Microsoft Ajax CDN

Microsoft is increasingly more aggressive when it comes to Ajax and JavaScript implementation. The Ajax ASP.Net framework has certainly improved the way developers create online applications. For example, the UpdatePanel coming from ASP.Net has certainly improved page loading of Ajax based applications.

Microsoft has also tapped the assistance of jQuery in ASP.Net and other Ajax and JavaScript implementation. With millions of developers already hooked on jQuery, it's no wonder for a developer to find ASP.Net as a friendlier tool in building an Ajax based application.

But what made Microsoft "relevant" to the world of Ajax and JavaScript is the creation of Microsoft Ajax CDN. It uses a very simple concept to become at par with powerful frameworks: use their hardware resources and combine them with their familiar framework for easy implementation. Microsoft certainly has the resources to create something this efficient and they have tapped what they can use to impress a lot of developers.

The Basics on Microsoft Ajax CDN

CDN stands for "Content Delivery Network" and the name itself provides a lot of clue how it should work. Basically, Microsoft Ajax CDN is a way of delivering Ajax based functions (either jQuery, ASP.Net or both) to websites faster. Microsoft's way of efficient delivery is to set-up servers around the world. Which means developers anywhere can have an optimized function using Microsoft Ajax CDN.

The biggest advantage of Microsoft Ajax CDN is on speedy delivery of functions. Imagine building a website and loading the functions in your preferred web host. While they promise 99.9% loading time, the speed of loading is still questionable. Even if the JavaScript functions will load, it would still be difficult for the server. Microsoft will remove this concern for developers by providing the server for ease of function loading. As already indicated, the website's location will never matter because servers will be scattered in strategic areas around the world.

No Exclusive Use

Aside from faster loading, Microsoft Ajax CDN will also be available for those who have already built a website or an online application. Because of the adaptability of jQuery, it should be expected that Microsoft Ajax CDN should work with existing websites and Ajax based applications. Simply put, it doesn't matter if you use a different framework as any setting will be good for Microsoft Ajax CDN.

Scripting and Enabling CDN

Calling Microsoft Ajax CDN is like any other frameworks in the application. Developers simply have to tap this source code:

    src="http://ajax.microsoft.com/ajax/jquery/jquery-1.3.2.min.js"

As the code suggests, the application will use jQuery based library. The only difference in this setting is that it will tap into Microsoft Ajax CDN.

Another feature in the application is that developers can switch off the library at will. This feature can be found in ASP.Net 4.0 wherein the use of ScriptManager can be fully exploited. The ScriptManager comes with variable EnableCDN and this can be set to "true" if the developer wants to implement CDN in ASP.Net framework. In this setting, developers can tap Microsoft Ajax CDN at will when they use ASP.Net as their framework.