I’ve been looking at two javascript libraries recently that I’m considering using for and upcoming project. The first, JQuery UI. Which has been around much longer is linked on the JQuery website. The second is a new library called JQuery Tools, created by the maker of the popular flash video player Flowplayer. They both seem to have their advantages and disadvantages which is what I’m going to discuss today. The article I’m writing is ‘JQuery Tools and JQuery UI’ because while I’m comparing them, they both have their purposes, and which one I decide to use isn’t based on which is better, but which is more appropriate of my current project.

What’s great about both of these libraries is the ease of use that they both have. They both give you a relatively small file, that makes all of your projects much faster. Rather than have to install multiple different javascript files for one page, all that I have to do is make a add one line of code to import the whole library. What’s even better is that I don’t even have to host the files myself. Google hosts JQuery and JQuery UI, while JQueryTools.org host JQuery tools. That means that I don’t have to expend bandwidth, and load times will be much faster.

The obvious advantage of JQuery UI is that it’s been around longer. It’s got more support and virtually no bugs. UI has many great feature such as the Datepicker. Which would be useful of contact forms (whereas previously using MooTools I had to load a whole new javascript file). It’s also got a few fun little effects which serve very little purpose, to me at least, but look cool. It comes with customizable themes, where you can create your own or use one of the many default themes it has. It really makes the whole experience feel like a desktop application over the traditional static web page.

JQuery Tools does plays more of an enhancement role in user interface. Rather than attempt to change the way the web works, Tools tries to simplify it. Tools comes with a myriad of simplifications to normal JQuery, as demonstrated on the demo area of it’s site. Some of the more useful of these to me would be the overlay, the scrollbar, tabs, and the flashembed. It’s easy to see why this new library has been getting so much attention since it’s release.

In conclusion, for my next project it looks like I’ll try out JQuery Tools. Tools has may of the design enhancements that could be useful in this project, whereas UI would be better suited being used in a larger, more structured website.