What are alternatives to ExtJS?

Question

So what I'm looking for is a javascript framework I can use that has several UI controls. I have taken a look at jQuery but those controls are very basic compared to ExtJS. Are there any other competitive alternatives?

Answer 1

You may want ot check out Yahoo! User Interface Library

Answer 2

I think jQuery has many good controls, the UI project has some basic components and compared to extJS there are missing lot of things. But have you looked at the different plugins available for jQuery? My experience ist, that there are good plugins for most of the common components. Sometimes they are harder to find than in a "complete" UI Framework like extJS, but they are available.

Answer 3

I really like jquery but i wounldn't discard GWT (ok is not a javascript framework but it does compile to JS ) two reasons to like GWT are: the code is more maintainable and you caneasily unit test. Some ohter great advantages: there are no browser bugs (for the supported browsers) it does a lot for internationalization

Answer 4

QooxDoo seems to have a good set of widgets.

Answer 5

If you consider ExtJS as a framework wrapping around widgets/constrols, you should try Backbase Ajax Framework, if you are looking for a JavaScript library that would simplify coding against DOM, take jQuery.

Answer 6

Besides component availability, the main advantage of that ExtJS has over other frameworks is its component-oriented model, which leads to a consistent and easy to use API to build widget-based interfaces.

If you consider this aspect, the only competitive alternative is, as far as I know, YUI.

Other frameworks like jQuery and MooTools are great as long as you use them to query or navigate the DOM or to implement animations. If you have to rely on third party plugins and UI widgets, however, the main problem you might have to deal with is the potential lack of consistence and uniformity in the plugins' API.

Answer 7

Bindows - yes, it's a rediculous name - i like Ext better, but Bindows is very full-featured

Answer 8

For (client side) RIA development, Qooxdoo is a very powerful free framework.

You can check out API Reference (runs on Qooxdoo itself) and Demo Browser.

At first Qooxdoo development toolchain (written in Python) might seem awkward. But actually it is quite a robust system. When you are ready to publish your code it is compiled to 1 HTML file and 2 JavaScript files. It has no server dependencies and runs quite fast.

jQuery is de-facto general purpose JavaScript framework for many people (including me). And Qooxdoo is not a replacement for jQuery. It is good for the specific task of developing rich internet applications. Think about a single page desktop like application.

Answer 9

Rialto (Rich Internet Application Toolkit) is ajax-based cross browser javascript widgets library. Because it is technology agnostic it can be encapsulated in JSP, JSF, .Net, Python or PHP graphic components. The purpose of Rialto is to ease the access to rich internet application development to corporate developers. Ideally a Rialto developer have neither need to write or understand DHTML, Ajax or DOM code.

The target of Rialto is corporate web applications and not internet web sites.

Answer 10

Here is a few ones

1. Mochaui.com looks interesting. Check out their demo
2. ampleSDK (interesting approach)
3. DojoToolkit and their nice set of widgets

Answer 11

If you need a set of JavaScript UI controls, you can check DHTMLX library. It includes the most important user interface components, like datagrid, tree, tabs, menu, windows, etc. The components provide mature functionality and work in all main browsers.

Answer 12

You are not going to find anything that pushes state of the art like ExtJs. And now with integrated touch sensitive web apps in HTML5, it will rock like no other.

Only thing I've seen even a little competitive is jQuery/ with UI and like previous poster said, it's missing a LOT of things so far. Ext is years ahead and the gap seems to get bigger every year.

Answer 13

I think the thing that comes closest to ExtJS for an "apples with apples" comparison is Isomorphics SmartClient: http://www.smartclient.com/

There is an LGPL version, it's out in the wild for quite a long while and they are meanwhile approaching v8.