Microsoft AJAX Library Essentials

Microsoft Ajax Library Essentials is a book designed to serve as a practical tutorial to enhance a user’s experience of the ASP.NET web applications with the latest release of the Microsoft Ajax Library. It serves to teach practical development strategies and techniques. The first chapter covers topics such as Ajax and its relationship with Web 2.0, HTTP and HTML, Server Side Technologies, Client Side technologies, What makes Ajax, Uses and Misuses, an introduction to ASP.NET, resources and tools, installing IIS, installing visual web developers, and a section on how to quick start Ajax. It is easy to see early on that this book provides an in-depth view of the Microsoft client library for Ajax and is beneficial to any within the world of client side or server side technologies.

This book serves as a fantastic overview of the object oriented capabilities of JavaScript. Rather then just taking a swing at JavaScript this book gives readers the information they need to use OOP aspects so there is much more to be acquired from its material. Daire and Brinzarea reveal in a simple and easy to follow manner the proper way to create HTML codes with the Document Object Model. The book also covers all of the debugging tools for JavaScript, like Nikhil Kothari’s Web Development Helper. These tools are extremely helpful with JSON and complicated JavaScript. The Web Development Helper offers a more detailed view JavaScript error messages and the complete stack trace, allowing users to gain a greater understanding of the error messages and how to avoid or bypass them.

Let’s touch on JSON briefly before moving on. JSON or JavaScript Object Notation is used by the Microsoft Ajax Library to exchange data. Essentially it is a technique for serializing JavaScript object arrays as plain text. The Microsoft Ajax Library can also obtain XML data if the proper get_xml method is used. JSON can be easily described as a prime technology because it allows users to avoid the SOP or Same Origin Problem often encounters when using the XMLHttpRequest object, this involve the browser restriction that prohibits pulling data from another domain. The final chapter covers the debugging tool we discussed earlier as well as many more, these tools will prove to be a great asset when accessing data from other domains.

In the third chapter the reader is given a pleasant grounding on how object orientation is related to JavaScript. Aside from learning about the terms such as encapsulated and polymorphism, the reader with also learn about the anonymous functionality and closures. This goes along with JavaScript execution context and scope, JavaScript prototypes, implementation of inheritance with the use of closures and prototypes, and finally reading diagrams and implementing the with JavaScript codes. The information provided in this chapter will give the user a better idea of how JavaScript codes are used and how they work for them.

Chapter five is perhaps one of the most helpful, if it were possible to actually choose one, for the entire book is a window into the inner working of Ajax. In this chapter the authors have raised the subject of using the Microsoft Ajax Library to create “true” OOP JavaScript objects, which works along with many if not all browsers. This chapter goes in-depth about namespaces, interfaces, a more powerful inheritance paradigm, extended base classes, properties, events, and enumerations. This information alone makes the book well worth its price.

This book is about the Microsoft Ajax library behind the scenes, it introduces the reader to the applications and tools that make Microsoft Ajax work. This is good because there are a limited number of locations where one can get some accurate details about underlining JavaScript libraries. Daire and Brinzarea break down complicated codes with step by step explanations of what the source codes are doing. Most of these codes are written along with comments or explanations so the reader understands what these codes are used for and how to properly use them. The diagrams and screenshots are not only superbly done but also very helpful to the reader in understanding the textual content. All of the code examples are presented systematically, as well as dissected and explained in full detail.

The book as a whole serves as a wonderful introduction for ASP.NET developers who may be just starting to develop client side components on the Ajax framework. Also for developers who have already been using the pre-made Microsoft Ajax client side components with their projects this book with serve to aid in providing a more adequate understanding of the inner workings of these very same components. It is not hard for the reader to come to the conclusion that Microsoft Ajax Library Essentials is a must have in their collection, it sheds new light on the manner in which codes and applications can be used for the developers ultimate advantage. The book goes farther into the subject than those that came before it, it opens up more possibilities and breaks down processes like no other author has accomplished. Whether a budding developer or a seasoned on, there is something to be gained from this book.

Read Sample Chapter 3 from Microsoft AJAX Library Essentials - 13 part series

1. Microsoft AJAX Library - Concepts of Object-Oriented Programming
2. Microsoft AJAX Library - Object-Oriented JavaScript
3. Microsoft AJAX Library - JavaScript Functions
4. Microsoft AJAX Library - Functions as Variables
5. Microsoft AJAX Library - Anonymous Functions
6. Microsoft AJAX Library - JavaScript Classes
7. Microsoft AJAX Library - C# and JavaScript Classes
8. Microsoft AJAX Library - Associative Arrays
9. Microsoft AJAX Library - Creating Object Members on the Fly
10. Microsoft AJAX Library - JavaScript Execution Context
11. Microsoft AJAX Library - Inheritance using Closures
12. Microsoft AJAX Library - Inheritance using Prototypes
13. Microsoft AJAX Library - Introducing JSON

Microsoft AJAX Library Essentials: Client-side ASP.NET AJAX 1.0 Explained
Book is available for purchase at http://www.packtpub.com/ajax-csharp-essentials/book