Ajax Libraries

Microsoft just released “Microsoft Ajax Library Preview 6 and introduced the Microsoft Ajax Minifier” This is a Client side Library for Ajax which reduces the size of JavaScript files. Microsoft believes that the smaller the JavaScript file, the faster the website will run.

Some of the features include: “Better Imperative Syntax: A new, simplified, code syntax for creating client controls. Client Script Loader: A new client-side script loader that can dynamically load all of the JavaScript files required by a client control or library automatically, and executes the scripts in the right order. Better jQuery Integration: All Microsoft Ajax controls are now automatically exposed as jQuery plug-ins,”.

I have run across jQuery, Dojo and now Microsoft’s “Minifier” which all use JavaScript libraries to improve development time. Another benefit seems to be that the website will run faster. I found jQuery a little difficult initially but no more difficult than JavaScript and I accomplished the same thing with less code.

The dojo toolkit also looks quite interesting and has many features. “Dojo widgets are prepackaged components of JavaScript code, HTML markup and CSS style declarations that can be used to enrich websites with various interactive features that work across browsers”

I am wondering why we don’t just use more jQuery? I understand that it is probably a good idea to have some understanding of the underlying JavaScript. And, it’s probably the same argument for understanding the underlying formulas when doing math, rather than just jumping in and using a calculator. However, it appears that one of the main reasons for using JavaScript is to speed up a website or, at least, make the client interaction faster. So, I am thinking that it may be a good idea to use some jQuery, dojo or Microsoft's minifier.