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March 14, 2008 8:23am
Subscribe [6]#1 / Mar 14, 2008 8:23am
I’m curious how EllisLab decided upon a Javascript framework. Was Mootools in the running? Was there unanimity that JQuery is the better choice? How did you go about evaluating them? Any info you’d volunteer would be interesting. Useful I don’t know, because I’m going to follow in your footsteps regardless, but still.
#2 / Mar 14, 2008 12:06pm
Well it seems to be gaining a lot of traction and appears to be the mainstream javascript framework at the moment.
I’m sure that Prototype/Scriptaculous has something to say about that but for effects and ease of use it can’t be beaten (Says the man that is on page 10 of his learning manual!)
#3 / Mar 14, 2008 12:14pm
It’s easy, lightweight, powerful, I like the syntax… Good choice, I think.
#4 / Mar 14, 2008 12:36pm
We spent a great deal of time evaluating various JavaScript libraries, focusing on size, speed, browser compatibility, ease of use, capabilities, activity level of the developers behind the framework, security, and even a splash of the pulse we had on what libraries were being chosen by you and CI users in their projects. By fall of last year, those factors left that finger pointing squarely at jQuery.
#5 / Mar 14, 2008 12:46pm
We spent a great deal of time evaluating various JavaScript libraries, focusing on size, speed, browser compatibility, ease of use, capabilities, activity level of the developers behind the framework, security, and even a splash of the pulse we had on what libraries were being chosen by you and CI users in their projects. By fall of last year, those factors left that finger pointing squarely at jQuery.
My thoughts exactly. But more importantly, what is that shirt you are wearing at SXSW? I think it’s great!
#6 / Mar 14, 2008 12:58pm
My thoughts exactly. But more importantly, what is that shirt you are wearing at SXSW? I think it’s great!
Some astute users noticed that I also wore this shirt one day at SXSW 2007, but it’s a fun shirt and always gets comments. And when I was packing, my wife demanded that if there were going to be pictures that I wear it. It’s an old Vintage Red, which applies Indian and European aesthetic to western apparel.
Edit-add: And it’s related to jQuery because, um, $(’#shirt’).standOut();
#7 / Mar 14, 2008 1:04pm
My thoughts exactly. But more importantly, what is that shirt you are wearing at SXSW? I think it’s great!
Some astute users noticed that I also wore this shirt one day at SXSW 2007, but it’s a fun shirt and always gets comments. And when I was packing, my wife demanded that if there were going to be pictures that I wear it. It’s an old Vintage Red, which applies Indian and European aesthetic to western apparel.
Well this one looks like I spilt vintage down it but I love it as it glows in the dark to reveal the arrows under party lights!
#8 / Mar 14, 2008 1:44pm
Bit of a newbie question, the effect on the EE homepage where you have the 5 tabs underneath the main feature box - is that a standard jquery effect that I can look up and apply to my own site or was it written specifically?
I ask because I’ve seen it before, and I want to try and use it but my knowledge of javascript and jquery is in the beginners phase!
#9 / Mar 14, 2008 1:54pm
I believe the UI plugin has something similar now, but at the time of our redesign one year ago, it didn’t exist. If you view source on the homepage, you can see how it’s built within the script tags of the <head> area; it’s not overly complex, but of course also ties to the CSS.
#10 / Mar 14, 2008 2:22pm
I am very happy that jQuery is the default library. I’ve been using it for months now, and it has saved me hours and hours of otherwise tedious JavaScripting. Don’t forget folks, as Derek Allard point out in the recent post entitled ExpressionEngine 2.0: fully CodeIgnited!:
Oh, and we understand that some people may have their own preferred javascript libraries. The new JavaScript library in CodeIgniter allows you to extend it to use your own. Its all abstracted. You like Scriptaculous, there’s room for a scriptaculous driver. You like Mootools? You can build a driver. Think of it like the database library. You say “hey CodeIgniter, do this… here’s what I’m using - you figure it out”, and CodeIgniter does. It’s smart like that.
My only question will be: what if, for whatever reason, you need to use two libraries. Is there an easy way (or a need, as I may not have all the info I need about how EE/CI is using the library) to put jQuery into “No Conflict” mode.
I think the EllisLab team consistently thinks through decisions…and makes good ones. I’m on board!
#11 / Mar 14, 2008 3:02pm
Initially, Rick and I were relatively large fans of Prototype/Script.aculo.us, which we were calling internally Script-o as both Rick and I are notoriously lazy spellers. We liked the syntax, the power, and how many other tools like Rails was using it. Other members of our team (and communities) were using jQuery on their own projects, so we looked into that as well.
I think the deciding factor came in July 2007 when Jones wrote us a long email comparing the two. jQuery 1.1.3 had been released earlier that month with dramatic speed increases, still a light footprint, and various other important improvements. Based on his arguments and how more people in our communities were using it than Script-o, we decided on jQuery. We’re obviously not married to it, but it is a darn cool library and the Dereks are becoming very skilled with it for EE 2.0.