CSIT IT1 Introduction

8/30/00

CSIT: IT1 Web Structure http://aspen.csit.fsu.edu/it1fall00

Web Technologies in a Nutshell - JavaScript

•JavaScript -- only superficially related to Java and was called LiveScript -- is Netscape's (somewhat supported by Microsoft) fully interpreted Client side extension of HTML. This is a good Client Window integration /customization technology where flexibility more important than performance

•i.e. use JavaScript for Rapid Prototyping of Complex User Interfaces

–First examples use JavaScript together with frames ( HTML extension) for interactive multi-window technologies

–JavaScript is roughly equivalent to "Abstract Windowing Toolkit/ Layout Manager" in Java but applied to Browser Frames and not Java windows

–JavaScript cannot build complex filters or simulations as slow

–But JavaScript with dynamic HTML is powerful client technology which is often easier and faster than Java -- it is faster as invokes optimized browser functions

–both Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape have excellent JavaScript support

•Server side version of JavaScript called LiveWire runs on Netscape Servers -- unsuccessful

•Originally expected client side use of JavaScript to grow in importance but new view of Web clients limits use of JavaScript to small critical event handling

–JavaScript on Palmtops called WMLScript