I've been using jQuery a lot, all of a sudden. For those who don't know, jQuery is a library of javascript functions, meaning we don't have to re-invent the wheel when it comes to writing code to do many common web tasks. Javascript runs on your browser rather than at the server, which makes it fast and responsive because the website doesn't have to do a round trip across the internet to manipulate information. Traditionally, client-side code was pretty limited though, as you often still need to communicate with databases and suchlike on the server and connecting the two halves was tricky. Now, jQuery, with other technology such as Ajax, makes it much much easier. Add to Cart buttons, or contact form submissions can be done without having to refresh the page, they happen in the background.

Javascript was also useful for moving things around on a page, and jQuery has taken this to a new level - we can drag and drop list items, fade messages in and out, rotate images and slide menus up and down. Most of that is eye candy, but it can make for a slick user interface - the bit you interact with. Much of that animated stuff was once the preserve of Flash, produced by Macromedia and now by Adobe. Designers love the movy, slidy style you can produce with Flash, but there are significant problems with it. Generally speaking, a website that is based on flash will perform poorly in search engines, because there is no indexable content, it's all just a closed object. Flash isn't supported on Apple handheld devices, so the site won't work on iPod, iPhone or iPad - whether you see that as significant is your shout, but as open source and industry standards handle animated interfaces and embedded video, you have to wonder what role flash will play in the future.

I've been busy working with robotransfer.com building sites for design agencies on the US west coast - and I have been enjoying building sites like indidesign.com, kicklabs.com, gloto.com and the dealer locator app for espguitars.com - working with designers again has been fun and takes some of the stress out as I'm primarily a developer, not a designer. Ken O'Neil at robotransfer is a good project manager and long may the association continue - we make a crack team!