Most of the cool JS tools are built on libraries. You can’t use multiple libraries on the same site without some reprogramming. So, it’s important when deciding what effects to use, to find out what library they are built on — or not built on. The libraries vary in size, so when designing a graphic heavy site, we may want to use a smaller library.
PROTOTYPE LIBRARY (69KB + plugins):
- Lightbox (http://www.huddletogether.com/projects/lightbox/)
- Lightbox Gone Wild! (http://particletree.com/features/lightbox-gone-wild/)
- Scriptaculous (http://script.aculo.us/)
JQUERY LIBRARY (19KB + plugins):
- Thickbox (http://jquery.com/demo/thickbox/)
- Interface FX — like Scriptaculous (http://interface.eyecon.ro/demos/ifx.html)
- A whole ton of other “plugins” (http://docs.jquery.com/Plugins)
MOOTOOLS (32KB w/ all plugins):
It isn’t clear if this is a separate framework. The documentation refers to it as a framework and it doesn’t appear to need another library installed but that some functions are based on Prototype and Base.? I’m not sure if it would be compatible with the other libraries. (http://mootools.net/)
Note: swfobject and sifr are not effects built on a library and function as separate JS scripts.? Although they can conflict with the libraries, we’ve found that the most recent versions are compatible, or that their web sites address the compatibility issues.