Scrutinizing CDN for Powerful Ajax Applications

The cloud is the future of browsers. As developers are aggressively developing more online applications, the browsers have to rely on the cloud to properly implement functions when it reaches the client side. Without the cloud, required installation should be implemented and this can easily lead to browser problems. The cloud can really help overcome browser incompatibility as everything can be streamed from the cloud.

But streaming information towards the browsers can ultimately cause performance problems. Users who constantly use Ajax and JavaScript based application will automatically store cached data in their browsers. Even if two identical websites are loaded in various browsers, both browsers will require separate processing power. The browser will ultimately cease to function if the local gadget is unable to deal with the increasing data load.

Addressing JavaScript Problem

While any programming language can cause this problem for browsers, none of them can have more significant impact than JavaScript. As already indicated, JavaScript continuously streams information to the browser. And a badly coded online application will not shed the data as fast as they are loaded in the browser.

This problem is actually rooted in a simple cause: the functions are continuously loaded in the browser. If there is a way that reloading can be prevented, then the application should run smoothly without dragging the browser down.
CDN for JavaScript Library

A proposed solution to the problem is to implement CDN (Content Distribution Network) for JavaScript libraries. Through CDN, developers should be able to access the library they want to use and the function they need to implement. But the CDN is more than just simple hosting solution for developers. Since the function will be ultimately shared in various applications (in CDN) the browser will no longer reload the functions.

The CDN for JavaScript library is pushed by Google. Fortunately, the internet giant will not be implementing their Google Code in the CDN, which means, the library will be implemented with no strings attached. As of this writing, the following libraries are available for content sharing:
• Prototype
• Script.aculo.us
• Mootools
• jQuery
• Dojo

In gist, some of the most powerful libraries for Ajax based application will be implemented in CDN. This means the relevance of CDN is more than just simple fancy tool that developers can use. More libraries are expected to be included as the idea of library sharing improves.

But aside from hosting the libraries, the CDN will automatically minify and compress the functions for developers. Of course, minification and compression of function is still optional. However, most websites will likely use the function since they want to minimize the loading time of their application. This means minification and compression of functions from various libraries will be most likely implemented.

Library sharing is a very simple idea with very promising results not only for developers but also for the general experience of users. Online applications and websites that share the same library will no longer have to burden users by reloading the same function twice.