Easy Code Validation Using JSLint

There are many challenges in building an Ajax based or JavaScript application. One of these challenges is to ensure that the application would be performing as expected. Naturally, the code will be run through a coding validation or a checker just to make sure the coding is done right. But there are two challenges a developer must deal with when checking codes:

• The application that checks the code are not specifically built for JavaScript which means the size of the application will slow down its processing. 
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• The resources used to check the coding could be too much since some applications are just small enough to be checked manually.

Apparently, these challenges were noticed by some developers so they decided to build an application that could help in checking the validity of the codes. Developers Michael Scholer and Jakob Kruse created a small yet highly useful widget called JSLint.

Developed as a Yahoo Widget, the small application will provide real time data about the coding in the application. As you make some changes in the coding, the errors will reflect on the interface of the widget so that you can easily make some changes and see if it works immediately.

Setting up JSLint is also very easy. After the widget has been successfully installed in the desktop, the folder where the coding is located will just be pointed to the widget. Better yet, the folder can just be dragged to the widget and the functions will be displayed and evaluated. The rest will just be real time editing and validating of functions.

What makes this tool really special is that it is specifically built for JavaScript. Because of its dedication to a single programming language, the processing time will be a lot faster which made it easier to function in real time.

With regards to updates on JavaScript coding, the widget is open source which assures developers that the latest updates on JavaScript will be included in the widget.

To enable the widget to fully work in the desktop, developers just have to download the latest Yahoo Widgets. The fact that it requires this tool to run efficiency is no problem at all as it will maintain the stability of the widget and updating will be a lot easier.

There should be more applications like this. Like JSLint, applications that could help developers improve their applications faster since there will be a real time checker on their applications.

Although it is still in its early stages and bugs were reported, it is a promising application that could easily prosper.

Hopefully, the widget will not only be based on Yahoo Widget alone but could easily move towards other platforms so that more developers will be using this great tool. For now, developers can work with JSLint in its early stage.

Although it is highly recommended to use it only for applications with few JavaScript functions, give it time as it will surely evolve into something better. A free and real time JavaScript checker is always a good thing for developers.