AJAX

WaveMaker Software will offer on Wednesday version 3.1.1 of WaveMaker Visual AJAX Studio, a framework for building database-driven AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) Web applications.

A few weeks after going live with its Google Gears application, social networking portal MySpace.com is recommending the technology to the wider enterprise.

The introduction of any new Web technology will affect a network's infrastructure in ways that range from inconsequential to earth shattering. Ajax is one of the more disruptive new Web technologies traveling across networks today. To help you minimize future surprises on your network, we've outlined the 10 things you should take to heart about Ajax.

Rich Internet applications, or RIAs, comprise a spectrum of application types and technologies. The lightweight end of the spectrum has seen most of the attention in recent months, with Microsoft's Silverlight and Adobe's AIR (Application Integrated Runtime) getting attention as the new kids in town. But AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is still where most of the lightweight action resides. And despite the recent focus on lightweight app dev, significant developer focus remains on the heavyweight tools in the Microsoft .Net and Sun Java worlds.

If you'd like to get started with Ajax, I highly recommend Ajax Construction Kit by Michael Morrison. It's terrific. Morrison's writing is clear, strong, and informative. The sample projects are practical applications that make great starting points for real-world applications. He thoroughly explains the stuff you need to know and doesn't get bogged down in the stuff you don't. Plus he includes just enough humor to keep things light and fun.

Dissatisfied with the Web development tools already available, researchers at the newly formed Developer Tools Lab at Mozilla Labs intend to find better options.