Atlas

There's nothing about Ajax that inherently requires special tools. However, Ajax development is complex and prone to bugs, and it requires a detailed knowledge of DHTML and Javascript.

Atlas is a Microsoft offering, sometimes described as a web client framework, that simplifies the task of creating Ajax applications. It can be used in conjunction with Visual Studio 2005 and ASP.Net 2.0. IBM and Sun are among several other companies that have hopped on the Ajax development tool bandwagon.

At the heart of Atlas is the Atlas Client Script Framework, an extensible, object-oriented client framework that is itself based completely on Javascript. This Framework takes most of the detail work out of writing web applications that are loaded with DHTML and Javascript. It works on all modern browsers and is server-agnostic. No client installation is required.

Among its most notable features, at least in my mind, are:

• A base class library for support of commonly needed features, such as timers and string manipulation.
• A set of controls for sophisticated user interface elements, such as drag-and-drop, popup panels, and autocomplete text boxes.
• A core framework that provides features such as inheritance, interfaces, and lifetime management.

Atlas also includes integrated support for web services. The Atlas Client Script Framework permits easy access to any ASP.Net-hosted web service, with proxy generation and object serialization all handled automatically. Support is also included for the specific building-block services that are part of ASP.Net 2.0. These services provide often-needed functionality including user profile storage, authentication, and user interface personalization.

There's more planned or in the works for Atlas, and it's important to keep in mind that it is very much a work in progress at this time — not to say that some parts of it don't work just fine. Want to play around? Read on.

Working With Atlas

The only prerequisites for Atlas are the .Net framework version 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005. Then all you need is the Visual Studio Content Installer file (.vsi file) for Atlas (click here for a download link and instructions). After download, execute the file to install templates for a blank Atlas web application into Visual Studio. You can install templates for Visual Basic, C#, or both.

Starting a new Atlas web application is the same as starting any new ASP.Net project, except that you choose one of the Atlas application templates. An Atlas project is like any other project, with the addition of these items:

• A ScriptLibrary folder that contains the Javascript files which provide the Atlas client-side functionality.
• In the Bin folder, an executable file named Microsoft.Web.Atlas.dll that provides server-side functionality.
• Entries in the Web.Config file that specify settings for an Atlas application.

You'll find lots more information about Atlas at atlas.asp.net, including documentation, walkthroughs, and tutorials. Atlas won't solve all your web development woes, but it might just take some of that weight off your shoulders!