If you're a web developer, the number one thing that you need to work on is keeping yourself up-to-date with the latest that technology has to offer. The business of web development is suitable for those who are technically adept – and one of the many areas that you need to be an expert at is JavaScript.

Basically, JavaScript is a scripting language which is object-oriented, and its primary purpose is to allow first class functionalities to be accessed on the end of the online user. This scripting was launched in 1995 and was developed by Netscape Communications Corporation and the Mozilla Foundation.

For those who are not that familiar with web developer’s lingo, JavaScript is what allows web designers to create and modify the appearance of pop-up windows when you visit a particular webpage. JavaScript is also what makes it possible for the information that you are keying in on web forms to be validated, before they can be submitted to servers. Finally, the changing image of the mouse as the cursor moves over them is also something that JavaScript can accomplish.

Google's Release of New JavaScript Tools

On November 17, 20009, Google released its internal JavaScript as an open-source project, which includes four Closure tools that build numerous AJAX-based applications. These four AJAX-based applications consist of a debugging assistant named 'Closure Inspector', a library, templates and a compiler.

If you've seen one of those videos which feature the lush working environment that Google has, you will see just how inspired an employee would be. Google project manager Amit Agarwal said that these four Closure tools are a result of the 20% time which the company allots for employees to work on their own projects. The good thing about allotting such time for the employees to work on their individual projects is that a project like the open-source JavaScript tools came up, which basically resolves the most common web application problems that Google developers stumble upon.

One of the many issues that the new set of JavaScript tools address is bandwidth wastage. As you may already know, Google is a site which millions of users access on a daily basis. Even saving a few kilobytes per JavaScript application would add up to terabytes of savings per month. With the help of the newly-released Closure Compiler, the JavaScript code will be built to shrink and save space.

Another characteristic of the Closure Complier is that it has the ability to translate variable names back to its original form, giving developers back the information which they began working with. This is a particular useful feature because the process of changing variable names is a quite confusing task – so when it’s time to debug, the tool can translate the names back to the original and problem-solving will be easier and more efficient.

Perhaps the best thing about Closure Tools being open source is the fact that with the contribution of online community members, several improvements will be made to improve the project even more – while at the same time addressing the most common problems that website developers and programmers encounter on a regular basis.

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