This thorough guide shows how to use Web 2.0 and rich internet application (RIA) technologies to develop webtop applications with the responsiveness, look, and feel of traditional desktop applications. Assuming only minimal familiarity with web page scripting, the book introduces XHTML, cascading style sheets, JavaScript, the document object model, XML, Adobe Flash CS3, web servers, PHP, Ruby on Rails, ASP.NET, Java server faces, and web services. The authors explain the role of each technology in plain language and avoid the computer geek jargon plaguing many computer guides. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)