Ajax, notably, is a Microsoft invention. To put that into proper context, XmlHttpRequest was a hack by a single person at Microsoft -- with zero input or coord

Ajax, notably, is a Microsoft invention. To put that into proper context, XmlHttpRequest was a hack by a single person at Microsoft -- with zero input or coordination or working groups or long term planning -- on the MSXML team to do a favour to the Outlook team. Further it could only happen because of ActiveX, and paralleled various other light request tools that existed at the time. XmlHttpRequest is a great demonstration of a hacker getting a solution out there. EDIT: Downvotes? I am intimately aware of how XmlHttpRequest came into existence, having been closely involved with its birth, so if someone has some correction to add, please add it. But in no universe does XmlHttpRequest vindicate Microsoft on moving web standards along. Their contribution was unintentional and largely accidental.