Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond will have you learning how to create rich internet applications (RIA) in java, ruby and python. It also provides tips on enhancing your productivity and how to debug your application.
Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond also provides techniques on how to solve common issues in web applications when building an RIA, and how to develop, deploy and control third party access to your RIA.
Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond is only for you if you are already a programmer used to using java, python or ruby. You should also know a little about UML diagrams and about how to manipulate databases.
The book begins with giving you an introduction to web 2.0 and the basics of ajax syntax and how to program javascript and use cascading style sheets.
There are some good examples of mashups with using google maps and integrating map coordinate results with other data.
The book also contains some useful code examples on realtime form validation using ajax, as well as how to improve the usability of forms using ajax.
There are also chapters on how to perform drag and drop operations using ajax, as well as how to perform user interaction, create effects and animations using ajax. There is also another chapter on how to create a way for users to add tags and ratings to your application images and data.
Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond nicely adds a chapter on how to create your own APIs from your programs and allow other users to use your programs.
A really nice section in Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond is at the end of the book which introduces you to the programming language used in Second Life. There are also programming examples in this chapter which can help you to program Second Life.
As with all Wrox books there is a great deal of content in the book with a great number of screenshots and code examples to follow. Rich Internet Applications AJAX and Beyond is a great book for introducing you to programming in Ajax, but only if you can program in java, ruby or in python.