Downscaled versions of jQuery or Prototype - JS framework selection

Question

While considering the JS framework for my next project, I can see the scale clearly tipping towards jQuery, however, Prototype is getting good reviews, too.

The issue I am thinking of is how to downscale these to have only the functionality I REALLY need. The latest jQuery seems to be 55k compressed, for instance, and I clearly need only the very basic functionality needed mostly or cross-browser compatibility.

The alternative of coding just what I need by hand sounds quite a pain in the butt.

Has anyone come across some "jQuery downscaler" or "Prototype downscaler"? Stuff like Dlite does not quite cut it since I need the cross-browser AJAX with timeouts, and the cross-browser cookie handling, but maybe there is some other lightweight solution?

ASP-related bundles won't help since I am doing a PHP-based solution.

Any tips on that will be much appreciated.

Answer 1

Check these Frameworks out:

• Midori (45KB uncompressed)
• SimpleJS (Core File: 4KB)
• DOMAssistant (7KB gzipped)

If you want a complete but light weight solution, I'd suggest you go with Midori or DOMAssistant.

Finally, here is a link that will show you differences between the frameworks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_JavaScript_frameworks

[Edit]

This post may also help you with your research.

Answer 2

jQuery is about 10k compressed and minified with YUI compressor:

http://www.julienlecomte.net/blog/2007/08/13/

That is incredibly tiny for the amount of functionality you get in jQuery.