google javascripting

taken from http://frassle.net/Directory/index?note=561051

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I've been doing some more reading about what's going on behind the scenes in google's cutting edge javascript applications.They are essentially running javascript based thick clients in the user’s browser, and doing all server side communication through xml http calls. Some services they are currently offering, driven mainly on the client side:
http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en
http://gmail.google.com
http://maps.google.com/maps
Some analysis of the technology behind these services:
http://serversideguy.blogspot.com/2004/12/google-suggest-dissected.html
http://johnvey.com/features/gmailapi/
http://jibbering.com/2002/4/httprequest.html
And, for the truly brave, the javascript source code from google suggest, devoid of line breaks and comprehendable variable names:
http://www.google.com/ac.js
and a decompressed, refactored version (reverse engineered outside of google — thanks Shimon for the pointer)
http://www.fastbugtrack.com/misc/google/ac.js
This technology is now being used to power cpan search, and they have released their backend implementation of the api.

innovation

i saw this book in the bookshop today.... The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson. I think I want it... very interesting stuff about encouraging innovation through a mixing of already experienced technologies / available resources. it sounds a bit cliche that "necessity is the mother of invention" - but this takes it further. will report back if I get around to buying it.