You may be aware that we have worked with other developers to release a version of xAJAX for Joomla 1.0.x as a mambot. What you may not know is that we have a working version for Joomla 1.5 too!.
Joomla 1.5 brings some major changes to the way we write components with xAJAX, however the xAJAX plugin for Joomla 1.5 is still going to make development of xAJAX components for Joomla a lot easier. We have been able to clean up the way that xAJAX is made available to both the front end and backend component parts and the plugin can be harnessed from any installed component, even the core components can use it!
I think it is about time that the core developers stopped messing with bad implementations of xAJAX and started to take the xAJAX plugin seriously if they are to retain a library based platform on which other developers can build.
For example, currently in Joomla 1.5 we have complete xAJAX distribution files in the following locatons.
- \joomla1.5\installation\includes\xajax\
- \joomla1.5\administrator\components\com_menus\xajax\
What should really be done is that xAJAX is included in the core like any other of the 3rd Party libraries in the \libraries\ folder.
This would allow xAJAX to be called by any component, including the two instances above. If the core were to implement the proof of concept xAJAX for Joomla Plugin I have developed then there would never be any conflict between components – core or 3rd party.
As it stands at the moment, there appears to be no direction for xAJAX integration. However what has been done by including xAJAX in com_menus is that the developers are not following their own guidelines of including libraries in the libraries folder so they can be used globally. They have also hindered ANY use of ANY xAJAX component on the backend as any plugin will conflict with the xAJAX objects in com_menus and will stop the core features in com_menus from working.
I see no reason why the core deveopers should not look at the code I will provide them with.
If they do not entertain my idea then the future of xAJAX Components in Joomla 1.5 is seriously in trouble.
There needs to be direction for xAJAX in Joomla 1.5, either it is integrated correctly and reliabily with 3PD Developement in mind, or it is stripped from the core.
Lastly – Why on earth are there TWO full distributions of xAJAX in the Core Joomla 1.5 code – answers on a postcard please.
YOU CAN DISCUSS THIS IN THE JOOMLA FORUM THREAD: