Creating DHTML Applications

'Client side programming' has evolved from simple scripting to a more complex matter. Developers are now using JavaScript to build fully-featured client side applications.

A lot of developers have tried to improve their workflow by developing generic DHTML APIs. These usually work for the people who have developed them, and can be useful 'learning tools,' but often are too generic and become too big, or are very complex and become incomprehensible.

In this article, I will explain a method for developing DHTML that will shorten the process and streamline the workflow for novice and experienced developers. I will explain how to build a customized and personalized API by looking at both the methodology and the practical techniques involved.

Contents:

• Introduction
• Methodology
• Technique
  • Solving problems on the DOM-level: the mElement() function
  • PROPERTY scripting
  • BEHAVIOR scripting
• Case Study
  • BEHAVIOR scripting
  • PROPERTY / DOM scripting; Summary
• Conclusion