Can you wait for javascript callback?

Question

I\'m trying to use the jQuery alerts dialog library from http://abeautifulsite.net/notebook/87 instead of the default alerts (which look pretty awful in my opinion). This se

Answer 1

Technically, yes, but I wouldn't do that on a website.

Take a look at Narrative JavaScript, which is based off Narcissus.

Narrative JavaScript is a small extension to the JavaScript language that enables blocking capabilities for asynchronous event callbacks. This makes asynchronous code refreshingly readable and comprehensible.

Selenium uses this technology.

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Update

Check out JavaScript Strands:

JavaScript Strands adds coroutine and cooperative threading support to the JavaScript language to enable blocking capabilities for asynchronous event callbacks. This makes code that utilizes asynchronous operation much more linear, readable, and manageable. Strands is built upon Narrative JavaScript written by Neil Mix, and much of Narrative JavaScript has remained in Strands including much of this documentation.

In JavaScript your code can't simply wait until an event has fired -- the event must always be handled by a separate, asynchronous event handler. Sometimes this is fine, but it often forces what ought to be a simple sequence of statements into gnarly contortions. It also breaks the ability to encapsulate functionality because calling functions must know to provide a callback handler. Strands provides the ability to suspend and resume threads of execution. Execution can suspend resume when the event is finished. This allows you to write hard-to-read asynchronous event handling in simple, linear, readable code that encapsulates implementation.