AJAX: Where to start

scrupul0us

IVe read a few articles
IBM
IBM
IBM

but im left wanting more... would it be better to get a book that provides step by step the basics-or- is there a website that would be comperable

Thanks!

madwormer2

Make yourself a simple chat-room type script.

It's sort of the "hello world" of AJAX if you will.

That way, you can learn as you're going along, I found it helped me 😛

scrupul0us

riiiight... the point of this was find out WHERE togo...

if i knew HOW to make a chatroom script then id probably have enough grasp on it to not have to ask in the first place

bpat1434

If you know Javascript already, I'd suggest "Ajax In Action". It is written well, and I've been perusing it a bit, but not too in-depth as I have other priorities. But I did read it once through, and it takes you through everything.... I liked it.

Otherwise, get a good Javascript book first. Become proficient in JS first, then move on to AJAX.

madwormer2

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riiiight... the point of this was find out WHERE togo...

if i knew HOW to make a chatroom script then id probably have enough grasp on it to not have to ask in the first place

Well, I suppose here: http://www.google.com/search?q=ajax+beginner would be a good place for you to start.

You have the choice of learning how to use AJAX, or you can alternatively just go straight for a framework where it does most of the work for you. (Prototype springing to mind, as one of many that posses such a feature)

scrupul0us

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MarkR

I can't tell you where to start, but I will give you some tips based on my own experience:

Don't use XML, use JSON.

I use form-encoded parameters for sending stuff to the server (form-encoded POSTs or query string GETs) and JSON for responses. This works very nicely with the PHP Services_JSON package.

I had trouble with XML responses; some browsers it turned out, had encoding bugs etc, causing unicode strings to not come through correctly and/or other problems.

Another tip is to use a single gateway page.

This greatly simplifies the process. I use the PATH_INFO to contain the command that is being executed (some commands use GET, others POST depending whether they're modifying anyway). This works nicely.

So an example request might be:

GET /server/gateway.php/GetPostsPage?thread_id=156&skip=0&max=5

Where "GetPostsPage" is the command name, and the rest are parameters.

Mark

scrupul0us

picked up two books this weekend on the subject.. the authors escape me... but im understand alot more of it... i just need to use it