Protection of DHTML Code

With the explosion in interest of Rich Web Applications and feasible support technologies (JSON and JSON-RPC, for example), more and more applications will be done in JavaScript. JavaScript code is in the clear by default. For open source products this is not an issue. For closed source ones, there is a need for scrambling JavaScript code. I remember Oddpost (built an Outlook clone in DHTML for IE and acquired by Yahoo in 2004) used very convoluted ways to hide their JavaScript source. There should be some framework support for it.

The Excellent JSON Family of Components

Just discovered JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) family of components. The notation itself is a subset of JavaScript syntax. The most interesting is the JSON-RPC (try it here), which is similar to XML-RPC but uses the light-weight format of JSON. What does it mean to us?

1. JSON and relatives are what we would have arrived at if we push up our own JavaScript related mechanisms a few notches.
2. Our implementation of background call to server on the client (currently using a hidden IFrame with more complicated supporting logic) can be replaced by JSON-RPC for 1) simplicity; and 2) a commonly adopted standard (well, not yet standard, but my guess is it will be adopted quickly because of its merits). Then our implementation of partial page refresh will be much easier and cleaner.

Now, look at their other demos. I was thinking of how a DHTML-based Rich Thin Client can handle Visio type of applications. I wanted to explore SVG. Voila, there they have it, JSON with SVG! Wow! Can't wait to get my hands on it!

PS: Mozilla SVG Demos. The SVG DOM will be compatible with existing DOM and will be manipulatible by JavaScript. Just imagine Visio completely implemented with DHTML! Now I am really excited!

Effective Framework Marketing

After some thinking, I believe we should completely focus on delivering one or two killer apps while enhancing the framework. Selling a framework on benefits of customizability, simplicity of API and all that is difficult to say the least. The most effective marketing is a killer app. So our effort on Cornerstone can focus on writing documentation, unit tests, enhancements, etc. without the burden of selling. When we talk about Cornerstone, we talk completely from a technical point of view. We let our app(s) speak more eloquently.

Google Search Tuned to Cornerstone Site

If you do a search on Google for "cornerstone framework", our site comes up first now! This means the users have tuned Google's result to point that query to our site. This is a good sign :). So today is another milestone.