Learning AJAX and JavaScript(part 1):

Why learn JavaScript now?

Rich internet application(RIA) fattens the web UI considerably. HTML sprinkled with JavaScript event module won't cut it any longer. Before Silverlight and Air matures to a level that can seamlessly migrate current web app, JavaScript is the only option available.

Can't we rely on server technology such as ASP.NET/Google Web Toolkit to generate JavaScript for us(also referred as indirect Ajax programming)? Good question, and all these players are trying hard and they are getting there. But there still be the rare and critical situation in your project that you need to rollup your sleeves and do it yourself without help of tools. And I also think there are just too many indirection involved when using these tools. UI rendering requires a lot of trial and error iteration, and if tools add more steps in the middle, you may need to rethink about using them. Also Ajax as a web app pattern, there are still a lot to be explored and to explore we will need JavaScript as a tool to gain finer control of the whole HTTP communication process.

Cookbook approach to pick up JavaScript

1. How to do drag and drop?
   
2. How to create pop-up panel?
   
3. How to enable bookmark in Ajax app? (Google map uses "add a link" link to solve this)
   

Some patterns in JavaScript based fat UI

1. Browser-side templating(BST

   and this link
   

2. HTML Message (HTM) and this link
   

Comparison of Ajax library

1. ASP.NET Ajax library comparison
   

   http://www.daniel-zeiss.de/AJAXComparison/Results.htm
   

2. OSS Ajax library comparison
   

   http://www.sitepoint.com/article/javascript-library