Tech Talk

Ajax is getting a lot of tech buzz these days.  Making RPCs from client-side javascript is not a new technological innovation. Techniques such posting to hidden frames, posting to IFrames, and using Applets for server-side communication have been around for more than ten years.  

Back in 2000 I wrote a Web based Client Service Rep (CSR) application for a Appliance Warehouse.   It was a call center application used by CSRs to process customer orders for appliance rentals: washers, dryers, etc.  The application was designed to replace an existing client-server, windows-based application.  A key requirement was for the Web application to behave like the windows application it replaced (i.e. minimal or no screen refresh/browser form posts).

In 1999 Microsoft released an Applet-based RPC technique for javascript called Remote Scripting. This is the solution that I implemented for the CSR application. 

It's nice to see the resurgence of these javascript RPC methodologies albeit rebranded as "AJAX".  I now only use the XmlHttpRequest methodologies lauded by Ajax proponents, however; Remote Scripting can still be leveraged today.  An article posted by Peter Bromberg has some nice examples.

Here are some resources for Remote Scripting:

Microsoft Remote Scritpting

Brent Ashley's Remote Scripting Resources