Nathaniel Schutta
Nathaniel T. Schutta is a senior software engineer focussed on making usable applications. A proponent of polyglot programming, Nate has written two books on Ajax and speaks regularly at various No Fluff Just Stuff symposia, universities, and Java user groups. In addition to his day job, Nate is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota where he teaches students to embrace dynamic languages.
Track abstract - WEB
Ajax Library Smack down: Prototype vs. jQuery
Ajax is everywhere, from the local newspaper to sites that the CEO surfs. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't rocket science, especially with the right library. In this talk, we'll explore the popular Prototype and jQuery libraries showing how they can simplify typical Ajax techniques and make JavaScript easier to work with. We'll look at how each library wraps the XHR object, smoothes out events, and how they each make use of the humble $.
Track abstract - WEB
Making Web Apps Suck Less
We've all used web applications that had us screaming at their creators - unfortunately sometimes we're the ones being cursed. Believe it or not, there are some simple steps we can take to ensure that our users have a great experience. We'll talk about the role of testing, easy ways to make a web site perform as well as where Ajax can help give a richer experience.
