JAVAWUG Presentations

Birds of Feather XV
Friday, 3rd January 2006
javawug.com
The Java Web Users Group 2006

Experiences with AJAX

Moving Closer To Rich Web Users
Interfaces
Peter Pilgrim
Jo2EE Software Designer
Contractor
Credit Suisse Group
peterp@xenonique.co.uk

http://jroller.com/page/peter_pilgrim
10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

Overall Presentation Goals

Quick AJAX Introduction

JavaScript Toolkits

AJAX Java Integrations

The Way Ahead

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

My Qualifications
Java Enterprises Edition Consultant
12 Year Experience, SC2JP
Java Development since 1997
Founded JAVAWUG
Articles on ServerSide.com
Struts Quick Presentation at JavaPolis
Attended JavaONE 2004, 2005

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

Mission Statement
We help our clients figure out the
needs and behavioural profiles of
users who use their products .... it
became clear to me that the
responsiveness of applications was of
paramount importance
Jesse James Garrett

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

What Is AJAX?

Asynchronous JavaScript, DOM, CSS,

XMLHttpRequest and XML
Ajax is a re-branding of existing
technologies
Reaction to Flash technology
Google Mail was the touchstone
technology to light the bonfire
It took geniuses at Google to show us
how to bind these technologies

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

Breaking AJAX

Browser implementations of JavaScript

are more reliable
XMLHttpRequest object is the key to
AJAX
Treating JavaScript as a respected first
class programming language
Better comprehension of usability through
re-mediation and dynamic visualisation

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

Known AJAX Detractors

Jakob Nielson famous usability expert

Jakob's Law of good web user experiences

AJAX may be one of his top ten mistakes in

web design

Joel on Software

Mike Slattery

AJAX is too complex, too fancy

Jeffrey Zeldmen

10/02/06

Critiques Web 2.0 and AJAX

The Java Web Users Group 2006

A Personal Experience

2003 working for an investment bank

Great looking Struts web application

Requirement for best responsiveness

e.g. Two Dependent HTML Select Lists

Unfortunately whole page updated

Manager hated application always going

back to the server
I could not provide the solution!

10/02/06

The Java Web Users Group 2006

Pros of AJAX

Human Computer Interaction

Better responsiveness for users

Getting closer to a rich client interface

Ability to apply effects and gestures

No more always going back to the server

Architecture

Can lead to efficient design of web pages

Reduction of client and server-side code

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

Cons of AJAX

Design issues

Getting carried away with effects (YFT)

Providing visual clues is not yet understood

Bookmarking on single page AJAX

application designs requires careful plans

Defining new gestures for HCI

Architectural issues

Gentle fail over for non-Javascript browser

Overloading server with AJAX requests

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

AJAX JavaScript Libraries

Fundamental (Low Level)

Prototype Sam Stephenson

Dojo Alex Russel

DWR Joe Walker

Components (High Level)

Scriptaculous Thomas Fuchs

Open Rico Richard Cowin et al

Tacos Viktor Szathmary et al

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

AJAX and Open Source JAVA

JavaWebParts Frank Zammetti

Ajaxtags.org Darren Spurgeon

AjaxAnywhere Vitaliy Shevchuk

WebWork 2.2 and DWR

Roll your own

10/02/06

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

The Way Forward

Component-oriented framework have a racing

start with AJAX
Better integration AJAX for action-oriented
frameworks
Consolidation between different AJAX Java
providers
More out-of-the-box AJAX components
Web frameworks to bundle AJAX JavaScript
Libraries
We need better AJAX debugging and tools

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

Summary

AJAX is a re-branding of existing technologies

Google did not invent it but showed us the way
to do it & others like Flickr followed.
Improved responsiveness of Web UI is a good
reason for enterprise developers to review it
AJAX will lead to a better web design,
Don't go crazy looking for the next best effect to
integrate

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

If You Only Remember One Thing ...

AJAX is fundamentally a giant step in the

right direction of progress. In my opinion
HTML and JavaScript should have had this
facility since day one. It will only take us
time and effort to learn how to integrate
AJAX and Java in great designs and
architecture

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

DEMO

JavaScript AJAX libraries

DWR
JavaWebParts
Ajaxtags

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

Q&A
Your Questions and Answers

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

Thank You

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

http://www.adaptivepath.com/publications/essays/archives/000385.php Jesse
James Garett's seminal paper where he coined the term AJAX
http://dev2dev.bea.com/pub/a/2005/08/ajax_introduction.html Introduction to AJAX

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-ajaxintro1.html?ca=dgr-lnxw01Ma
Mastering AJAX: Introduction to AJAX Part I
http://www.aventureforth.com/2005/09/06/top-10-ajax-applications/ Top 10 AJAX
Applications
http://dev2dev.bea.com/pub/a/2006/01/ajax-back-button.html Developing Ajax
Applications That Preserve Standard Functionality Browser Functionality

http://dojotoolkit.org Dojo

http://ajaxian.com Ajaxian Home of the AJAX Podcast

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/web3point0 Jeffrey Zeldman

http://www.usabilityviews.com/ajaxsucks.html Jakob Nielsen's Ajax sucks most of

the time
http://alexbosworth.backpackit.com/pub/67688 Ajax Mistakes Best Practice

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The Java Web Users Group 2006

JAVAWUG Presentations
Birds of Feather XV
Friday, 3rd January 2006
javawug.com
The Java Web Users Group 2006