Rich UI Tools? "Flashy but not in Flash"

DisgruntledOrangatang · 09-03-2009, 09:25 AM

I recently came across openfaces (OpenFaces) which is Java based (which I know none of hah). And from looking at the demos, you can do some really badass 'Flash like' stuff but without using Flash. I was wondering if you guys have come across any other such libraries/tools to make doing rich UI's easier/more streamlined? In any language.

Pages like mint.com and shit. UI's like this are top of the line as far as I am concerned. When a site's UI makes me feel like I am not in a web browser, I consider it superb. Now granted their trends tab uses Flash, but other than that they do some really impressive stuff w/o it. Because we all know the standards and accessibility issues with Flash. I thought Flash was going to be the future a few years ago, but with stuff like disabling normal right click function (w/o programming it in) and seeing what is capable in other languages w/o doing that. I am not so sure anymore.

Also any other sites you guys may know of that do stuff like this, please link them. I love design stuff and love to see what other people are doing, from a consumer endpoint I have waiting a long time for UI's to get this point.

Zeste · 09-03-2009, 11:11 AM

Ajax can do some rad stuff.

DisgruntledOrangatang · 09-03-2009, 11:33 AM

Haha of course Ajax, but that isn't a linkable library really, unless there is some ajax library that makes it easier. When I have used it I just wrote it from scratch, but I ain't no coder pro so.

I know there is a JavaScript library called prototype, but I never used it and not sure if that helps the fancy UI kind of thing.

Find me moar websites that use that pro ish.

Luthair · 09-03-2009, 12:47 PM

jQuery is another popular library. As far as I know jQuery and prototype won't provide you with an API for writing a UI, they wrap a lot of commonly used javascript features to make them easier to use, and to maximize compatibility across browsers.

lendarios · 09-03-2009, 03:42 PM

Silverlight, does that fits you?

DisgruntledOrangatang · 09-03-2009, 08:04 PM

Silverlight? isn't that the microsoft version of Flash with the exact same short comings?

Edit: @Luthair, I wasn't necessarily looking for an API (though of course if there are any, that would be sweet), just anything that makes creating those awesome UIs easier.

simeon · 09-04-2009, 10:57 AM

Prototype + Scriptaculous

Enjoy.

DisgruntledOrangatang · 09-04-2009, 11:29 AM

Very cool, never heard of that one. Thanks.

Kargon · 09-04-2009, 02:12 PM

http://jqueryui.com/

Mixtilplix · 09-06-2009, 11:39 PM

Have you got a good grasp of the DOM yet? Most of the advance JavaScript libraries will seem like Greek to you if haven't studied up on it. Just a bit of advice. All those cool effects are done through DOM manipulation, the libraries just shorten a lot of the steps you would have normally done in JavaScript and make some hard ass ones really easy.

DisgruntledOrangatang · 09-06-2009, 11:48 PM

I am going to say, no. But why do I really need that knowledge? Of course i just started looking into this stuff, but I ran some jquery tutorials to do basic stuff and it seemed pretty easy so far.

Luthair · 09-21-2009, 07:03 PM

Just going to add another in case someone else is looking: Home | The Dojo Toolkit

I'd never heard of it until two weeks ago and now its popping up from multiple sources.

PerritoBites · 09-21-2009, 07:15 PM

So far I have built everything from scratch... but those tools seem pretty good! Thanks for the links!

simeon · 09-22-2009, 09:53 AM

Worked at IBM this summer and had to use a lot of Dojo. It's a super pain in the ass, and not something you can easily pick up and run with. It has a lot of power, but if you're looking for general stuff (auto-complete, ajax calls, etc) stick with something else.

09-03-2009, 09:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
DisgruntledOrangatang Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,399	Rich UI Tools? "Flashy but not in Flash" I recently came across openfaces (OpenFaces) which is Java based (which I know none of hah). And from looking at the demos, you can do some really badass 'Flash like' stuff but without using Flash. I was wondering if you guys have come across any other such libraries/tools to make doing rich UI's easier/more streamlined? In any language. Pages like mint.com and shit. UI's like this are top of the line as far as I am concerned. When a site's UI makes me feel like I am not in a web browser, I consider it superb. Now granted their trends tab uses Flash, but other than that they do some really impressive stuff w/o it. Because we all know the standards and accessibility issues with Flash. I thought Flash was going to be the future a few years ago, but with stuff like disabling normal right click function (w/o programming it in) and seeing what is capable in other languages w/o doing that. I am not so sure anymore. Also any other sites you guys may know of that do stuff like this, please link them. I love design stuff and love to see what other people are doing, from a consumer endpoint I have waiting a long time for UI's to get this point. __________________ "Talk all you want, but when I say I'm going to kill you, there's nothing you can do but die"

09-03-2009, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zeste Oooooooooooohhhh, yeeeeeeeeeesssssss Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,378 +69 Internets	Ajax can do some rad stuff. __________________

09-03-2009, 11:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
DisgruntledOrangatang Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,399	Haha of course Ajax, but that isn't a linkable library really, unless there is some ajax library that makes it easier. When I have used it I just wrote it from scratch, but I ain't no coder pro so. I know there is a JavaScript library called prototype, but I never used it and not sure if that helps the fancy UI kind of thing. Find me moar websites that use that pro ish. __________________ "Talk all you want, but when I say I'm going to kill you, there's nothing you can do but die"

09-03-2009, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
DisgruntledOrangatang Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,399	Silverlight? isn't that the microsoft version of Flash with the exact same short comings? Edit: @Luthair, I wasn't necessarily looking for an API (though of course if there are any, that would be sweet), just anything that makes creating those awesome UIs easier. __________________ "Talk all you want, but when I say I'm going to kill you, there's nothing you can do but die" Last edited by DisgruntledOrangatang; 09-04-2009 at 09:39 AM..

09-04-2009, 11:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
DisgruntledOrangatang Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,399	Very cool, never heard of that one. Thanks. __________________ "Talk all you want, but when I say I'm going to kill you, there's nothing you can do but die"

09-03-2009, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Luthair Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,538	jQuery is another popular library. As far as I know jQuery and prototype won't provide you with an API for writing a UI, they wrap a lot of commonly used javascript features to make them easier to use, and to maximize compatibility across browsers.

09-04-2009, 10:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
simeon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 927 +8 Internets	Prototype + Scriptaculous Enjoy.

09-04-2009, 02:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kargon Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 205	http://jqueryui.com/ __________________ A Stupid Name - Winterhoof

09-06-2009, 11:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mixtilplix Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 229 +1 Internets	Have you got a good grasp of the DOM yet? Most of the advance JavaScript libraries will seem like Greek to you if haven't studied up on it. Just a bit of advice. All those cool effects are done through DOM manipulation, the libraries just shorten a lot of the steps you would have normally done in JavaScript and make some hard ass ones really easy.

09-06-2009, 11:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
DisgruntledOrangatang Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,399	I am going to say, no. But why do I really need that knowledge? Of course i just started looking into this stuff, but I ran some jquery tutorials to do basic stuff and it seemed pretty easy so far. __________________ "Talk all you want, but when I say I'm going to kill you, there's nothing you can do but die"

09-21-2009, 07:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
Luthair Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,538	Just going to add another in case someone else is looking: Home \| The Dojo Toolkit I'd never heard of it until two weeks ago and now its popping up from multiple sources.

09-21-2009, 07:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
PerritoBites （￣ー￣） Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PR, UY, ROC Posts: 2,507 -20 Internets	So far I have built everything from scratch... but those tools seem pretty good! Thanks for the links!

09-22-2009, 09:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
simeon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 927 +8 Internets	Worked at IBM this summer and had to use a lot of Dojo. It's a super pain in the ass, and not something you can easily pick up and run with. It has a lot of power, but if you're looking for general stuff (auto-complete, ajax calls, etc) stick with something else.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: