Javascript libraries

While EXTJS 3.0 is on the way with a roadmap setting deadlines for early 2009, Jquery continues its path on the way to serious lightweight alternative to the massive EXT : JX extension for Jquery includes the viewport paradigm on which relies every EXT JS application.

Web based interfaces

In spite of huge progress and impressive use of ease, Jquery is not there yet : for the development of applications many developers have chosen the exhaustivity of EXT JS. Have a look at google code hosted project in development : ecartcommerce, CMS jimw, both ext js and zend framework based. In the world of content management systems, mysource is making the news with a new video that demonstrates inline editing, and other exciting Rich Application features.

• Ext examples
• Enhanced Accordion extension
• ExtJs Livegrid extension
• Saki’s extjs page (examples and extensions)
• File explorer view (grid extension)
• file explorer with  PHP code
• swfupload extension
• Last but not least, the ux repository

For those interested in developping the best possible web based application, Tine2.0, formerly eGroupWare2.0, a combination of CRM and ERP,  is worth having a look at. Its multiple feature interface is one of the most intuitive multi panel screen you can imagine, built entirely out of javascript and HTML. Based on Extjs and Zend Framework, it demonstrates that those 2 popular technologies can -finally- work together to build sensible opensource applications with features of most sophisticated desktops : accordion menu that browses between various parts of the application, tere based menu for hierachical structures, dynamic grid for data scrolling, simultaneous record viewing below the data grid. The fact that the source code of Tine2.0 can be downloaded separately from packages you might already have installed ten times on your server will save you the hassle of finding interesting code lines. But i’s not only design we’re after here : PDF export at right click on  TIne2.0 contact management. More technical details would only bring enthusiasts on the project, especially after a quick look at developpers’WIKI where specific  conceptual choices are explained : MVC or not MVC, that is the question. Anyhow, when Rich Internet Applications is what you’re looking for, try out Tine20 !!

We have covered Jquery’s flexigrid, which delivers a great range of features. The article was the occasion of a review of various grids delivered by other libraries, such as openrico, ExtJS or dojo. This article here focuses on a another version of data grid, delivered on EXTJS by Jack Slocum. The big feature of Jack’s grid is its buffer that allows to read chunks of data from an underlying storage (common use case: a database) without the need of paging. OpenRico does that too, by the way, but it hasn’t evolved much since 2006. The advantage of Ext JS LiveGrid Component is that it relies on popular EXTJS javascript extension.

A lot of nice names for this commercial J2EE based content management system that demonstrates extensive use of best dynamic HTML practice, with the help of the very special extJS library. The problem with that demonstration is that it will take you a while before you can test it on your development servers as you will have to go through commercial business AND serious java expertise in collaboration with Innovation Gate, the german company that develops this system. But it’s worth the try : this CMS goes further than basic content and workflow management : cross browser is not enough, WGA is also “cross client” : Browser (IE and Mozilla), Lotus Notes, MSWord, HTML- and XML-Editors or Email are acceptable platform to work with the system that allows publishing content to any media : Web, Cell phone, PDA, pdf. Finally, WGA allows to integrate any data source and to deal with it as “virtual repositories”. Invoices from SAP, business cases from CRM, data sheets from relational databases - all “business objects” are treated as content, just as if they were Web content maintained by authors.

• Click here for demo (user : demo / password : demo)
• Source:  ExtJs forum