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author | Peter Szinek <peter@rubyrailways.com> | 2009-05-16 16:13:31 +0200 |
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committer | Peter Szinek <peter@rubyrailways.com> | 2009-05-16 16:13:31 +0200 |
commit | a40a720b0ab595f5043058989b8820411fd066a7 (patch) | |
tree | 22904793731d2986735af052558f325b5931524f /railties/guides | |
parent | 01064e25c9a31ce0f69a8cab0adc5e6743422581 (diff) | |
download | rails-a40a720b0ab595f5043058989b8820411fd066a7.tar.gz rails-a40a720b0ab595f5043058989b8820411fd066a7.tar.bz2 rails-a40a720b0ab595f5043058989b8820411fd066a7.zip |
Initial version - quick brain dump
Diffstat (limited to 'railties/guides')
-rw-r--r-- | railties/guides/source/ajax_on_rails.textile | 94 |
1 files changed, 94 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/railties/guides/source/ajax_on_rails.textile b/railties/guides/source/ajax_on_rails.textile new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..74e8dec5cf --- /dev/null +++ b/railties/guides/source/ajax_on_rails.textile @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +h2. AJAX on Rails + +This guide covers the built-in Ajax/Javascript functionality of Rails (and more); it will enable you to create rich and dynamic AJAX applications with ease! We will cover the following topics: + +* Quick introduction to AJAX and related technologies +* Handling Javascript the Rails way: Rails helpers, RJS, Prototype and script.aculo.us +* Testing Javascript functionality +* Becoming an Ajax Master on Rails: Plugins, Best Practices, Tips and Tricks + +endprologue. + +h3. Hello AJAX - a Quick Intro + +If you are a 'show me the code' type of person, you might want to skip this part and jump to the RJS section right away. However, I would really recommend to read it - you'll need the basics of DOM, http requests and other topics discussed here to really understand Ajax on Rails. + +h4. Asynchronous Javascript + XML + +Basic terminology, new style of creating web apps + +h4. The DOM + +basics of the DOM, how is it built, properties, features, why is it central to AJAX + +h4. Standard HTML communication vs AJAX + +How do 'standard' and AJAX requests differ, why does this matter for understanding AJAX on Rails (tie in for *_remote helpers, the next section) + + + + + + +h3. Built-in Rails Helpers + +Mostly a reference to standard JS helpers like link_to_remote, remote_form_for etc + some explanation + + + +h3. Responding to AJAX the Rails way: RJS + +In the last section we sent some AJAX requests to the server; now we need to respond, and the standard Rails way to this is using RJS; RJS intro, function reference + + + +h3. I Want my Yellow Thingy: Prototype and Script.aculo.us + +Walk through prototype and script.aculo.us, most important functionality, method reference etc. + + + +h3. Testing Javascript + +Javascript testing reminds me the definition of the world 'classic' by Mark Twain: "A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read." It's similar with Javascript testing: everyone would like to have it, yet it's not done by too much developers as it is tedious, complicated, there is a proliferation of tools and no consensus/accepted best practices, but we will nevertheless take a stab at it: + +* (Fire)Watir +* Selenium +* Celerity/Culerity +* Cucumber+Webrat +* Mention stuff like screw.unit/jsSpec + +Note to self: check out the RailsConf JS testing video + +h3. Useful Plugins + +This was in the ticket description, but at the moment I don't really have clue what to add here, so please tell me + + + +h3. Tips and Tricks + +* Unobtrusive Javascript (Prototype events, maybe the jQuery way (esp. jQeury.live())) + +* Minimize communication with the server - there does not have to be a communication at all! +** If you absolutely don't have to, don't use Rails observers +** Cache stuff on the client side, e.g. with auto-complete + +* Using AJAX to load stuff asynchronously +** To avoid page blocking +** Tricking page caching +*** inserting user-specific info into a cached page +*** anti-CSFR bit + +* Jumping to the top? Try event.stopPropagation + +* Performance +** pack your javascript (minify, asset packager) +** require your JS at the end of the file +** other perf tricks and optimization + +* Don't overuse AJAX +** Usability first, cool effects second +** situations where AJAX is discouraged + +* Last but not least: Javascript is your friend :) |