AJAX allows for asynchronous communication between the client and server to make web applications more interactive. This enables richer applications with widgets by making GUI actions independent from calls to the server. While AJAX can be challenging for server-side developers, as the lead of Google Maps said, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger."

2. AJAX
● background conversation with server to make
application more interactive
– GUI actions are independent from calls to server
– Hence: Asynchronous JAvaScript XML
● Enables richer web applications with widgets &c

3. AJAX means pain
● Especially for server-side developers
● But, as the lead of Google Maps once said:
– “If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger”

4. Demo application

5. Django & AJAX wrap-up
● Main type of integrations
– Call a Django service or view in the background
● Used JQuery. Many other frameworks (Prototype,
Mootools, &c) offer same functionality – wrapper around
underlying XMLHttpRequest
– Use Django serializers, e.g., directly into JSON
– Bind widgets to Django-based JSON view as data-
source
– Add client-side logic, e.g., chaining select boxes in
forms

6. Links
● Source code (q&d quality):
– http://code.google.com/p/ppl-search
● Run the demo:
– http://ppl-search.appspot.com
● AppEngine Django Helper:
– http://code.google.com/p/google-app-engine-django/
● Frameworks & API's used:
– JQuery, YUI, JIT, Mootools, Twitter search
● Tools
– FireBug

7. Send us your questions
● Alex Arshavski
– alexarsh5@gmail.com
– http://twitter.com/alexarsh
● Udi h Bauman
– dibaunaumh@gmail.com
– http://dibau.wordpress.com
– http://twitter.com/dibau_naum_h