Implement JSP for Ajax

In previous blogs, we talked about JSP (JavaServer Pages) as tags that could be easily integrated with Ajax. As JSP has the capacity to process XML, this lightweight function could easily be associated with a Java-enabled framework. This technique will help developers easily build an Ajax based application using their knowledge in Java and not write anything in JavaScript.

When JSP was launched, some of its tags could be easily integrated to the present framework. For example GWT is friendly enough to acknowledge some tag libraries. With the present knowledge of Java developers, they are able to build RIA websites without the need for JavaScript. However, these tags were not specifically built for Ajax. Developers still has to make small tweaks in the coding so that it could be acknowledged by the framework when properly launched. In the end, its still up to the developers on how they figure out the trick to integrate JSP to their preferred framework.

Fortunately, the development of Ajax has also triggered the creation of new JSP tag libraries specifically built for Ajax frameworks.

The following are some of tag libraries that a developer can use for their Java framework:

Autocomplete – An example of the result of this tag is in Gmail. When a user encodes the first letter of an e-mail or first name of the contact, the matching names on the record are display on the drop down list. User can just select through the drop down info instead of encoding the entire e-mail address.

Call-out – A pop-up balloon will be triggered whenever an element interacts with the user. Developers can set a pop-up balloon whether it is clicked or hovered upon by the cursor. The best part of this pop-up function is that it uses HTML so the loading time is faster.

These are only two of the functions that are specifically built for Ajax. Aside from Ajax-enabled JSP tag libraries; there are also frameworks that have been built by developers that cater not only to Java but more specifically to JSP. Some of these are:

Ajaxanywhere – This Java enabled framework admits everything to its system and enables them to be aware of its Ajax based environment. JSP tag libraries could easily function in this framework for the same reason and more importantly developers do not have to go through a lot of coding before they can realize the webpage they are aiming for.

jMaki – a very popular framework for Java developers. jMaki could be created as a mash-up to be included to other frameworks or it could be developed independently. This framework wraps the whole function as JSP and proceeds to implement them as an Ajax based application. Because of its JSP behavior it is often used to build widgets.

JSP could easily work in most Java enabled frameworks. There is already a set of tag libraries developed specifically for Ajax. Aside from tag libraries, there are also frameworks developed solely to cater to the development of JSP and build highly interactive yet lightweight websites.