Re: How do we get there from here?


Tom deL wrote:

> Hi Dawn,
>
> <snip>
>
> > > Well ... I am not really sure. Are you saying that if the HTML portion
> > > of the AJAX system is sent to the browser via a PHP(ASP, JSP) script
> > > ('document'? in your terms) this somehow makes it a different system or
> > > approach than if the HTML content is acquired via a normal http GET
> > > request?
> >
> > You can write browser-based applications that DO the same thing, but
> > yes, it is different in that there are more "moving parts" on the
> > server and your xhtml pages are integrated with php, where in the ajax
> > approach you have an xhtml page that gets shipped sans php/asp/jsp
> > executing on the server as a pre-processor. That makes for cleaner
> > code in my opinion and I'm guessing it is more maintainable -- just a
> > hunch at this point. --dawn
>
> OK, I will be the first to admit that I am easily confused so please
> bear with me here ...
>
> My understanding of AJAX is basically:
>
> 1. In an HTML document, a CSS named division, span or whatever is set
> up that will recieve some content (<span id='something'>Content will go
> here</span>).
>
> 2. In the same document, a bit of javaScript is set up which will use
> the XMLHttpRequest method to initiate a request to the server
> (req.open('GET', url, true);).
>
> 3. In number 2. above, a callback routine is set up which will 'catch'
> the request upon completion (req.onreadystatechange = function;) The
> callback then loads the content supplied by the above call into the
> abovementioned div, span, input, whatever by using javaScript to inject
> it into the desired DOM element (document.something.innerhtml =
> req.responsetext)
>
> What additional complexity am I missing?

I read it quickly, but it sounded right to me.

> The above seems to be the way
> everything is being done. If there are client side versions of PHP,
> which browsers support them?

Ah, here is the issue -- there is only one computer language (in which
one can define functions, for example) that runs on the client. PHP,
ASP, JSP are all strictly server-side. They might push html to the
client, but all interpretation or run-time of these pages executes on
the server necessarily. We are stuck with JavaScript as the only
language that operates in the client browser environment and can
integrate with the page components. I have to add that last part
because Java can run on the client side with a java run-time
environment operating there, for example, but has no ability to
interact with the page.

> How is a PHP document structured?

It is often html/xhtml with a language intertwined. When a page is
requested, the web server runs the source code through a pre-processor
and then passes the resulting html to the client.

> This
> name implies a static text file, is it different from a PHP script?

PHP and a PHP script are the same things. PHP is a way to intertwined
a server-side-run-time scripting language into html, while javascript
is a client-side scripting language (although I understand the is
server-side javascript too, but how you get an ISP to support that, I
wouldn't know).

> In deepening confusion,

I'm likely doing too fast a brain dump. My AJAX presentation is much
better and I am not exactly an expert, just somewhat well-read at this
point.
cheers! --dawn

> -Tom

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Regarding a selection for mobile code/scripting language
    ... Client Side scripting, so the server can send script commands to the client. ... I decided they should be scripted and mobile code. ...
    (Vuln-Dev)
  • Re: HTTPSConnection script fails, but only on some servers (long)
    ... (HTTP/CONNECT + switch to HTTPS) ... wget and my python script. ... >>The python script works with server A, ... the problem seems to depend on both the client ...
    (comp.lang.python)
  • Re: HELP: send binary replies back and forth ???
    ... a client, not a server. ... simple php function to set the timeout), ... Issues in writing php server are: ... >> and communication then goes back and forth between the server and client ...
    (comp.lang.php)
  • Re: secure transfers and authentication
    ... Thanks james that looks to be a really handy guide on the whole thing. ... On a side note does anyone know why i have problems posting to the list using the reply function in my mail client? ... From the server ssh to your clients and save the rsa keys ... You could create a script like this: ...
    (Security-Basics)
  • Re: Apache: limiting the execution place
    ... They want it so users can't use FTP, shell, or a CGI or PHP script to view, ... other users via shell, FTP, web server processes (such as PHP or CGI ...
    (Security-Basics)