XUL vs. AJAX

How do these two relate?

They share several aspects.

- implemented in Javascript
- asynchronous client-server communication
- data might be transmitted in XML
- extensive client-side data validation
- rich user interface
- no history model (back/forward button)

Major distinctions:

- AJAX is part of the view -- and thus eye candy in most cases.
- AJAX aims at being cross-browser compatible.
- XUL can contain model, view, controller.
- XUL has full access to the user's system including local files. **
- XUL can be stand-alone. An application server is optional.
- XUL has a richer widget set compared to HTML.
- XUL can connect to databases directly.

Or in other words, you can write a full, self-contained application using XUL. In the simplest case, the appserver will only execute SQL queries. Or you could even use the SQL Mozilla extension for accessing a local SQLite database and thus create stand-alone applications.

** Note that I don't care about remote XUL. Our apps always have the XPConnect privilege.

This entry was posted by Sascha Schumann on Thursday, December 22. 2005 at 20:48. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog.

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  1. pdaether says:
    #1 2006-01-10 08:09 (Reply)

    I wonder if it is possible to use the SQL Mozilla extension with a XULRunner application?
    I think this would be a nice feature for XULRunner.

  2. Sascha Schumann says:
    #2 2006-01-11 11:10 (Reply)

    Sure, combining XULRunner with the SQL extension is no problem.

    You can get the code and building instructions here:

    http://www.mozilla.org/projects/sql/

    I'll look into providing binary builds to use in combination with XULRunner.

  3. pdaether says:
    #2.1 2006-01-12 13:12 (Reply)

    Thank you!

  4. heath says:
    #3 2006-04-22 06:43 (Reply)

    has anyone got a win32 version to actually work with mozilla or firefox for the sql?

    Im trying desperately to hook up a xul interface to a sql database (either sqlite or mysql) and all the ones available either dont work or are not built for win32 :-( I wish I could build mozilla myself, but Im not sufficiently capable in that arena. Anyone have any ideas?


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