Foundations of Ajax, Apress
Microsoft .NET Framework, ASP.NET, Visual C# (CSharp, C Sharp, C-Sharp) Developer Training, Visual Studio
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C# Online.NET Book Review
Fascinated by the new rich Web client features on Amazon, Google, and Yahoo Mail? It is all done with mirrors, magic, and Ajax techniques.
This book introduces Ajax to Java programmers who want to add rich Web client features to their Web pages. The book is light reading. It begins with a rather long history of Web applications according to a Java chronology. It begins with basic CGI followed by Java Applets and various interactive technologies—ASP, DHTML, Flash, Javascript, PHP, Servlets, and several XML browser languages like XUL.
It, then, moves on to explain the XMLHtttpRequest object which is central to all Ajax techniques. Next is behind-the-scenes server communication—the crux of the matter. In chapter 4 are found the most interesting examples: auto-completion, dynamic loading, field validation, progress bars, tooltips. Next, the authors tackle assembling a developer's toolbox including JSDoc, JSLint, and JsUnit. Finally, the big payoff comes—a dashboard with the drag-and-drop capability common to major Ajax sites. This is the most ambitious project detailed in the book.
I have a few criticisms of the book. Firstly, it is Java-centric instead of framework agnostic. Secondly, while some may appreciate it, I find the history chapter skipable. Thirdly, except for the dashboard project, most of the examples amount to tinkering with Web pages rather than exposing features useful for real-world Web applications designed to replace desktop clients.
But, I like the brief chapters, abundant sample code, and simple examples found in the book. There is a nice overview of Ajax patterns and of the available Javascript development tools. And, the book is a very easy read.
All the source code examples in this book are written in either the Javascript or Java language.
Bottom line
Foundations of Ajax is a good introduction to Ajax for Java developers wanting to jazz up their home pages; but, it cannot be recommended for .NET developers.
Publisher's description
Ajax burst onto the Web development scene by offering highly interactive, desktop-like Web applications that can be deployed through any modern Web browser without the need for special plug-ins. Ajax is built on existing Web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, and it is used in conjunction with your favorite server-side language. Foundations of Ajax explains how to combine these technologies effectively to implement Ajax into your new or existing Web applications. Like you, we are developers who are “in the trenches,” tasked with building Web-enabled applications that provide real value to our customers. As the Web continues to grow, the demand for more expressive and engaging interfaces will continue to increase.
Much of the early hype surrounding Ajax centered on its use by Internet powerhouses such as Google and Amazon. However, just because the initial forays into Ajax were pioneered by leading software development firms doesn’t mean your application wouldn’t also benefit from these techniques. You already know how to develop Web applications, so this book uses specific, focused examples to teach the Ajax tools and techniques you’ll need to bring your applications to life. Armed with this book and your existing development expertise, you too will be able to apply Ajax techniques to your application to enrich the end user’s experience.
When we first saw the potential of Ajax, we knew we had to start leveraging it for our own applications. Along the way we’ve learned some hard-earned knowledge that we thought needed to be shared with the rest of the development community. With this book you’ll be able to easily extend your own applications with Ajax and have fun while doing it. We hope that someday we’ll be reading about your great Ajax-enabled application!
About the author(s)
Ryan Asleson is a software developer who lives and works in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. He holds a degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Ryan has been building Web applications since 1998 and has extensive experience with JavaScript and Web development tools. He helped transition his organization from servlet-based content creation to JavaServer Pages (JSP) and has also maintained a corporate Web application framework based on Java Enterprise Edition. Ryan's interests include performance tuning and standards based development. When not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family and doing outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, and water sports.
Nathaniel T. Schutta is a software engineer from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with extensive experience in the financial services arena primarily developing J2EE-based Web applications. He holds a master of science degree in software engineering from the University of Minnesota. For the last several years, he has focused on user interface design by contributing to corporate interface guidelines, and has consulted on a variety of web-based applications within his organization. A longtime member of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group, and a Sun Certified Web Component Developer, Nathaniel believes if the user can’t figure out your application, you’ve done something wrong. Along with his UI work, he has contributed to two corporate Java frameworks, developed training material, and lead several study groups. During the brief moments of warm weather found in his home state of Minnesota, he spends as much time on the golf course as his wife will tolerate. He’s currently exploring Ruby, Rails, and after recently making the switch, Mac OS X.
Categories: CSharp-Online.NET Reviews | CSharp-Online.NET Book Reviews | Javascript (Web 2.0) Book Reviews
