Web Command Prompt - A taste of Atlas, AjaxPro and the Prototype Family

A few days ago, I decided it was time for me to revive an old project of mine - Web Command Prompt (New Version) (Last Year's Version). I started this project last year, however, due to the limitations of the available javascript frameworks then, I found myself couldn't progress any further after a few weeks, most of the ajax frameworks weren't even there either. I simply couldn't easily have the command prompt retrive server side data easily.

Since last summer, the landscape has changed quite a bit. Recently, I was digging through Atlas documentation and I found that it has a very strong object oriented scripting framework and if you study it carefully, then you'll find out that you can really use them in any environment, doesn't necessarly has to be .NET. Excellent, I thought,  just what I was looking for.

In a few days, by reading Atlas scripting framework, I've completely reworte the entire comamnd prompt structure. Now it's truely object oriented and more importantly, allow users to program their own command plugin into the command prompt. In fact, my own commands were written in a templated command plugin class.

Features I got "free" out of the Atlas Scripting Framework

• Javascript Namespace
• Javascript Abstract Classess
• Javascript Interface Classess
• Inheritance
• Javascript "Reflection"
• Javascript Delegates
• ScriptLoading Handler (to ensure the loading sequence)

Very impressive set.

Now here is somethign interesting. Atlas is a programming framework, at this stage, it doesn't yet provide advanced visual effects. Wouldn't it be nice to style the command prompt into draggable windows, maximize, minimize, close and at the same time display cool effects? I thought prototype and its decendents are perfect for this. The issue is I've experienced in the past (a few month ago), some odd conflicts between Atlas and the prototype family. Would I waste my time again?

So I tried with Prototype Window Class and guess what? No problem. They play very nicely together. Take that!

In addtion, I've done some other visual testing with Scriptaculous and it too played nicely with my Atlas Command Prompt. It's getting real interesting.

Last week, I just finished a big part of a new project and I've successfully implemented it using AjaxPro.NET which is very light and because I know javascript, getting back the data and inject them into the page was a breeze. I thought, wouldn't it be great if I can use what I know about AjaxPro.NET and integrate it with the Web Command Prompt created using Atlas scripting framework?

In the next few days, I will create a AjaxPro.NET command plugin and see if data being retrived from the server will place nicely with my command prompt. Stay tuned.