What is MooTools?

The MooTools framework is a compact and modular set of tools for professional JavaScript developers that is distinguished by its application possibilities thanks to an elegant and well-documented group of APIs and by being object-oriented. MooTools makes several functions and classes available to the custom software development company to facilitate the programming and design of modern web projects and greatly simplify the work process. Additionally, its modular design makes it scalable. Additionally, the user can specifically include those components that he really needs, which gives MooTools a high degree of clarity and compactness .

Main components of MooTools

Unlike traditional JavaScript (based on prototypes), MooTools is based on a class inheritance system that serves as the basis for object-oriented programming and, therefore, also for all the components included in the framework. This system is not only characterized by being easily scalable, but also by allowing you to write flexible and reusable source code. Thus, thanks to these predefined and modifiable classes , it is possible to implement similar objects such as plugins, HTML elements, AJAX requests, etc., without having to invest a large amount of time. Below is a summary of the JavaScript components used to extend MooTools:

Core : MooTools Core is the core of the framework, from which all components for JavaScript are developed. In addition to implementing the concept of classes, Core has some general help functions.

More : MooTools More is the official collection of plugins for the framework. This includes a variety of enhancements that simplify the development process and add additional features.

Class – The Class component refers to the base class required for creating (generating) instances of reusable object classes, as well as for modifying existing classes.

Element – This is one of the most important components, with the help of which HTML objects can be accessed or generated from supported browsers and contains the $ and $$ functions.

Fx : The Effects module serves as the basis for animating elements and, therefore, for performing functions such as scrolling and sliding, among others.

JSON : module for encoding and decoding strings in JSON ( J ava Script Object N otation ) format .

Some modules complement each other. So, for example, the Fx.CSS module requires the installation of the Fx module. Typically, in the downloads section you can specifically select those components you need and download them as your custom MooTools framework . For this purpose, the modules have been divided into two large groups: Core and More . It is also possible to download the complete basic package with all available extensions.

If you want to take a look at how some of the individual components work, the Mootools development team has created the website aryweb.nl , where you will not only find examples of MooTools or visual presentations of the drag and drop function, forms and effects , but you will also find lines of code for JavaScript, HTML and CSS.

MooTools: JavaScript as a development tool

In the mid-90s, all web projects began to include dynamic elements, so the execution of the source code was concentrated on the client side. For this, Java applets were the measure of all things. As an alternative to these “mini” programs, Brendan Eich developed LiveScript, the predecessor of JavaScript, in 1995 for the Netscape 2.0 browser. The biggest differences between both languages were, mainly, that JavaScript replaced classes with prototypes and that the lines of programmed code were not isolated from the HTML code, but were implemented in the source code. Both properties have been maintained until now.

Initially, JavaScript acted as a scripting language and main competitor to Java applets. However, the real breakthrough came in the wake of Web 2.0 and, since 2005, the development of web browsers and the DOM interface . Suddenly it was possible to download content in the background using JavaScript, the first dynamic interfaces emerged in the browser without having to install plugins, and the constant need for communication with the web server arose .

This is how JavaScript frameworks and libraries were created and, in the last decade, JavaScript has become the most used programming language for custom software development services. In this way, the traditional web has been transformed into an increasingly complex application with a great interaction factor , a fact that has increased the importance of JavaScript and frameworks such as MooTools for the programming of new projects. For some years now this scripting language has also been used on the server side.

What type of projects is MooTools used for?

Today, traditional static pages are facing difficult times: the implementation of interactive elements is now indispensable, which makes it even more necessary to use innovative and easy-to-use concepts to impress users. Thus, the loading speed also plays an important role which largely depends on the frequency with which the web application must access the server to handle incoming requests during browsing. For this reason, a type of project that is increasingly used and that seems to have been created for a framework like MooTools is the application called single page or Onepager. These are websites that consist of a single HTML document and represent all content on a single page. Thus, instead of being structured in subpages, these include sections and events that facilitate navigation with a few clicks or simple scrolling.

Here, narration, known more specifically as storytelling, is especially popular as it determines the best way to represent information, always using interactive elements and constructing it as a short story. Rendering single page applications requires only a few data exchanges with the web server, which generally provides high performance. Due to extensive JavaScript support, MooTools applications can be easily deployed regardless of browser and platform .

Advantages and disadvantages of JavaScript architecture

Using JavaScript as a programming language, the MooTools framework is very well supported. Successful alternatives, such as AngularJs or Ember.js, show that the demand for JavaScript work environments is very high. This programming language is an indisputable web standard supported by the main browsers and, in addition, it is ideal for the development of interactive components, forming part of the mandatory repertoire of every web developer, even if, by default, it lacks an inheritance system. of classes. MooTools eliminates this problem and greatly simplifies scheduling recurring elements.

At first glance, it seems that this approach towards executable source code on the client side only brings advantages for the user, since the JavaScript elements promise great interactivity and, at the same time, very good loading speed . However, the fact that the task of compiling code for MooTools applications primarily takes place in the client's task panel can cause problems and pose risks. As a result, resources are put under high demand, which, in the case of low-performing clients and devices, can lead to reduced performance or even a website crash. This particularly affects mobile devices such as smartphones (from which a significant percentage of users access the Internet), which can also present complications related to some of their specific components, such as touch screens or relatively small screens that have not been tested or properly optimized.

Because code execution always carries the risk of external attacks (tracking, phishing, etc.), users of web projects with varied client-side programming will run the same risk. This is why a portion of Internet users use tools to block different scripts, including JavaScript, such as NoScript or JS Blocker, unless they are manually whitelisted. Therefore, it is advisable to pay special attention to the security of the MooTools application to achieve the necessary trust and reach the largest number of users with your project.

MooTools: the useful extension for JavaScript

MooTools drives the development of JavaScript's object-oriented approach, complementing the popular web scripting language with custom, reusable classes in the same way as, for example, Java or PHP. The implementation of this framework greatly increases the efficiency of programming applications with JavaScript . This is precisely where the strengths of this work environment lie.

Designing applications based on MooTools is possible, but not necessarily suitable for all types of web projects. Even as effects, animations and AJAX components become increasingly important for modern software development services when creating your web project you should not lose sight of the user experience . Although MooTools and JavaScript set excellent foundations, it is essential to implement them in adequate doses, otherwise the web application will quickly surpass the technical means of the client used by the user.