AJAX - technology

 IT trends 2010 series (1)

AJAX - Async-JavaScripts and XML

Web development that uses JSON or XML for data exchange,  DOM.XMLHttpRequest for protocol access,  JavaScript for operations, and HTML/CSS for display.

Competing technologies: Java Applet / Web start,  Flash,  ActiveX

Technology selection:

framework: DOJO, GWT, ADF

push: CometD, IceFace

server support: GWT, WLS pub/sub server

Usability
      Use Ajax, a page can be created by tiles, and reload only the part that's changing. This and async interaction with server also enhances usability. Meanwhile, page states is maintained within js.

1. suggestion while typing
   
2. loading partial changed tile
3. responsive - e.g: pre-factch data
   
4. ajax push
5. offline(?)
6. visual - virtual reality
   

Drawback
      There may be more frequent requests to server. Dynamic page updates causes browser bookmar, history buttons and search engine difficulties. Other issues including security and development efforts.

• Scripting language - language augment a system/GUI to achieve automation by non-experts.
•  Client side enabling for RIA application
  
• JSON - javascript and ECMA scripts
  

Ajax Push
       Push framework using Ajax, has a set of technologies supporting it. Bayeux protocol, implemented as CometD, from DOJO.
 

Ajax Framework includes: DOJO, ADF, Google web toolkit, iceFace, MooTools/Ape, Yahoo UI library, jQuery