A Tribute to Remember The Milk & the AJAX Revolution
The Remember The Milk Story
In 2005, when most web applications still required full page reloads for every interaction, Remember The Milk emerged as a revolutionary to-do list application that felt more like a desktop program than a website.
Founded by Bob Boynton and Emily Chang in Sydney, Australia, RTM became one of the first mainstream applications to demonstrate the power of AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) technology to create fluid, responsive web experiences.
"We wanted to build something that didn't feel like a traditional web page. Every click shouldn't require waiting for a page to reload."
- RTM Development Philosophy
The AJAX Revolution
Remember The Milk proved that web applications could be:
Responsive - Updates happened instantly without page reloads
Interactive - Drag and drop, keyboard shortcuts, and real-time editing
Desktop-like - The line between web and desktop apps began to blur
Always in sync - Changes were saved automatically in the background
Innovation Timeline
Project Conception
Bob and Emily start working on a web-based task management tool that would feel as responsive as desktop software.
Public Launch
Remember The Milk launches as one of the first major AJAX applications, demonstrating real-time updates and drag-and-drop functionality.
API Release
RTM releases its API, enabling third-party developers to build integrations and mobile apps.
Mobile Revolution
Mobile versions and integrations showcase how AJAX principles could extend beyond the desktop browser.
Impact on Web Development
Pioneering Techniques
Remember The Milk introduced many techniques that are now standard in modern web development:
Asynchronous Updates
Real-time data synchronization without page reloads using XMLHttpRequest.
Progressive Enhancement
The application worked with JavaScript disabled, then enhanced the experience when available.
Rich Interactions
Drag and drop, inline editing, and keyboard shortcuts brought desktop-like UX to the web.
Cross-browser Compatibility
Extensive testing and polyfills ensured consistent experience across IE, Firefox, and Safari.
Developer Testimonials
"RTM showed us what was possible with AJAX. It wasn't just about XMLHttpRequest - it was about rethinking the entire user experience."
- Web Developer, circa 2005
"Before RTM, we thought web apps had to feel like web pages. They proved that web apps could feel like applications."
- Frontend Engineer
Experience AJAX Like It's 2005
This interactive demo showcases the AJAX techniques that made Remember The Milk revolutionary. Try adding, editing, and removing tasks - notice how everything happens without page reloads!
// Creating the XMLHttpRequest object
var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
// Setting up the request
xhr.open('POST', 'ajax-endpoint.php', true);
xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded');
// Handling the response
xhr.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (xhr.readyState == 4 && xhr.status == 200) {
// Success! Update the UI without page reload
updateTaskList(xhr.responseText);
}
};
// Sending the request
xhr.send('action=add_task&task=' + encodeURIComponent(taskText));
AJAX History & Web Development Insights
Explore the fascinating world of early web technologies and the pioneers who shaped the modern internet. This blog section celebrates the innovations that made today's web possible.
The AJAX Revolution: How 2005 Changed Everything
By Nicola | 5 min read
In 2005, the web was a different place. Every interaction required a full page reload, making web applications feel clunky compared to desktop software. Then came XMLHttpRequest and the AJAX revolution...
Remember The Milk was among the first to show what was possible. While Gmail had demonstrated AJAX potential, RTM proved that any web application could feel desktop-like with the right approach.
Key Innovations RTM Brought to the Web:
Real-time updates - Tasks updated instantly without page refreshes
Drag and drop - Desktop-like interactions in the browser
Keyboard shortcuts - Power user features that felt native
Smart lists - Dynamic filtering and organization
Cross-platform sync - Data everywhere, instantly
The technical implementation was revolutionary for its time. Using XMLHttpRequest, RTM could send requests to the server without disrupting the user experience. This created the foundation for what we now take for granted in modern web applications.
"RTM didn't just use AJAX - it showed developers worldwide that web applications could rival desktop software in user experience."
XMLHttpRequest: The Unsung Hero of Modern Web
By Nicola | 3 min read
Before fetch(), before axios, before any modern HTTP library, there was XMLHttpRequest. This humble API, introduced by Microsoft in IE5, became the foundation of Web 2.0.
The name "XMLHttpRequest" is somewhat misleading - while it was designed for XML, developers quickly realized it could handle any type of data. JSON, plain text, HTML fragments - XMLHttpRequest could fetch them all asynchronously.
The Cross-Browser Challenge
In 2005, creating an XMLHttpRequest object required browser detection:
// The 2005 way
var xhr;
if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {
xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); // Modern browsers
} else if (window.ActiveXObject) {
xhr = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); // IE5/6
}
This cross-browser complexity made libraries like Prototype.js and later jQuery essential for web development.
Web 2.0: More Than Just a Buzzword
By Nicola | 4 min read
The term "Web 2.0" might seem like outdated marketing speak today, but in 2005 it represented a fundamental shift in how we thought about web applications.
Web 2.0 wasn't just about technology - it was about user experience, interactivity, and the democratization of content creation. Applications like RTM, Gmail, Google Maps, and Flickr showed that the web could be a platform for rich, interactive applications.
The Web 2.0 Principles RTM Embodied:
User-centric design - Focus on user needs over technical constraints
Rich interactions - Desktop-like user interfaces
Data as a platform - APIs and data syndication
Perpetual beta - Continuous improvement and iteration
Want to Learn More?
Explore the interactive AJAX demo to experience firsthand how revolutionary these technologies were in 2005.
