This content is reprinted from Real-World AJAX: Secrets of the Masters published by SYS-CON Books. To order the entire book now along with companion DVDs for the special pre-order price, click here for more information. Aimed at everyone from enterprise developers to self-taught scripters, Real-World AJAX: Secrets of the Masters is the perfect book for anyone who wants to start developing AJAX applications.

REFERENCES

List of AJAX and JavaScript Frameworks and Libraries
There are many different frameworks from which to choose. Some are open source and therefore free and some are commercial products, which typically charge for a fee. These commercial products do provide for a free copy for particular users, such as development, not for profit, or personal use, so be sure to check the particulars of the licensing structure. The following is a list of Frameworks and Libraries that were valid as of August 2006.

AJAX Toolkits/JavaScript Frameworks
AjaxFace is Vertex Logic's framework that is focused on enterprise class development and RIAs. It has various licensing schemes, one of which appears to be free. It is located at www.vertexlogic.com/index.html.

AJAXGear is an AJAX Toolkit located at www.ajaxgear.com.
BackBase, at www.backbase.com, is 37 Signals' AJAX browser-side framework. It is one of the leading commercial frameworks for AJAX development. It currently provides AJAX out of the box widgets, operates on all browsers, and is based on open Internet standards. Available for purchase by those who intend to use it for their business, it is free for non-commercial and community use.

Bindows, at http://bindows.net, is an object-oriented development platform that provides the following features:

• Class based, object-oriented API
• Complete windowing system with a wide array of supported widgets including menus, forms, grids, sliders, gauges and more
• Toolkit for developing zero-footprint SOA client-side applications
• Native XML, SOAP and XML-RPC support

Dojo, http://dojotoolkit.org/, is a popular open source, JavaScript toolkit that provides widgets, an animation system, cross-domain AJAX support and cross-domain package loading, the ability to bundle CSS as well as HTML in profile builds, and APIs.

Interactive Website Framework, http://sourceforge.net/projects/iwf/, is a framework for creating interactive Websites using JavaScript, CSS, XML, and HTML with a JavaScript based GUI toolkit.

The Plex Toolkit, www.plextk.org/, is an AJAX and rich Internet applications framework written in JavaScript.

Prototype, an open source application, is available at http://prototype.conio.net/. It is a Java Script framework with a large library that provides for class-driven development. Users can also download just their popular .js file as well.

Qooxdoo, http://qooxdoo.oss.schlund.de, is an open source, JavaScript-based GUI framework.

Rico, http://openrico.org/, is a JavaScript framework that provides an open source library for AJAX, drag and drop, cinematic effects, and behavior components.

SmartClient, http://smartclient.com/, is a AJAX rich Internet application that provides an open DHTML/AJAX client engine, rich user interface components and services, and client-server data binding systems. It is from Isomorphic Software.

The Solvent is a cross-browser AJAX, JavaScript-based application toolkit. The URL is http://sourceforge.net/projects/solvent/.

Taconite is an AJAX framework to help in the creation AJAX-enabled Web applications. Taconite can be used with all modern Web browsers (Firefox, Safari, IE, etc). The URL is http://taconite.sourceforge.net/.

TIBCO's General Interface, downloadable at www.tibco.com/software/ria/gi_resource_center.jsp, is probably the most well-established AJAX framework. It provides widgets, an IDE, component libraries, and debugging functionality. It is free for development and for those who use it for a public Website. TIBCO also has licenses for purchases for private and business use.

TIBET at www.technicalpursuit.com/ajax.htm, is an AJAX Toolkit.

ZK is an open-source, AJAX Web framework at http://zk1.sourceforge.net.

AJAX Libraries and Hybrid Frameworks
There are several libraries and hybrid frameworks that can be useful.

AFLAX is JavaScript library for Flash at www.aflax.org.

AjaxAnywhere is a Java-based framework. AjaxAnywhere is located at http://ajaxanywhere.sourceforge.net.

ajaxCFC is a ColdFusion framework that is aimed at providing developers with integration between JavaScript and ColdFusion at www.robgonda.com/blog/projects/ajaxcfc/.

AjaxRequest is JavaScript toolkit located at http://ajaxtoolbox.com/request/.

AjaxTags provides Java components at http://javawebparts.sourceforge.net.

Bajax is a JavaScript library for AJAX at http://swik.net/Bajax.

DOM-Drag is a DOM-Drag API for AJAX at www.youngpup.net/2001/domdrag/.

dp.SyntaxHighlighter is a free client-side code syntax highlighter. It is located at www.dreamprojections.com/SyntaxHighlighter/.

DotNetRemoting Rich Web Client SDK for .NET allows you to build bidirectional network applications. It is located at www.dotnetremoting.com.

Engine for Web Applications is an application framework for the development of Web applications. It is located at www.imnmotion.com/projects/engine/.

Flexible AJAX is a handler for remote scripting technology with a PHP-based back end. The URL is http://tripdown.de/flxajax/.

JSON-RPC-JAVA is a Java AJAX Framework and is an AJAX RPC middleware for JavaScript Web applications. The URL is http://oss.metaparadigm.com/jsonrpc/index.html.

JSPkg is a package loader for JavaScript. The URL is http://jspkg.sourceforge.net/.

jWic, at www.jwic.de/home/, is a Java-based development framework for developing Web applications.

MochiKit is a suite of JavaScript libraries. The creators pride themselves on extensive documentation and testing. It is located at www.mochikit.com/.

moo.ajax is an AJAX class to be used with prototype.lite from moo.fx. It is located at www.mad4milk.net/entry/moo.ajax.

Moo.FX is a JavaScript effects library. It is located at http://moofx.mad4milk.net/.

Nifty Corners provides for rounded corners without images. It is located at www.html.it/articoli/nifty/index.html.

overLIB is a JavaScript library created to develop Websites with small popup information boxes. It can be used to provide the user with navigational help and other information. It is located at www.bosrup.com/web/overlib/.

OSFlash – Flashjs is a Flash JavaScript Integration Kit. The URL is www.osflash.org/doku.php?id=flashjs.

qForms is a JavaScript API for interfacing forms. The API is released free under the GNU Lesser General Public License. The URL is http://pengoworks.com/index.cfm?action=get:qforms.

RSLite is a lightweight implementation of remote scripting that uses cookies. It is browser-compatible but limited to single calls and small amounts of data. It is located at www.ashleyit.com/rs/main.htm.

SACK, or Simple AJAX Code-Kit (SACK) Information, is a lightweight library for AJAX. It is located at http://twilightuniverse.com/projects/sack/.

Sajax is an open source tool for AJAX. Sajax assists in calling PHP, Perl or Python functions from Webpages via JavaScript. The URL is www.modernmethod.com/sajax/.

Script.aculo.us, at http://script.aculo.us/, is a library built on the Prototype JavaScript library, script.aculo.us is an AJAX visual effects library for visual effects and other tools.

ThyApi, at http://sourceforge.net/projects/thyapi/, is an API to build user interfaces for Web applications using JavaScript and AJAX.

WZ_DradDrop is a JavaScript library that provides for drag-and-drop functionality. The URL is www.walterzorn.com/dragdrop/dragdrop_e.htm.

WZ_jsGraphics is a JavaScript Vector Graphics library, which provides graphics capabilities for JavaScript. The URL is www.walterzorn.com/jsgraphics/jsgraphics_e.htm.

X is a JavaScript library that provides events, menus, tools, animation, layouts, and more. It is located at www.cross-browser.com/toys/.

WFObject is a small JavaScript file used for embedding Flash content. The URL is http://blog.deconcept.com/flashobject/.

.NET AJAX Frameworks
AJAX.NET is a free AJAX library for .NET at http://weblogs.asp.net/mschwarz/archive/2005/04/07/397504.aspx.

Anthem.Net, http://anthemdotnet.com/, is a free cross-browser AJAX toolkit for ASP.NET development. It works with both ASP.NET 1.1 and 2.0.

Atlas is Microsoft's answer to AJAX and rich Internet applications. It is a free framework that you can download from their site, http://atlas.asp.net/. It is a set of technologies to add AJAX support to ASP.NET and the framework consists of a client-side script framework and server controls.

WebORB for .NET, www.themidnightcoders.com, is a platform enabling development in Flex, Flash or AJAX and server-side applications developed with .NET, Ruby on Rails, PHP, and XML Web Services.

PHP AJAX Framework
AJASON, at http://ajason.sourceforge.net/, is an open source, PHP-based framework.

AjaxAC, at http://ajax.zervaas.com.au/, is an open source, PHP-based framework.

Cajax, at http://sourceforge.net/projects/cajax, is a PHP class library for creating Web user interfaces using AJAX.

The PAJAJ framework, which stands for PHP Asynchronous JavaScript and JSON, is an object-oriented AJAX framework for PHP. It is located at http://sourceforge.net/projects/pajaj/.

PEAR is a PHP and JavaScript AJAX library and is located at http://pear.php.net/package/HTML_AJAX.

Symfony, at www.symfony-project.com/, is an open source, PHP-based framework for AJAX.

XAJAX is an open source PHP class library for creating web-based, AJAX applications. The URL is http://xajax.sourceforge.net/.

XOAD, at www.xoad.org, is a PHP-based, object-oriented, AJAX framework.

Zephyr, at http://zephyr-php.sourceforge.net/, is an AJAX-based framework for PHP.

Ruby AJAX Framework
Ruby on Rails, at www.rubyonrails.com/, is considered by many to be an excellent general framework with AJAX support. It is open source, supports calling server side, and can be used to develop database-backed Web applications.

This content is reprinted from Real-World AJAX: Secrets of the Masters published by SYS-CON Books. To order the entire book now along with companion DVDs, click here to order.