Javascript
jQuery Plugin to Make Column Heights the Same Size
equalize_column_heights is a simple jQuery plugin that will make a series of columns have the same height. This is useful for multi-column web page layouts where you want a series of columns to all have the same height. The plugin determines the height of the tallest column and then makes all the columns in the specified group the same height. This works even as content is added to the columns that increase or decreases the max height.
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jQuery CDN Link Problems with IE 9
If you are using the Google or Microsoft CDN link to load jQuery you may run into problems with Internet Explorer 9 users. IE 9 includes a new feature called Tracking Protection which is designed to prevent sites from tracking you without your consent. An unfortunate side affect is that the default protection also blocks CDN links from popular CDN sources such as Google and even Microsoft.
A Simple Solution
The quick fix for this is to use a version that is CDN compatible with IE9. We recently tested jQuery 1.6.2 and it works fine with IE9. Earlier versions may also work but you’ll need to test each one.
Here’s one method for using the Google jQuery CDN:
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6.2/jquery.min.js”></script>
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Follow the Flash War
Apple and Adobe are in a war over Flash. Here’s a list of articles covering the feud:
- Adobe ceases development on mobile browser Flash, refocuses efforts on HTML5
November 8, 2011 - Jobs Opens Up About iPhone Leak, Abobe Flash, and More
June 2, 2010 - Adobe Stops Flash Development for Creating iPhone Apps
April 20, 2010 - Steve Jobs ‘ Thoughts on Flash’
April 28, 2010 - Initial Adobe Response
April 29, 2010 - Adobe ‘Our thoughts on open markets’
May 13, 2010
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Javascript Compiler from Google
Google has released a javascript utility called Closure Compiler to compact javascript code so it will run faster and download more quickly. The utility also helps find javascript errors. A Google add-on for Firebug is available to work with the ‘compiled’ code.
Check out these links for more details:
Closure Compiler Home Page | Closure Compiler Online Tool
Comparison Grid of Major Javascript Frameworks
Useful comparison grid of javascript frameworks – jQuery, Dojo, MooTools, Prototype, Ext JS, Spry, Yahoo, Scriptaculous, etc. Interesting that the page displaying the grid uses jQuery – not sure if that’s an endorsement or not. View Grid>>
Top 10 jQuery Plugins and Resources
jQuery has gone beyond just simplifying the use of javascript. It has also provided the ability for creating modules and plugins that can be easily be shared and integrated into any site using jQuery.
Here’s my top 10 favorite jQuery Plugins:
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Flash vs Javascript (jQuery) Pros and Cons
Until the availability of Javascript libraries such as jQuery and MooTools adding animation and interactive features that don’t require reloading a web page were out of reach for many web designers/developers unless they used Flash.
This was largely due to Javascript implementations not being consistent in major browsers. Without using a Javascript library you need extensive knowledge about the inconsistencies between the browsers and extensive knowledge about Javascript in order to work around them.
jQuery and MooTools offer a library of routines that are cross browser compatible which greatly reduces the learning curve. These libraries also offer functions to handle many routine tasks making Javascript programming faster and easier to learn.
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