Really Simple History is a lightweight JavaScript library for the management of bookmarking and browser history in Ajax/DHTML applications. RSH serializes application data in an internal JavaScript cache so that bookmarks and the back button can be used to return your application to an earlier state.
Originally developed by Brad Neuberg in 2005, RSH has won a large user base for its simplicity, ease of use and lack of dependency on any specific Ajax framework. It's written in plain old JavaScript and can be included on any site according to the terms of its BSD license.
In September 2007, Brian Dillard of Pathfinder Development came on board as maintainer and ongoing code steward for the project. A new version, with support for additional modern browsers (IE7, Safari, Opera), was released as RSH 0.6 on December 3, 2007.
Quick Links
- Current stable production release (12.03.2007)
- Usage instructions and examples (11.09.2007)
- Overview and version history
- Google Group for user discussion and feedback
- Ajax bookmarking links page
- RSH tag on Brian's Blog, Agile Ajax
- Brian's email: bdillard(at)pathf(dot)com.
News
- 12.03.2007: Released RSH 0.6; deprecated 0.4 and 0.6 RC1.
- 11.12.2007: Continuing with minor, backwards-compatible enhancements in the SVN repository.
- 11.11.2007: Updated Usage Instructions page to point out dangers of trying to initialize RSH from DOMContentLoaded rather than window.onload.
- 11.09.2007: 0.6RC1 now available for download; previous beta now deprecated.
- 11.06.2007: Continue to clean up bugs and enhancements; release candidate coming.
- 10.30.2007: Committed changes to SVN to fix Opera implementation for maintenance of history after navigating to another domain and back.
- 10.28.2007: Committed changes to SVN that fix one of the major issues with Safari/Mac: maintenance of history after navigating to another domain and back.
- 10.28.2007: Created a Google Group to foment user discussion, especially of the new beta release.
- 10.24.2007: RSH now has an SVN repo; small fixes to 0.6 have already been committed.
- 10.23.2007: RSH 0.6 is now ready for beta-testing. See the 0.6Beta release notes for more info.
- 09.18.2007: Brian Dillard has come on as co-maintainer of RSH.
RSH training and consulting now available
Pathfinder Development now provides consulting and training services for Really Simple History. To find out how Pathfinder can help you use history management in your Ajax applications and how you can help fund further development of RSH, contact info@pathf.com, visit Pathfinder Development online, or call 312-372-1058 x 6006.