Originally posted by Gregg Bolinger:
When I look at ext-js vs jquery one thing comes to mind; Choices.
If I go to google and lookup ext-js plugins I get a bunch of results for things like "wordpress ext-js plugin" and "integrating ext-js with N framework".
If I go to google and search for jquery plugins I get what seems like an endless list of components, widgets, utilities, etc that were built with jquery as the foundation.
I'd say a better comparison would be ext-js with YUI. Both of which are fine I am sure but when I want a specific UI control for my application I like the fact that with JQuery I have choices. With ext-js it appears that you are pretty stuck with what they provide although you can skin everything.
Ext JS would be worthwhile to consider if you were considering Flash or Flex. It's a full-stack framework that builds your page, including layout, components, etc. from minimal or no HTML. It has a ton of facilities for things like setting up data stores, complex (and I mean complex) layout handling, and more. It's also a very large library.
It is not, however, very suited for progressive enhancement techniques, in which a perfectly good web site (that can be sucked in by Google, screen readers, or users with old browsers) is enhanced with the use of DOM and Ajax techniques. jQuery, on the other hand, represents the epitome of those techniques.
On a related note, it is possible to use Ext JS with jQuery as its base. Ext JS was original built on top of YUI, and then went on to support jQuery and Prototype/Scriptaculous, and finally built its own base library. All four options are still supported in Ext 2.0.