Ajax Frameworks

If u dont know anything about Ajax then check out my previous post here

Once u learned Ajax and how it works, its now time to choose Ajax frameworks for implementation purpose. By using Ajax frameworks u need not worry about cross browser compatibility and issues. But choosing the right one is really a big task :)

Here are the various frameworks that I found on the web

Pure Javascript frameworks:

1. Mootools:
is a compact, modular, Object-Oriented javascript framework designed to make writing extensible and compatible code easier and faster. MooTools lets you get the job done efficiently and effectively.

• Pros
  • It is lightweight, powerful and makes use of many of the new javascript coding functions that we’ve become accustomed to (such as $()).
  • The FX library is incredibly solid, doesn’t require div-itis, and uses the same physics easing equations as most flash users.

• Browser Compatibility -mootools is compatible and fully tested with Safari, internet explorer 6 and 7, Firefox (and its mozilla friends), Opera and Camino.
• License - mooTools is released under the Open Source MIT license, which permits you to use it and modify it in every circumstance.

2. Open Rico

Open Rico is a multi-purpose framework with support for Ajax infrastructure and user interaction.

• An XMLHttpRequest response can be routed to one or more callback operation, DOM object, or Javascript object.
• Easy drag-and-drop.
• Ajax animation such as scaling and transitions (and presumably the increasingly common idioms such as progress indicators and fading technique?)
• "Behaviors" - Essentially a widget library.
• External tutorial by Yonah Russ of Mirimar?
• Builds on prototype library.
• Open-source. From Sabre Airline Solutions. By Bill Scott, Darren James, and others.

3. Prototype:

Prototype makes it easy to use object-oriented concepts like classes and inheritance within Javascript. It also supports basic Ajax functionality such as web remoting.

• A project run in conjunction with Ruby on Rails, but can be (and certainly is) used independent of Ruby or RoR.
• Open-source by Sam Stephenson.
• Animation and effects can be added on using the Scriptaculous library.

4. DOJO:

DOJO offers comprehensive widget and browser-server messaging support.

• Extensive deployment support: dependency-based packaging, compression of required libraries into a single download. (See On-Demand Javascript pattern).
• Framework for creation of custom Javascript widgets.
• Library of pre-built widgets.
• Solid drag-and-drop, effects, and generic animation support
• Browser-server messaging support - XMLHttpRequest and other mechanisms.
• Event management. (See Distributed Events pattern).
• Support for bookmarkability and manipulating URLs in the browser.
• Open-source license (Academic Free License 2.1). Led by Alex Russell of SitePen.

5. BackBase:

Backbase is a comprehensive browser-side AJAX framework with cross browser support. The Backbase AJAX framework is compatible with any server-side platform (e.g. Java, .NET, PHP, Coldfusion).

• Free Community Edition for non-commercial / non-institutional use
• Advanced tooling for .NET Developers - Visual Studio 2005 plug-in
• Advanced tooling for Java Developers - JSF taglib / Eclipse integration
• Over 80 AJAX widgets / components Backbase Explorer
• Active AJAX developer community Backbase DevNet
• Online AJAX demo's / starterkits Check Out
• Commercial from Backbase (formed in 2003)( You have to pay in order to use this software !).
• Backbase supports the following browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 5+ on Windows
  • Firefox 0.8+ on any platform
  • Mozilla 1.5+ on any platform
  • Netscape 7.2+ on any platform
  • Camino 0.8+ on Mac OS X

6. YUI (Yahoo User Interface)

Yahoo! User Interface Library is a set of utilities and controls, written in JavaScript, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and AJAX. The library is released under the BSD license (Open Source)

You can choose anyone from the above list as all of them are trustable. If u would like to know more on Ajax Frameworks then this is the right place to look at.