Jaxcent from Desiderata Software is a Java API for accessing and
modifying the Document Object Model (DOM) of the browser.
Version 1 of Jaxcent worked entirely on the client side. While it
explored some possibilities of doing AJAX-style operations in Java, it
was best suited for intranets and special scenarios such as automated
testing and automated browsing.
Version 2 of Jaxcent is an unrestricted Java API for doing full-
fledged AJAX operations. It can be run on the open Internet instead
of being restricted to intranets. The Java of Jaxcent now runs on the
server side, and still gives the Java programmer full control over the
client's DOM hierarchy. On the client side, all that is required is to
add a single JavaScript include statement to existing HTML content and
then the resulting page can communicate with Jaxcent on the server.
On the server side, Jaxcent works with standard Java servlet
containers and provides classes that correspond to elements of the
Document Object Model (DOM), and that can be instantiated to match
HTML elements existing (or dynamically created) on the page. These
classes provide methods for interacting with the HTML elements, and
for receiving events originating from the HTML elements, all in Java.
In addition to dynamic interactions with the HTML elements, Jaxcent
also provides access to the session and application context, as well
as entirely automatic session data management.
It is not necessary to rewrite existing applications to take advantage
of Jaxcent. Using Jaxcent, as needed, one or more AJAX features can
be added piecemeal to one or more pages without any need to modify the
structure or specifics of the overall application.
For new web applications the entire framework can be built using
Jaxcent, taking full advantage of its dynamic capabilities.
Jaxcent works with AJAX capable browsers, such as Internet Explorer 6,
Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox. Jaxcent is written entirely in Java
and JavaScript, and therefore is OS independent.
Jaxcent programmers do not need to work in JavaScript. Jaxcent will
work with any existing JavaScript code, and it provides features to
take advantage of JavaScript if desired, but primarily Jaxcent
programming is all-Java and no-JavaScript programming.
Jaxcent Version 2 is available free from Desiderata Software, at
http://www.jaxcent.com/
Version 1 of Jaxcent will no longer be available. For those who need
it for its non-AJAX features such as automated testing or automated
browsing, Desiderata's EZ JCom product (http://www.ezjcom.com)
can be
used. EZ Jcom builds bridges between Java and COM, or Java and .NET.
It can be used to automate - among other things - Internet Explorer
from Java.
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