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Ajax on Rails
Learn to build dynamic, interactive web applications using
the two most important approaches to web development today:
Ajax and the phenomenally efficient Ruby on Rails platform.
This book teaches intermediate to advanced web developers
how to use both Ajax and Rails to quickly build
high-performance, scalable applications
without being
overwhelmed with thousands of lines of JavaScript code. More
than just recipes, you also get a thorough, low-level
understanding of what's happening under the hood.
Ajax on Rails includes three fully worked out Rails/Ajax
applications, and quick reference sections for Prototype and
script.aculo.us.
Testing lessons show you how to eliminate cross-browser
JavaScript errors and DOM debugging nightmares using a
combination of Firebug, and Venkman.
Advanced material explains the most current design practices
for Ajax usability. You'll learn to avoid user experience
mistakes with proven design patterns.
Beyond the how-to, Ajax on Rails helps you consider when
Ajax is (and isn't) appropriate, and the trade-offs
associated with it. For those new to Rails, this book
provides a quick introduction, the big picture, a walk
through the installation process, and some tips on getting
started. If you've already started working with Rails and
seek to deepen your skill set, you'll find dozens of
examples drawn from real-world projects, exhaustive
reference for every relevant feature, and expert advice on
how to "Ajaxify" your applications.
Preface
1. Introduction
Who This Book Is For
What Ajax Is
What Rails Is
`You Got Your Ajax in My Rails!'
Getting Up to Speed
Summary
2. Getting Our Feet Wet
The Old-Fashioned Way
JavaScript Libraries and Prototype
Bringing Rails into the Picture
Summary
3. Introducing Prototype
Setting the Stage
Ajax Links
Forms
Ajax Forms
Buttons
Form Observers
Summary
4. Introducing script.aculo.us
Visual Effects
Drag and Drop
Summary
5. RJS
Instructions Instead of Data
Putting the R in RJS
A Real-World Example
Summary
6. Ajax Usability
Principles of Usability
The Context of the Web
Usability on the Web
Cross-Platform Development
Summary
7. Testing and Debugging
Debugging
Testing
Summary
8. Security
Healthy Skepticism: Don't Trust User Input
Hashing Passwords
Silencing Logs
The Same-Origin Policy
The Use and Abuse of HTTP Methods
Encryption and Secure Certificates
The Rails Security Mailing List
Summary
9. Performance
Development and Production Environments
Session Stores
Output Caching
Asset Packaging
Dealing with Long-Running Tasks
Summary
10. Prototype Reference
Ajax Support
DOM Manipulation
Core Extensions
11. script.aculo.us Reference
Visual Effects
Drag and Drop
Controls
Element Extensions
DOM Builder
JavaScript Unit Testing
Utility Methods
A. Review Quiz
B. Photo Gallery
C. Intranet Workgroup Collaboration
Index
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