20 JavaScript Frameworks Worth Checking Out

The number of web applications being created and used has grown rapidly since the new millenium. And importantly, so has the sheer complexity of them -- specially on the front end. No more static pages, no sir! You have a ton of sections each interacting with each other and the server and yes, it's as complicated as it sounds and just as hard to pull off. Today, I'd like to talk about a few choice JavaScript frameworks that aim to simplify front-end application development. If you think jQuery is the answer, you lose a cookie and get an F grade! Creating responsive, fluid, and maintainable interfaces for web apps isn't as easy as one would imagine -- there is data to be sent back to the server and the results parsed, data stores to be updated, views to be re-rendered and so much else that needs to be done in the background. Sure, a few of these may be a little old but their code bases have lots of lessons to teach. Related links: Introduction to Sammy.js Github Repo Google Code

Treesaver.js QuoJS - Micro JavaScript Library ahe/choco - GitHub HeadJS, the only script in your <head> paulca/eyeballs.js - GitHub Stellar.js - Documentation Getting Started Stellar.js is a jQuery plugin that provides parallax scrolling effects to any scrolling element. The first step is to run .stellar() against the element: // For example: $(window).stellar();// or: $('#main').stellar(); If you're running Stellar.js on 'window', you can use the shorthand: $.stellar(); This will look for any parallax backgrounds or elements within the specified element and reposition them when the element scrolls. Mobile Support Support in Mobile WebKit browsers requires a touch scrolling library, and a slightly tweaked configuration. Please note that parallax backgrounds are not recommended in Mobile WebKit, only parallax elements. Parallax Elements If you want elements to scroll at a different speed, add the following attribute to any element with a CSS position of absolute, relative or fixed: If a ratio lower than 1 is causing the element to appear jittery, try setting its CSS position to fixed. Parallax Backgrounds Configuring Offsets Confused? Confused?

Backbone.js Backbone.js gives structure to web applications by providing models with key-value binding and custom events, collections with a rich API of enumerable functions, views with declarative event handling, and connects it all to your existing API over a RESTful JSON interface. The project is hosted on GitHub, and the annotated source code is available, as well as an online test suite, an example application, a list of tutorials and a long list of real-world projects that use Backbone. Backbone is available for use under the MIT software license. You can report bugs and discuss features on the GitHub issues page, on Freenode IRC in the #documentcloud channel, post questions to the Google Group, add pages to the wiki or send tweets to @documentcloud. Backbone is an open-source component of DocumentCloud. Downloads & Dependencies (Right-click, and use "Save As") Backbone's only hard dependency is Underscore.js ( >= 1.5.0). Introduction Many of the examples that follow are runnable. Upgrading to 1.1

ECMAScript 5 compatibility script for older browsers Underscore.js