Prototype javascript library and Atlas
I have nothing but positive remarks about the prototype javascript library put out by Sam Stephenson. http://prototype.conio.net/ It is a well written client side framework. There are several other javascript objects written that have dependencies on prototype.js. I have one request that has been denied by the developers of it. I wholly understand why they don't want to make the change, but it doesn't hurt trying.
They have a common function $( controlID ) that will return the control. It is similiar to document.getElementById( controlID ), but it does some additional extending on the DOM objects, so it isn't completely the same. Microsoft has release their own client side framework called Atlas. They also have a method called $( controlID ), but their implementation of this method is different.
When I used any prototype dependant javascript library I must rename all the $() methods into something else. This is a pain, and I can't imagine what it is going to be like when they release new version of the prototype dependant script library. Anytime you Replace All on All Open Documents there is a pause of hesitation.
Maybe I'll just stick with the current version of prototype and never upgrade, but I'm sure there will continue to be new javascript libraries built upon the next releases so at some point this will be an issue. Does anyone have any suggestions on this? Could everyone hammer the prototype developer to get him to change? If he changes it will break countless "in the wild" code libraries, so that is unlikely as well.