Comments on: Top 8 Ajax evaluation criteria

By: mrskin

mrskin — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:48:32 +0000

I think I need to make a blog, I wanna post my heart out.

By: Jep Castelein - Backbase

Jep Castelein - Backbase — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:30:24 +0000

Some feedback from Backbase: the top-8 was created by FrontForge, a consulting partner of Backbase, independent from Backbase itself. We merely pointed to the article from our weblog, because we do believe that the Backbase AJAX software meets the criteria. And yes, some of the criteria are unique to Backbase, but that doesn't make them less valid. To Andy: I agree there are many more criteria, but I feel that Backbase certainly is not behind on Tibco regarding documentation and with the IDE we are taking a standards-based approach, integrating with Eclipse and BEA Workshop (see screenshot).

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:27:09 +0000

I agree that this seems like a thinly disguised backbase talking point. To say that Dojo does not have an adequate event model or extensible widget/ behavior system is just ridiculous. I do agree with the idea of XPath integration though, however the headaches of forcing an XPath implementation through script seem like a large obstacle to overcome.

By: mortimer

mortimer — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:15:18 +0000

It’s interesting.

The irony is that the first point should be: stay compatible with non-javascript browsers (for accessibility and so on).
The authors clearly forgot that for their own site as it’s impossible to access the article without activating javascript ;)
some url rewrite rules that were lost in the process probably :D

By: day

day — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:57:36 +0000

"There is no excuse for breaking a contract with about a billion web users." Ok, the back button's not broken, but "open in new tab/window" is broken for all of their internal links. Perhaps doesn't affect a billion web users, maybe only a few million or so... Now have to clear lots of javascript:void(0); out of my background tabs.

By: Just Shelley » Ajax Myth Busting

Just Shelley » Ajax Myth Busting — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:33:14 +0000

[...] Thanks to Ajaxian for pointer to this list. In the interests of disclosure, note that I am writing a book, Adding Ajax, whereby I demonstrate that any web application developer familiar with basic JavaScript can add Ajax benefits and effects to their existing web applications. As such, I’ve violated the premise behind #4 by assuming that just anyone can become an ‘Ajax’ developer. [...]

By: Martin HruÅ¡ka

Martin HruÅ¡ka — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:27:22 +0000

This list is interesting, but there are not all points I expect from good AJAX web.

- to work without javascript, usable with stupid browser (lynx, elinks, simple cell phone browser), only these “cool features” not working. Sure, I don’t excepts maps.google.com to work inside lynx, but basic page like “http://www.frontforge.com/#art1002″ should work!
- to be findable by search engines
- to work with every browser
- to be able to open any link to new window with shift-click (or new tab)

So, let’s try their page in opera… not working. in lynx…not working. in links…not working. try to send search engine there….not working. try with firefox and javascript off….not working. try to shift-click any link…not working. try to open link to new tab.. not working

And I have to ask: Is it still World Wide Web, or is it some unusable crap?

By: ron

ron — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:58:38 +0000

Hmmm, if it is a veiled press release, they might want to avoid the following:

The Backbase Presentation Client could not load the core file (bpc_0x.js). Please verify the following:

The core file exists in the same folder as the boot.js file.
The web server has the appropriate permissions and settings to execute the core file.

By: andy

andy — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:44:55 +0000

Nice article that makes some good points. However, I can’t help feeling that this is a veiled press release from Backbase. Several times they mention that the only toolkit available that supports their list of feature is Backbase and their website is ‘Powered by Backbase”. Their statement that dojo, rico et al don’t meet most (my emphasis) of the list’s features is wrong – dojo certainly does (missing only xpath). I also have issues with the list itself; glaring omissions could include a build and package system to make downloading the Ajax ‘Client’ a quick a painless experience, or good IDE support and documentation in which case Backbase’s direct competitor Tibco GI is far ahead of EVERYONE else.