Due to the number of questions I receive on various forums as well as the number of times I have run into the need for an AJAX response handler in my own work, I decided I would share one of my solutions in the hopes that it will save someone else some time as well. I assume, if you are reading this, that you have a basic knowledge of AJAX and the principles guiding the technology. In addition, basic understanding of how libraries such as jQuery perform AJAX queries and callback functions in JavaScript is a plus. For further reading on these prerequisites, check out this Google search and the jQuery docs.

After manually handling my responses in multiple projects, I finally decided to write a JavaScript object that could handle the XML responses for me and return me a usable object to my callback function. Enter the AJAX Handler object. I decided to let jQuery handle the actual requests for me, but I wanted a way to easily parse out my response, checking for errors and handle them accordingly. The result was something I have been able to use numerous times in different projects. To simplify things, let’s look at the code a piece at a time. At the bottom of this post, you will find the entire code. Read more

While somewhat old news to some, the Google App Engine is an amazing tool allowing developers to tap into the scalability offered by the Google framework while developing entirely standalone applications. What’s more, along with the offer of the code base to build from, Google also allows developers to host their projects, at no cost, on the Google App Engine server (up to 10 applications per user, no less). I was excited to learn of the project initially, and the more I have delved into it, the more enthralled I have become.

For years now, I have wanted to have the means by which to develop a small tactics style RPG game, and while I have had the basic coding knowledge needed (not to mention buckets of ideas), it has been difficult to bring myself to the point of actually taking on such a daunting task. Having the opportunity to build on the data store and framework Google has offered with their App Engine has given me that extra little boost to begin development on one of my long time goals. Read more

A friend has recently posted about Wordle on his blog, and after reading the post and trying out the site for myself, I thought I would be remiss not to make a small post about this amazing tool myself.

This creative idea uses a Java applet to read any word grouping you care to type, or you can simply point the tool to a website which offers an RSS or ATOM feed. From there, the app takes over: creating a stylistic word cloud that is quite aesthetically pleasing. With multiple color schemes, layout options, fonts and other details to allow for personal manipulation of the cloud, you can find the balance that is right for you. The image posted above was the first random creation that was generated by Wordle when pointed at this site.

Enjoy!

As a web developer, I have noted the increasing rise in popularity and demand of the social networking site. The idea of a website that is, for all intents and purposes, entirely self sustaining is a tempting prospect to anyone seeking to start a site. However, along with the demand has come an inordinate amount of questions regarding the most successful ways to build a site and drive traffic. I have noted that in many cases, the author of the question gets the cart before the horse, as it were.

Successful websites do not typically just come to be on a wing and a prayer (with a few notable exceptions). Instead, they are the bi-product of hours, weeks, and in some cases months or years of dedicated time and planning. A successful social network is no different. The planning and preparation involved before the development actually begins is paramount to seeing your brain child through to fruition.

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Or, at least that is what my son seemed to be set on completing with his most recent artistic endeavor this weekend. I was roused from my work by my wife’s stern voice instructing my son to tell — no, to show — me what he had done. Those of you who have had a three year old in your house at any time are probably already beginning to chuckle, and I assure you that your foreshadowing of enjoyment at my expense will not be disappointed.
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Life has a funny way of sneaking up on us. Since my last post several months ago, many things have changed in the world; thankfully, only a handful of those changes have actually been in my personal world. I have moved across the country with my family, gotten settled in what is perhaps the most beautiful area of our great nation, transitioned to working from home and even made several new contacts in both the gaming and internet industries. One of my only regrets through all that is that I have not had time to make even a single blog entry.

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I have always been a fan of Google’s products as I have been made aware of them, and on very few occasions have I had anything negative to say about them. I recently have started using yet another assistance provided by Google that is, in my opinion, one of the single most helpful and creative tools to be offered free of charge to the development community. I speak of none other than the Google Web Toolkit. This Java application allows you to build quite extensive AJAX utilities from within the tool itself. What I find very interesting about it is that you literally write your application in Java (using a GUI that is provided with the Toolkit, if you choose), and the Toolkit then generates your markup and JavaScript for the final product.

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Well, those of you who know me in the least are aware of my passion for video games. I have, quite literally, been a fan of console and PC gaming for as long as I can remember. My parents will vouch for the fact that, on my fifth birthday — before I could read — I was situated in front of our living room TV set with our TI-99/4A on my lap, an open code book next to me, pecking character by character until I had basic animations appearing on the screen. I vaguely remember those details, although I can remember playing games like Parsec and Hunt the Wumpus, but the passion for gaming is still there to this day.

My focus, however, has shifted from simply being a placid gamer to wanting to delve more into the inner workings of the game development process and the gaming industry in general. Choosing web development as a career path has given me more of an insight into the principles that make games work, and I greatly admire those with the knowledge and fortitude to stick with it during the grueling development process, but I still have that burning desire to be more actively involved in the industry in some way.
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Those of you who work on client side scripting to any degree (XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc) are probably well familiar with some of the more common JavaScript libraries available. I have looked into different ones to some degree, and I have used a handful of them extensively before settling on one that best fits my needs. You see, as a developer, I love to conceive of my own patterns and objects to do things within my page, but I also don’t like having to delve into the innermost workings of the DOM unless absolutely necessary for optimization. This being said, for large scale applications like Content Management Systems (CMS) or administration panels, I like to use a themed, all inclusive solution like the Yahoo! User Interface Library (YUI) or ExtJS (an extension of YUI); however, when working with basic DOM manipulation or personal projects that require a lightweight solution, I have become enamored with the jQuery library.
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Well, I suppose it is high time to write my next entry. I never intended to take a two month lapse in writing, but then again, when does anyone plan to leave their blog unmanned for that length of time? Holidays, children and work all combined over the new year to make for a rather hectic time. I’ll address each of these throughout this post, so if it gets to be a rather lengthy read, I apologize in advance.
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