jQuery is a well known programming language for JavaScript and Ajax for a good reason. Since its inception, developers around the world are constantly working with the framework. Their work is not just based on creating new applications based on jQuery but on creating new functions and tools that will improve the framework. Because of this support, thousands of scripts can be freely used in various jQuery based applications.
A good example for the continued support of this framework is the recently released tools for jQuery: Concrete and Selector. The application was developed by Hamish Friedlander and can be freely used in various JavaScript and Ajax based applications running with jQuery.
jQuery Concrete
Concrete is a small but very powerful library that can be injected in various jQuery applications. Specifically built for powerful applications, Concrete will allow developers work with DOM without manual coding. The library is aimed to take over functions of Object Oriented programming. This means developers won’t have to extensively work with DOM functions as the library will adjust to the needed functions in the application. Completely aware of its current environment, the library will be able to provide functions without major changes on the DOM.
The self awareness of this library has become a very impressive feature of Concrete. But what pushes this library further is the ability of the functions to directly attach to DOM. The function will not be treated as another plug-in or API but another set of codes placed in the DOM. This improves access of the application since it will not have to go through another protocol just to be interpreted by JavaScript engine. Since it’s also fully compatible to jQuery, working with other functions in the library is not a problem.
jQuery Concrete can be found here.
jQuery Selector
Selector for jQuery is not a totally separate library in Concrete. In fact, the main reason why Concrete is very powerful in introducing the functions to DOM is because of Selector. In gist, Selector is a simple CSS tool that pulls functions needed from Concrete and adopts them to DOM when needed.
The library makes use of jQuery’s natural ability to work with powerful CSS. This setting makes Selector an even more powerful library as it can easily interact with jQuery without any concerns. The library is also very smart since it will calculate or compare the functions from DOM and the library. The Selector will naturally select the faster function.
Challenges to Selector and Concrete
While these two libraries are very impressive, there’s a small limitation users have to go through. When using these libraries, users will be forced to download another JavaScript script instead of letting DOM or other scripts work with the application as API. This means slower gadgets or those with slow internet connection might have some trouble working with online applications using these libraries. On the other hand, these libraries can also be integrated to widgets and APIs as they are, after all, tools for data retrieval.
