Best learning resource for Ajax and Javascript?

[TravelSite]

I'll soon be starting work on a new website that sounds as though it may need some Ajax type functionality on it.

For starters I'd prefer that the same page was continually reloaded with new information based on user action - as oppossed to them going from one page to the next.

There is also a page where I want to stream data to and have the results appear - but over a period of several minutes. I.e. the user sees information continually come in and be displayed in their browser over several minutes. Is this possible in Ajax?

I know nothing about Ajax and little about Javascript (I just search for the functions I need).

Can anyone tell me what the best way to achieve my aims? Is it possible just to find some bits of code out there that will do all this? Will I need to learn JavaScript indepth and Ajax and write the code myself? - if so whats the best resource for learning Ajax? Is outsourcing a better possibility?

For info I tend to use php and mysql (though can use asp and MS SQL) and have some experience of using programming languages. The site will be getting content from a database (preferably MySQL). Thanks

[RonPK]

Maybe you will find the Yahoo! User Interface Library [developer.yahoo.com] useful; I've seen some positive reactions to it.

On the other hand, learning the basics of Ajax will help you to better understand what library scripts do.

• create an xmlhttprequest object
  
• send stuff to the server
  
• handle server respons
  

I found this page [developer.apple.com] useful for writing my "Hello World" Ajax app...

[edited by: RonPK at 4:40 pm (utc) on Nov. 18, 2006]

[TravelSite]

Thanks RonPK,

That should help get me started :)

[tomda]

Get the Simple Ajax Code Kit (SACK) developped by Gregory Wild-Smith. The download comes with docs and tuts... Reqlly great to start.
Just Google for "ajax sack".