download. Prototype seems to be the most popular but there's also Dojo, Advanced AJAX, and SAJAX.
Assuming you've already seen some great AJAX in action, check out this excellent introduction to the prototype.js library and a round-up of 30 AJAX tutorials.
On top of all that, since 37Signals released Basecamp, along with an open-source version of their visual effects javascript libraries (now script.aculo.us) which made Ruby popular (now Ruby w/ Rails), a few more combinations have appeared: moo.fx, Rico, ThinkCap JX, and Backbase which are all pretty cool and mostly depend on the latest version of Prototype.
Some people think the combination of AJAX and JavaScript effects are so cool they will replace the need for Macromedia (now Adobe) Flash but I disagree. You have to know how to use AJAX appropriately.
Want more? Check out this comprehensive JavaScript Library Roundup.
Posted in: Learning
March 21st, 2006 at 16:43 PM
I agree that flash will see a resurgence in the web 2.0 world. While flash has been misued in it's history, when used appropriately (like in www.goowy.com or www.etsy.com ) it can greatly enhance the functionality of a website.
March 21st, 2006 at 19:05 PM
Exactly! Some other examples of flash I like are: 1) the animated logo on www.tagcloud.com although once is enough--i wish it would only happen once per session not with every refresh. 2) these PHP/SWF graphs which are self-explainatory when you see them. 3) this polar bear blue JewelBoxing ad inconspicuously displayed along the right-hand side of the page; it looks good so you naturally move your cursor over it. Then ... it ReACtS! ... for a bit of fun and curiosity and most importantly my ATTENTION. it's playing hard-to-get ... a completely opposite approach to popup/pop-under advertising ... and it works on me! Great ad!
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