Mootools: Less Is More

I'm currently working on a project for a device that requires a lot of javascript functionality with minimum overhead. Having mostly used Prototype and Scriptaculous, I wanted to see what else was out there. A friend of mine suggested mootools and I am really enjoying the framework.

Although mootools uses many of the same core principles as prototype (with its $() DOM element selector), it carries with it a philosophy of concision that I have learned to appreciate. The class implementation, in my opinion, is also more extendable and useful.

The framework is used by CNET and a few others, but is still finding its audience. It has a built-in effects library, depending on how you customize your download. Check out the demo page to get a glimpse at what mootools can do.

Oh, What To Do?

Very restless. Spent all morning amongst the Black Friday madness... fruitless. I have many things on my mind, but I have to force myself to focus on the things I can control.

Right now I'm planning for my next project. I'm trying to decide if I should use Java or PHP5. Until recently, I was planning on using Java, but I have been doing a lot of reading about PHP5 and its new object model. I realize that there are several world's of difference between the two languages, aside from the fact that one creates compiled machine code which is executed by a virtual machine and the other is a strictly interpreted language.

However, I keep going back to the object model. I can't help but think that Java is the only real option if I want to make sure my application is well structured and easily maintainable / extendable. Not to mention the lack of namespaces, I was really hoping for better things for PHP at this point.

The least of my worries really, just trying to keep busy.