Frameworks

Frameworks Sessions: Client-Side | Server-Side | Emerging Frameworks

With all the options out there, how do you know which framework is the right one for your project? How can you keep up with new releases and updates? Are you confident you know which features you need to look for? The Ajax Experience features more than 20 sessions covering client-side frameworks, server-side frameworks and emerging frameworks including jMaki, jQuery, Dojo, DWR, Prototype, Google Web Toolkit (GWT), Scriptaculous, qooxdoo and more.

# Advanced jQuery
# Advanced Prototype
# Ajax on Struts: Coding an Ajax Application with Struts 2
# Beyond XHR: Taking Ajax Offline with Google Gears
# Building Rich JavaScript Database Apps with Jester
# Design Patterns and Animation with jQuery
# Doubling Down on the Open Web
# Dynamic JavaServer Faces
# EXT: Extend the Web
# Fast, Beautiful, Easy: Building Ajax Applications with the Google Web Toolkit
# Hands-on DWR
# Intro to Jester
# Intro to jQuery
# Intro to Prototype
# Jester: Hands-on Tutorial
# jMaki: Creating Ajax Application Made Easy
# OpenAjax Alliance - OpenAjax Hub 1.0 (And more!)
# qooxdoo
# Reaching the Entire World: Accessibility and Internationalization with Dojo
# Script.aculo.us
# Struts on Ajax: Retrofitting Struts with Ajax Taglibs

Client--Side Frameworks

•Advanced jQuery
If you’re already a jQuery user (Or, after attending the Intro to jQuery talk), come to this session and take knowledge to the next level. In this presentation, jQuery founder John Resig takes a look at complex development scenarios that can be simplified with jQuery.

In this session you will learn how to:

* • Use jQuery and various plugins to create an advanced wizard;
* • Implement complex form and navigation into your applications;
* • Add advanced Ajax interactions and more.

• Advanced Prototype
This talk continues the presentation begun in “Introduction to Prototype,” demonstrating more advanced features of the Prototype library.

In this session, you will learn:

* • How to write libraries in the Prototype style;
• How to combine Prototype with other libraries;
• Rails’ support for Prototype;
• How to unit Testing Prototype-based applications.

• Design Patterns and Animation with jQuery
Do you remember the old “Web 1.0” way of user interactions? Now, with smart animations that work cross-browser and are safe in large applications, we can support all user interactions. Along with the Web 2.0 wave with all cool Ajax effects possible, it’s absolutely essential to focus on user interaction with your web interface.

In this session you will learn about natural design and animation patterns in web applications – Learn what to keep in mind when trying to animate in large scale applications, and get a sneak preview of Interface 2, jQuery’s effect solution, which lets you separate markup from content by using external stylesheets for animation.

In this session, you will learn:

* How to animate using jQuery/Interface;
* What design patterns are and where you should use them;
* How to separate markup from content;
* How to deal with performance issues.

•Doubling Down on the Open We
Nearly a full year in the making, Dojo 1.0 is again enabling new classes of application to migrate to the web from the desktop, and increasingly, from other closed browser-hosted technologies. Pushing on the edges of what's possible has always been an explicit goal of Dojo and this talk examines the relationship between proprietary technologies, the browsers, and the client and server-side tools (particularly those supported by Dojo) which are on the minds of web application developers today. What do we need from Open Web technologies in the near future to continue to deliver better experiences? Does having a "market" for browsers help or hurt, particularly with IE7's weak showing? And where do we go from here?

•Intro to jQuery
jQuery is a concise open source JavaScript Library used for Document Object Model (DOM) traversal, event handling, Ajax requests, and animations. Whether you’re new to JavaScript entirely or experienced with JavaScript but looking to shorten and simplify your code, jQuery is a framework you need to be familiar with. In this introduction you’ll gain fundamental knowledge on how to use jQuery to write smaller code, faster.

During this session, framework founder John Resig provides a real-time demo and hands-on walk-through on writing an animated Accordion widget and Ajax to-do list from scratch.

You will learn:

* • A basic overview of jQuery;
• How to develop a number of common-case widgets;
• Using jQuery to handle DOM, Event, Animations, and Ajax interactions.

• Intro to Prototype
Prototype is one of the leading JavaScript libraries around, and serves as foundation to many popular JavaScript frameworks. Any Web developer wanting to dramatically reduce the time they spend on scripting while enhancing their scripts' readability and portability will benefit from this session.

Learn to simplify Ajax development with Prototype through a series of real-world examples. Along the way, learn to code in Prototype's modern JavaScript style, taking advantage of Prototype's extensions to JavaScript's object model.

In this session, you will learn how to:

* • Use Ajax.Request to manage XMLHTTPRequest;
• Automatically update pages with Ajax.Updater;
• Poll with PeriodicalExecuter;
• Manage forms with Form.serialize;
• Respond to inputs with Event.observe;
• Simplify DOM updates with Insertion;
• Use JSON for parameter passing;
• Define classes with Class.create and Object.extend;
• Use Ruby-inspired extensions to the JavaScript object model, such as Array.each.

• Reaching the Entire World: Accessibility and Internationalization with Dojo
New interaction paradigms and complex user interface controls of Ajax have raised concerns about access and usability for users of all backgrounds and abilities. Client-side JavaScript code may assume certain language or cultural conventions, alienating vast audiences. Graphical and mouse-based user interaction is often assumed, preventing use by keyboard or assistive technology users.

Making applications accessible to all users isn't just the right thing to do, it addresses business needs and, in some cases, government requirements. Now that Ajax applications are mainstream and replacing traditional 'fat' clients, the responsibility is even more significant. With the emergence of increasingly complex Ajax patterns, client-side logic, and rich web-based user interfaces, it is insufficient to address accessibility and internationalization using traditional methods like ALT attributes and server-side templating. New Ajax technologies, such as those based on the W3C ARIA spec, must be realized.

In this session, Adam and Becky review the issues and provide best practices for building accessible and globalized Ajax applications today, including the new W3C Accessible Rich Internet Application (ARIA) specification. This and other strategies used to provide full accessibility and globalization in the Dojo Toolkit will be shown.

In this session you will learn how to:

* • Techniques to make web applications more inclusive;
• To identify issues disabled users have with Web-based applications and understand how Ajax complicates matters;
• How the W3C Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) specification addresses some of these concerns;
• How to avoid coding practices which might alienate users speaking different languages or belonging to different cultures;
• How the Dojo toolkit treats accessibility and internationalization as a basic requirement.

• Script.aculo.us
script.aculo.us is arguably the most popular effects and widgets library for Ajax. Learn how to make Ajax more usable and beautiful with script.aculo.us.

This session will explore how you can povide advanced user interactions in a portable way.

In this session you will learn how to:

* • Add drag and drop to web applications;
• Make web content drag-sortable;
• Add slider to web applications;
• Create standard effects;
• Create custom effects;
• Simplify user interaction with auto-completion.

Server-Side Frameworks

• Ajax on Struts: Coding an Ajax Application with Struts 2
Ajax libraries like Yahoo User Interface (YUI) and Dojo provide great support for writing user interfaces, but a UI still needs to interact with a business logic and data access layer. Rich applications need a rich business layer.

In this session, , we look at writing a new Struts 2 application from square one, using the YUI Library on the front end, and Struts 2 on the backend. YUI provides the glitz and the glamour, and Struts 2 provides the dreary business logic, input validation, and text formatting.

In this session you will learn:

* • Basics of the Yahoo User Interface (YUI) Library;
* • Business services Struts can provide to an Ajax UI;
* • How to integrate an Ajax UI framework with a Struts 2 business framework.

•Beyond XHR: Taking Ajax Offline with Google Gears
As Ajax applications become an integral part of mainstream users' lives, the demand to access them offline will only increase. Google Gears was created to make that possible. In this session, Chris describes Google Gears, discussing how it works and how it's used. This session also includes a demo of a Google Gears application, and a tour of its source code.

In this session you will learn:

* • How to enhance your Ajax applications to function offline;
• The key issues with offline development;
• Data synchronization issues surrounding offline development;
• Application design issues surrounding offline development.

• Dynamic JavaServer Faces
JavaServer Faces (JSF) is a standardized specification for building User Interfaces (UI) for server-side applications. In this session, you’ll hear how to leverage the JSF architecture to work with Ajax. Roger Kitain, co-spec lead for JSF and staff engineer with Sun, will dive into code from a page author and component developer's perspective, and take a detailed look at the Dynamic Faces Ajax framework. You’ll also hear a summary of other Ajax/JSF frameworks that are available today.

In this session, you will learn:

* • How to add Ajax to JSF applications – with or without JavaScript;
• Features that make JSF a great foundation for web applications;
• Why and how JSF’s unique features support the development of dynamic applications with Ajax.

• Fast, Beautiful, Easy: Building Ajax Applications with the Google Web Toolkit
As Ajax becomes an increasingly mainstream development platform, the ecosystem of Ajax-related tools will grow and thrive. Google Web Toolkit (GWT), an open source framework for creating Ajax apps, is a powerful member of this new ecosystem. GWT cross-compiles Java source into JavaScript, allowing Java developers to use their existing Java skills and tools to easily create Ajax applications with virtually no learning curve. In this session, Chris offers after a short introduction to GWT, then dives quickly into its key topics.

In this session, you will learn:

* • How to create high-performance Ajax apps with GWT;
• How GWT handles remote procedure calls and integration with existing web applications;
• How to leverage your Java skills and tools to develop high-quality Ajax applications.

• Hands-on DWR
Because of DWR's ability to fit into almost any Java web application, and to provide a very dynamic user experience, DWR is one of the most used Java / Ajax frameworks. This presentation digs into many advanced DWR features, including Reverse Ajax and the JavaScript proxy APIs.

DWR creator Joe Walker kicks off this presentation by demonstrating advanced page manipulation and server-based control of browsers, and showing you how to update any web application to react to server changes. Joe also outlines how DWR integrates with other Ajax libraries like TIBCO GI, Script.aculo.us, and the OpenAjax Hub.

In this session, you’ll learn:

* • What DWR can do;
• How DWR fits into a wide range of applications;
• How straightforward it is to create advanced effects with minimal coding.

• jMaki: Creating Ajax Application Made Easy
Users want Ajax functionality, but integrating it with existing application and wiring everything together can be a pain. jMaki is a lightweight client-server framework for creating JavaScript-centric Ajax applications that use CSS layouts, the widget model and client services (such as publish/subscribe events) to tie widgets together; and JavaScript action handlers, and a generic proxy to interact with external RESTful web services. Users can employ jMaki to quickly create full-blown Ajax applications; or simply integrate snippets of Ajax functionality into existing applications. This session covers the widget model and how to use jMaki to build an application.

In this session, you will learn how to:

* • Enable communication between widgets;
• Connect to RESTful web services;
• Customize the look of the application using CSS themes.

• Struts on Ajax: Retrofitting Struts with Ajax Taglibs
Struts is Java's most popular web framework. Ajax is the web's hottest user interface. What happens when we put Struts on Ajax?

Many frameworks, including Struts 2, are wrapping Ajax calls in conventional tags or components. Leveraging Ajax in an existing application can help developers enhance a user interface without a major rewrite.

In this session, Ted stirs some Ajax wizardry into a conventional Struts application, without all the sweat and bother of writing JavaScript. Struts 1 and Struts 2 both support Ajax taglibs that look and feel just like ordinary JSP tags. If it's just a little bit of Ajax that you want, these tags will get you around the learning curve in record time.

In this session you will learn:

* • How to use the Java Web Parts taglib with Struts 1;
• How to use the Ajax YUI plugin with Struts 2;
• How to integrate Ajax features with Struts 1 or Struts 2;
• Basics of the Java Web Parts taglib;
* • Basics of the Struts 2 YUI plugin.

Emerging Frameworks

•Ext: Extend the Web
Ext is that rare breed of open source library: Complete with documentation, premium support and extremely active community forums. In this session, you will learn about Ext’s ability to build on Prototype/Script.aculo.us, jQuery or YUI. Ext provides amazingly simple and elegant JavaScript, Ajax and UI Components, as well as full API documentation, and support.

In this session, you will learn how to:

* • Wield Ext for use in real world application;
• Use Ext to rapidly accelerate your development process;
• Extend Ext components to suit any need.

•Introduction to Jester
Jester is a JavaScript implementation of REST, modeled after ActiveResource. You can use it to read, create, and save your application's data in your browser-side code. Pete and Jester creator Eric Mill will explain why Jester is a potentially disruptive technology, and give a live demonstration. Since the last Ajax Experience, Jester has gained the ability to request data from external domains.

•Jester: Hands-on Tutorial
Following the "Intro to Jester" session, Pete and Eric will host a live code hacking workshop. Bust out the Red Bull and corn chips, because every willing participant will leave with a simple but functional Jester application. Our goal is to change how you approach designing web applications.

• OpenAjax Alliance - OpenAjax Hub 1.0 (And more!)
Three major trends are pushing application developers towards integrating multiple Ajax technologies within the same application.

1) Ajax toolkit specialization (e.g., one toolkit might have the best calendar widget whereas another has the best data grid widget).
2) The emergence of SOA and web services promotes the proliferation of special-purpose client-side components that access particular back-end services.
3) The mashup trend where end users will build their own composite application by assembling pre-packaged Ajax components.

The OpenAjax Alliance addresses these trends by defining the key Ajax standards to allow multiple Ajax technologies to interoperate and integrate.

In this session, IBM Web architect and OpenAjax Alliance manager Jon Ferraiolo will describe the overall mission of OpenAjax Alliance and showcase OpenAjax Hub 1.0, the first major technical standard to come out of OpenAjax Alliance.

In this session, you will learn:

* • Why the OpenAjax Conformance is key to achieving long-term Ajax interoperability and cost-effectiveness;
• Why the OpenAjax Hub in particular enables successful integration of multiple Ajax technologies within a single Web application;
• Which toolkits, frameworks and mashup applications have committed to OpenAjax Hub 1.0;
• The role that OpenAjax Alliance plays in setting standards within the Ajax industry in order to help fulfill the promise of Ajax;
• Why mashups almost always require integration of multiple Ajax toolkits within the same application, and why they are a key part of the future of Web 2.0 applications;
• How OpenAjax Alliance’s other initiatives (e.g., Communications Hub, OpenAjax Registry, IDE Working Group, etc.) will help developers achieve Ajax interoperability and cost-effectiveness.

• qooxdoo
qooxdoo is a comprehensive and innovative Open Source JavaScript framework. In this session, you’ll learn how to leverage qooxdoo to develop professional JavaScript applications, using its state-of-the-art GUI toolkit that allows for easy development of impressive cross-browser web applications. Project lead Andreas Ecker and team member Derrell Lipman will also demonstrate and discuss qooxdoo's elegant Ajax and remote procedure call communication layers.

In this session, you will learn how to:

* • Use qooxdoo's wide array of widgets and its tool chain to easily develop truly innovative web applications;
• Create applications with zero-footprint and no memory leaks;
• Have your application run transparently to the user;
• Build applications without any knowledge of CSS or even HTML, using typical commands from other major toolkits for native applications.

These frameworks are all contributed by some poupular developers or architect:

•Advanced jQuery with John Resig, Founder, jQuery
• Advanced Prototype with Stuart Halloway, CEO, Relevance, Inc.
• Design Patterns and Animation with jQuery with Paul Bakaus, System Engineer, New Identity Agency
•Doubling Down on the Open Web with Alex Russell, Project Lead, Dojo Toolkit and Director of R&D, SitePen, Inc.
•Intro to jQuery with John Resig, Founder, jQuery
• Intro to Prototype, with Stuart Halloway, CEO, Relevance, Inc.
• Reaching the Entire World: Accessibility and Internationalization with Dojo, with Adam Peller, Senior Software Engineer, Emerging Technologies Group, IBM and Becky Gibson, Web Accessibility Architect, Emerging Technologies Group, IBM
• Script.aculo.us, with Stuart Halloway, CEO, Relevance, Inc.
• Ajax on Struts: Coding an Ajax Application with Struts 2 with Ted Husted, Apache Struts group; Author, Struts in Action
•Beyond XHR: Taking Ajax Offline with Google Gears with Chris Schalk, Tech Lead, Developer API Evangelism group, Google
• Dynamic JavaServer Faces with Roger Kitain, co-spec lead, JavaServer Faces, Staff engineer, Sun Microsystems
• Fast, Beautiful, Easy: Building Ajax Applications with the Google Web Toolkit with Chris Schalk, Tech Lead, Developer API Evangelism group, Google
• Hands-on DWR with Joe Walker, creator, DWR (Direct Web Remoting)
• jMaki: Creating Ajax Application Made Easy with Carla Mott, jMaki co-lead, Sun Microsystems
• Struts on Ajax: Retrofitting Struts with Ajax Taglibs with Ted Husted, Apache Struts group; Author, Struts in Action
•Ext: Extend the Web with Rich Waters, Lead Developer, Builders Resource Group
•Introduction to Jester with Pete Forde, Unspace Interactive
•Jester: Hands-on Tutorial with Pete Forde, Unspace Interactive
• OpenAjax Alliance - OpenAjax Hub 1.0 (And more!) with Jon Ferraiolo, Web Architect, IBM Emerging Technologies and manager of operations at OpenAjax Alliance
• qooxdoo, with Andreas Ecker, Project Lead of qooxdoo and Derrell Lipman, qooxdoo Team Member


chheers Aurobindo

courtesy @ Techtarget.server-side