Java Reference
In-Depth Information
features that are often unnecessary. If you find that you're not using many of the methods a
framework offers, you should consider using a lighter alternative that only focuses on solv-
ing one problem (some suggestions are given below). And if you're only using a handful
of methods, maybe avoid using a framework altogether and try using plain old JavaScript.
You could even package useful functions you have created together and produce your own
personal framework.
Some Useful Frameworks
It is certainly worth considering using a framework to make some common tasks easier.
Below is a list of popular frameworks and the tasks with which they can assist:
• Cookie handling:
Jar,
CookieJS,
Easy Cookie
• Animation and graphics:
KineticJS,
Move.js,
jsAnim,
Raphael
• Functional programming:
underscore
In addition,
JSDB
is a website that features a large number of high-quality JavaScript lib-
raries and frameworks, while
MicroJS
is a high-quality repository of small JavaScript lib-
raries that focus on specific tasks.
Be careful not to rely on a framework and find that you're learning the framework rather
than the language. A framework should not be used because of a lack of understanding
JavaScript; instead, it should be used to speed up JavaScript development by making it
easier to complete common tasks. Using a library can sometimes make your code more
sloppy; it's easy, for example, to write short jQuery expressions that look concise but are
spectacularly inefficient. And even if you do choose to use a framework or library, remem-
ber that a ninja should always be inquisitive as to how things work. In fact, reading a frame-
