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n recent years, JavaScript has moved to the forefront of Web technolo-
gies and is now a key tool in developing engaging online experiences.
Driving this widespread adoption of JavaScript is the development and
proliferation of numerous JavaScript frameworks. Framework is another
word for code library or collection of useful functions, maintained in one or
more external files.
A great number of frameworks are available today—some estimates place
the number well over 200. Among the most popular JavaScript frameworks
are the Yahoo! User Interface Library (better known as YUI), jQuery, Moo
Tools, and Prototype. As noted throughout this book, Adobe has developed
its own framework, Spry, from which many components (or widgets) and
effects are integrated into Dreamweaver.
All of the frameworks have their adherents and even advocates. Dream-
weaver, rather than become married to a single framework—even one from
its own company—has evolved into a mutually supportive platform. Now
advanced coding functionality like code hinting and code completion previ-
ously available to the most broad-based technologies such as HTML, Cold-
Fusion, and PHP, is automatically implemented for a referenced framework.
Even custom coding can benefit from the on-the-fly code hinting available
in Dreamweaver.
Although this enhanced JavaScript support is great news for coders, what
about designers and those who ...