Many technologies have a tendency to morph and evolve into forms that their creators never envisaged. Such is perhaps the fate of much of creation. Ajax is one such polyglot technology, borrowing from sources as diverse as Microsoft, the once-written-off JavaScript, and the desire of browsers/readers to interact directly with the interfaces they deal with on a daily basis on the web.
It is a technology agglomeration that seems very easy to use and many developers have ventured into the frothing waters before retreating, befuddled, preferring to remain on the consumption end of the spectrum. This is partly due the complexity introduced into preparing web pages for multiple implementations on different browsers. The conditional checks can be confusing to keep track of for even the most attentive person. Various frameworks and wrappers have sprung up to compensate and mask the complexity.
Sometimes, it helps to look at a problem from multiple perspectives simultaneously. One way to do this for Ajax is to read both Ajax Hacks and Head Rush Ajax together. Ajax Hacks utilizes the by-now popular model of explorations deep and wide into the new burgeoning paradigm of user behavior online. Head Rush Ajax is a meta-cognitive approach to learning Ajax, bouncing the technology between different facets and perspectives until it seems like specific neurons are hardwired to XMLHttpRequest, the DOM and DIVs.
Begin with the first three chapters of Head Rush, which show you how to speak the language of asynchronous web applications. Then switch to the first 20 or so hacks, which give you techniques to consume and tweak the requests/responses between the server and clients.
Once you're through with this, refill your caffeine tanks and try writing your own self-editing rollover-highlight dynamically generated selection list that orders your favorite blend of Starbucks. If you do it right, the rest is easy going. If you find it easier to use the drive-through lane, make sure you ask for extra-hot tall misto with hazelnut for me.
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