Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

I found a lot of blogs and articles that are asking if we should use the Ajax.NET library or the Atlas Framework. My opinion is that it is not easy to compare these two AJAX ideas. Ajax.NET was only a idea to have a data access for JavaScript with nearly the same objects as method argument or results like we are using on the server-side. There are some other companies with nice WebControls that support AJAX functions. What we need is both of them, some WebControls (like auto-complete or livesearch, a grid that will get data while paging through,...) and the possibility to read data with a minimum of code and JavaScript knowledge. The Atlas Framework will be a complete framework where you will get additional controls.

Published Thursday, July 28, 2005 11:57 PM by Michael Schwarz

Comments

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework

Thursday, July 28, 2005 6:00 PM by Dessi
Comment found on the blog: "Microsoft should just bring this guy up and work with him to create and integrate AJAX.NET into the .NET Framework as he has already submitted the request to put it in, instead of competing with him and squashing him flat with their weight. "

I also think that they should conact Schwartz for the idea and for all the feedback we already have send to him.

Schwartz, you are the MVP for AJAX, where can I vote for you??? Thanks for the support you have done for me!!!!!

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework

Thursday, July 28, 2005 6:10 PM by Olaf
Will the Ajax.NET library will be part of the Atlas Framework? Michael, are you working at Microsoft?? I did not find any info about you where you come from...

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework

Thursday, July 28, 2005 6:16 PM by Michael Schwarz
@Dessi: Hi, I am already in contact with Microsoft Redmond (Web Platform Team). I think there is no MVP voting page, sorry.

@Olaf: No, the Ajax.NET library will not be included with the Atlas Framework, but perhaps we can get a similar way to get data back from the web server without the postback. I am from Germany, Nuremberg.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Thursday, July 28, 2005 6:31 PM by Brock Allen
I think Atlas will have to be a new implementation, not an incorporation of AJAX.NET. Atlas will have to be built on top of the new ICallbackEventHandler in ASP.NET 2.0 for the reasons I state here:

http://staff.develop.com/ballen/blog/PermaLink.aspx?guid=c35c43f6-5686-40ee-9752-8095a848d821

BTW, I do think AJAX.NET is an interesting implementation -- kudos :)

I also think there's much more that can be done, and it needs to be done in the framework.

-Brock

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 6:26 AM by Manu
Schwartz, could you please detail something of your conversations with the web platform team?

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 8:22 AM by Dan Barthel
More to the point, should AJAX.NET be expanded to implement the full JSON-RPC specification. This would add features such as call to call state persistance, constructors, etc. I think this would be a far more effective path for this project. One of the immediate benefits would be the ability to cache datasets for rapid and efficient page refresh.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 8:35 AM by Michael Schwarz
@Manu: Yesterday I have signed a NDA for the Atlas Framework. Now, I will get more details about the framework and have the chance to give feedback from my and your Ajax.NET experience. If you have a good idea or a must have feature for Atlas Framework please use my contact form or the feedback here. I will collect all these mails to see if it is interessting for the Atlas Framework.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 11:05 AM by Mark E.
The reasons I have for using the AJAX.NET over Atas...

1) AJAX.NET is here and now Atlas will come when??
2) Assuming AJAX.NET *does* get released as OpenSource and the license is acceptable (ie. LGPL, BSD, etc) then I would much prefer AJAX.NET. I can see the code, I can add new features, fix bugs, and get releases and updates much more frequently.
3) Knowing MS, Atlas will be closed (no source) will only work on the newer 2.0 framework, will have long dead times between patches and/or new features, I won't be able to contribute/fix/affect direction of the project no matter how hard I try.

I will always prefer an OpenSource and separate project over a built-in closed source one. Releases can be faster, more people can be involved and it will generally work on older/existing products.

-Mark E.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 11:45 AM by Simone
But will Atlas be released with the final of ASP.NET 2.0?
When will a preview of the framework be available to the general public?

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Friday, July 29, 2005 12:15 PM by Paul Czywczynski
A preview of Atlas will be released during PDC 2005.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/28/HNatlasframework_1.html

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Saturday, July 30, 2005 3:04 PM by Jan T.
Hallo Michael,

du machst mit beim Atlas Framework? Toll, kannst du uns schon merh sagen?

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Sunday, July 31, 2005 12:52 PM by Doris mILLER
Hello, I downloaded the AJAX library for some weeks ago and changed all my web apps, very cool thing. What will ATLAS be, a collection of controls and something like the AJAX.NET? Where can I get more info?

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Sunday, July 31, 2005 4:54 PM by Gerd Semper
As I can understand Atlas will be something different to the AJAX .NET DLL library. I have done a lot of tests for the AJAX library and was happy about the performance. Michael, do you have more information if Atlas will get such features? Or what is Atlas really? It seems that there are already a lot of developers happy with the AJAX .NET library. As you wrote in an email you will contact Microsoft for this? Is there any chance to get more detailed information about future plans on Microsoft?? Please give us some feedback if we need to wait for Atlas or if AJAX .NET will already do the same job.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Monday, August 01, 2005 3:14 AM by Manu
Schwarz, I hope that you can change Atlas team mind to make what you think it's better for the community because of your experience with AJAX.NET. I hope at least they pay you something ;-)

Because of you NDA you can't tell us anything so...good luck man!

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Monday, August 01, 2005 3:36 AM by Michael Schwarz
@Manu: Hi! Yes, I will do this. Because of my NDA with Microsoft I cannot write something about Atlas. If I get any public news I am allowed to talk about I will blog here...

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Thursday, August 04, 2005 9:12 PM by Saif
I agree with Mark E. Besides why doesn't MS give Mr. Schwartz a chance here. The folks at MS always think they know everything.

# Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 11:47 PM by K.Senthil Kumar (Sensoft2000)
I tried Ajax.Net in my web application.. Its cool. But it is not too good in dynamic data. But still i am trying to understand the full concepts.. It is easier to use. Very nice idea too. Thankx schwartz.

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 3:29 AM by Jawahar
can any 1 provide me d link to download the Atlas framework ?

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:04 PM by Michael Schwarz
@Jawahar: There is no download available because Microsoft is working on a first version. You can get more info at the PDC 05 in Los Angeles.

CIAO
Michael

# re: Ajax.NET or the Atlas Framework?

Saturday, August 27, 2005 10:23 PM by Mike
Hey, if Atlas is not as good as Ajax.NET there is nothing stopping folks from using Ajax.NET and continually extending/using it. I throw out MS parts of the Framework all the time. This is no different!

Regards,
-Mike