Language Abstraction Talk

Developing an Ajax based application have been difficult for some developers since its inception in 2005. The combination of JavaScript, XML and other programming languages are just too much for developers to learn. This is usually the reaction of developers who have been working on a single programming language for sometime but then Ajax came.

This programming technique has ushered Web 2.0 like no other programming language did. Developers are then forced to learn JavaScript but most are unable to work with JavaScript. It's not that they are not capable of learning, it's just that the time frame for learning JavaScript and possibly adopting it could take years. They may still find work while studying but learning this programming language could take up a lot of time.

That is why frameworks have been developed to answer the need of developers who are not able to build applications by manual coding of JavaScript. Frameworks will let developers build Ajax based applications without having to learn or write a single line of JavaScript.

Even developers who are able to build Ajax based application through manual JavaScript have considered frameworks since they can build application faster. Frameworks even got better when OpenAjax Alliance has made it possible for compatibility between frameworks to create a powerful mashup.

The use of frameworks are usually referred to as language abstraction. In gist, language abstraction happens when a developer perceives a function but executing the said function could come from another programming language.

Language abstraction happens when developers use a framework wherein they code in their preferred programming language and let the framework translate it to JavaScript for an Ajax based application. Developers basically abstract JavaScript with the use of the frameworks. There are hundreds of frameworks to chose from that almost any programming language could find a suitable framework and translate it for an Ajax based application.

Even though Language Abstraction is good in itself, it has some consequences. JavaScript, like most programming languages has unique features that can only be implemented through manual coding. This is practically bypassed by frameworks wherein they only focus on basic functions for JavaScript. That also opens up a lot of security concerns.

Frameworks should be able to help you build an application but an attacker could easily figure out the framework through different (and free) online tools. They could study the framework and create a backdoor where they could extract personal an unauthorized information at will.

That is why developers who are already proficient in JavaScript highly recommends studying libraries instead of frameworks. Libraries already provide the specific set of functions any developer needs in properly building an Ajax based application. JavaScript libraries should be able to provide advanced functionalities even for a robust online application.

Security is also optimal since JavaScript libraries are just actually a collection of codes that could be launched as an Ajax based application. Compared to learning the programming language from the start, developers could jump directly to libraries and concentrate on the functions they will be using later.