SproutCore for Powerful Online Applications

One of the most popular frameworks for Ajax and JavaScript today is SproutCore. This particular framework became popular when Apple’s MobileMe started using SproutCore as its framework in developing their online interactive application. Since then, thousands of developers have been adopting SproutCore as their framework for developing Ajax based applications.

Developers of the framework on the other hand are also keen in improving SproutCore from its initial offering to developers. SproutCore is on the verge of being released as version 1.0 wherein additional features will be added to the powerful framework.

Current Features

SproutCore currently has the following features which aids in the development of Ajax and JavaScript based applications:

Automated Functions – Developers can enjoy faster development with SproutCore as the most essential tasks of an Ajax based application has been automated. Drag and drop, undo and keyboard shortcuts are only some of the automated functions of SproutCore.

Although the list of automated functions is not extensive, covering the essential is enough to help the developers improve development time of the application.

Server Agnostic – The speed of MobileMe is credited on SproutCore’s server agnostic behavior. Developers could easily deploy the application without too much effort as they would require server side coding.

Interaction with other frameworks - SproutCore could also be improved with the help of other frameworks. Developers should be able to build an Ajax based application and call on other Ajax based sources without too much effort. Aside from XML, SproutCore could also be integrated with JSON.

Future Features

As already indicated, SproutCore is already aggressive in developing features so that it could be presented as version 1.0. The following features should be expected in the upcoming version of SproutCore:

Library Independence – as part of the aggressive plan of SproutCore to be full package for developers, SproutCore will be coming out with a library of its own. Currently, SproutCore is using prototype for its additional features.

Although prototype is a powerful library that could be integrated to SproutCore, developers are planning to improve functions by developing their own set of functions.

More Automation – In the efforts to improve development time in building applications for SproutCore, more functions will be automated. Currently, only a handful of functions are being automated to help accelerate the development of Ajax based application.

This goal is directly tied up to the goal of automation independence. When SproutCore will be released with version 1.0 you should be able build an Ajax based application faster.

API Development – Building an Ajax based application is more than establishing a good online application. SproutCore recognizes that need and will be releasing an API development tool.

This could be perfect for developing an Ajax based application as the API could assist developers in integrating an API in other websites.

Improved Coding – Aside from additional features, SproutCore will also improve their current coding. When SproutCore was released, it was only limited to MobileMe and few developers.

But since it became one of the hottest frameworks, improvement of functions is in place to support the demand.