"OpenAJAX?" WTF?
article about a new “OpenAJAX” initiative spearheaded by the likes of IBM and Novell (just to name a few). This initiative claims to “promote Ajax’s promise of universal compatibility with any computer device, application, desktop or operating system, and easy incorporation into new and existing software programs.”
Of course, being AJAX, this is all about “Web 2.0,” the marketing buzzword of the year that simply means “hey, remember us? We’re the web! You know, the Internet thingy with browseable content?” Folks who actually work in web development cringe when they hear “Web 2.0.”
Let’s debunk a myth: There’s absolutely nothing NEW here… There is no “Web 2.0″ and there’s no need for an initiative to push this stuff.
Here’s all you really need to know about AJAX:
- It’s a fancypants way of referring to “XMLHttpRequest()” objects in Javascript.
- It was invented by Microsoft in the 1990s (so it’s not even close to being new).
- XMLHttpRequest() objects merely allow web browsers to converse directly with scripts running on a web server, eliminating the need to refresh a page whenever content needs to be updated.
- AJAX (okay, I got tired of typing the full name) does not require special programming libraries or plugins to work. If your browser supports Javascript, it can do AJAX.
- The guts of any AJAX functionality consists of about 15 or so lines of code. That’s IT.
I know this because the comment system that I wrote for this blog uses AJAX. Leave a comment and you’ll see.
Folks, if I can do this, anyone with a bit of programming experience can do this. AJAX is simple. Working around browser lameness takes thought but the AJAX interaction part is dog simple and in general does not change one single iota from one AJAX web page to another.
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p> This is marketing fluff, plain and simple. And what kills me is it’s too little, too late. AJAX doesn’t need this. It’s doing fine on its own. So let’s call this spade what it is: an initiative to push Javascript into more applications and devices. Konfabulator/Yahoo Widgets has its own AJAX. Apple’s Dashboard widgets (being based almost entirely on Javascript and other web technologies) supports it. Where else do we need it? Toasters? Electric Toothbrushes? I don’t get it.]]>
