July 5th, 2007
I’m working on a library for sending messages between browsers using JavaScript, XMLHttpRequest, and PHP/sqlite on a server. The idea is that even though it’s not possible to open a connection of sorts directly between the clients (i.e. web browsers viewing a page, or even different pages, or running a widget), you can pull for updates in a way that will make it seem like you have a connection open. Not only that, but all client listening on the same channel, so to speak, will receive the messages, so it’s like broadcasting. Technically this is nothing fancy, it’s just that you don’t see it much, and if implemented and packaged nicely I think it’ll be useful and fun to use.
How do I know this works? Because it’s based on a much cleaned up version of the code used on paintmyblog.com – which has proven itself already. I look forward to writing some cool apps using this library, and I hope other people will use it as well. Expect the first release next week.
Tags: javascript, messagelib, paintmyblog, php, programming, projects, web apps
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July 3rd, 2007
There are some sites I tend to consult all the time while programming in JavaScript. Let’s see what they are…
Core JavaScript 1.5 Reference – Mozilla Developer Center
A thorough and complete reference for the JavaScript language and standard library, with examples and links to more information, etc. Really good.
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Core_JavaScript_1.5_Reference
Gecko DOM Reference – Mozilla Developer Center
Complements the above reference with a complete reference to the document object model, i.e. all the methods and classes that are available in JavaScript for manipulating the web page in the browser.
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Gecko_DOM_Reference
Canvas Class Reference – Apple Developer Connection
If you like playing with the canvas tag like I do, then this is the place to go for reference documentation on the 2d graphics context object. Complete and handy with all in one page.
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleApplications/Reference/SafariJSRef/Classes/Canvas.html
Prototype JavaScript Framework API
The reference documentation for the Prototype framework. Of course, this is only useful if you’re using Prototype. But if you’re not, you better have a really good excuse… such as using some bloated alternative like the Yahoo UI Library or Google Web Toolkit.
http://www.prototypejs.org/api
Dojo ShrinkSafe
Dojo ShrinkSafe shrinks the sizes of your JavaScript source files by removing whitespace and renaming local variables to shorter names, and some other stuff. Saves bandwidth and loading time without really giving much up, except debuggability. But you’re not doing debugging on your live site anyway, right? Riiight?!
http://alex.dojotoolkit.org/shrinksafe/
Tags: javascript, links, programming
Posted in uncategorized | No Comments »
