Design Principles for AJAX Applications
- Minimise traffic between browser and server so that the user feels the application is responsive.
- Be clear on the interaction mode being used – regular HTML versus AJAX versus desktop application so that the user can predict what will happen next .. no surprises.
- While avoiding confusion, borrow from conventions of HTML and desktop applications so that the user can rapidly learn how to use your application.
- Avoid distractions such as gratuitous animations so that the user can focus on the task at hand.
- Stick with AJAX wherever possible – just say no to entire page downloads so that the user’s experience is consistent.
- Adopt AJAX for usability, not just to illustrate you’re hip to where it’s at so that the user is engaged, and not immediately driven away by your nod to website splash screens, <blink tags>, popup ads, and other usability disasters of websites which have gone to a place you don’t want to be.
