Alpha Software Simplifies Development of AJAX Applications

While AJAX is a primary development tool for building rich Web applications, it’s not easy to master because it’s actually a mix of technologies that include JavaScript and XML. With the release of Alpha Five version 10 development platform, Alpha Software is providing an environment that allows developers to create AJAX applications at a higher level of abstraction, says Alpha Software co-chairman Richard Rabins.

Rabins stresses, however, that the Alpha Five version 10 platform is open in that should developers choose to continue working on a project using external Javascript libraries, they can do so. They can also import JavaScript code into the Alpha Five environment, he said.

The core idea behind Alpha Five version 10 is to give developers a point-and-click interface for creating AJAX applications that is conceptually similar to the tools developers use to create applications in desktop database environments, such as Microsoft Access.

According to Rabin, the Alpha Five approach is intended to provide developers with a rapid application development (RAD) environment that they can use to either create entire applications or just opt to automate the more routine tasks associated with creating an AJAX application.

As part of its commitment to providing an open environment, Alpha Five version 10 includes support for mainstream SQL dialects, REST services and Xbasic.