Welcome!

[a2h]

Well, I've been using Prototype/Scriptaculous for a while now, for a few reasons:

• I find there to be more features in the two libraries when combined
• Some scripts like Lightwindow which I have used are based around them
• Well, I'm used to them, I guess

However, after having begun to read this site, I've been noticing more and more that a lot of designers seem to actually prefer jQuery, through both seeing tutorials and resources.

While Prototype/Scriptaculous does have its own supporters also creating resources, I've been looking more and more at the abundance of jQuery resources, and am beginning to wonder if it really is more superior that it would be used by seemingly a lot more people.

So is anyone here able to provide explanations to my question or just the popularity of these libraries in general?

Thanks.

[m00min]

I've not really used Scriptaculous but I did switch to jQuery from MooTools. There did seem to be more tutorials for jQuery - important when you're learning something new. I generally find it a lot easier to use, possibly due to the way the selectors work, it seems almost CSS-like there.

[josedaniel]

I think jQuery is easier and very powerful

[axeva]

I've also recently changed from MooTools to jQuery. It seems to be skyrocketing lately. Microsoft is including it in with Visual Studio 2010. Nearly every major web site seems to be using it. Tutorials are everywhere.

I'd suggest you jump on the bandwagon.

[jassinc]

I covered this recently in a post on my blog which can be found below:
http://thewebdevelopmentblog.com/2009/08/resource-javascript-libraries-prototype-or-jquery/

Ultimately it's up to you, both have their pro's and cons. However I just switched from Prototype to jQuery and I believe it was the right choice.

[Cookie Creative]

For me, jQuery has better support, mountains of plugins readily available, and is also easier to work with than the alternatives.

[dustin]

I'm still using mootools as i like the OOP coding feel to the library; as apposed to the CSSish feel that jQuery seems to maintain. I haven't seen anything wrong with jQuery by any means, I just prefer mootools and the extensibility it allows.

What was the main thing that drew you guys from mootools to jquery?

[m00min]

For me it was documentation. I remember spending half an hour trying to set up an accordian only to find I hadn't downloaded all the relevant bits in the initial Mootools file. Nowhere did it actually say what was needed.

[choshun]

I was the same way, using prototype and effects.js, and switched to jquery. I am extremely happy with it.

For me a huge draw is the way you manipulate dom to do basic js stuff - drop downs, accordians, opacity changes. Instead of a 5 line script where you loop through the document to make an array, then select elements by class or id, then do an x[i].style to access the one css attribute you want to change, in jquery it's just one line. So it's just plain easier and quicker to code. Not only that, but the way you select stuff from the document object is based on css standards, so if you are comfortable with css you already know quite a bit about how to use jquery. I think this lets designers get over the intimidation hump; they see something familiar and can concentrate on the css effects and not the syntax.

Also, any plugin or kit you are using based on prototype has 5 versions using jquery that are in effect identical.

I'm sure it couldn't hurt to check it out, especially if you are familiar with css (specifically css3).

Good luck.

http://www.twitter.com/thespiderinc

[jstnjns]

I have never been able to build some functionality into a site as easy as I have with jQuery.

As a beginner in JavaScript one year ago, I could not get a decent grasp on Prototype. Having picked up jQuery soon after, I can successfully say that it was easy to learn, easy to advance in, and easy to start writing my own plugin http://www.madebyrendr.com/simpleslider.

Great functionality can be written in as few as a line or two.

That, and who can beat 55KB?!

[burNMind]

When I was searching for a JavaScript library I chose jQuery and I'm still using it, so I don't know about differences with the others. I'll just mention something that I've noticed the last three weeks that I was searching for a job in the UK: Every job ad that was demanding the knowledge of a JavaScript library, was asking for jQuery. I didn't see a single ad asking for Prototype/Scriptaculous and only 1-2 for Mootools (and only as an optional knowledge).

[mentalic]

I have been heavily using jQuery for 1+ year and never thought of looking for another js library...it gets the job done and there are plenty of plugins around there..