= Prototype==== An object-oriented JavaScript frameworkPrototype is a JavaScript framework that aims to ease development of dynamic web applications.  It offers a familiar class-style OO framework, extensiveAjax support, higher-order programming constructs, and easy DOM manipulation.=== Targeted platformsPrototype currently targets the following platforms:* Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows, version 6.0 and higher* Mozilla Firefox 1.0/Mozilla 1.7 and higher* Apple Safari 1.2 and higher== Using PrototypeTo use Prototype in your application, download the latest release from the Prototype web site (http://prototype.conio.net/) and copy <tt>dist/prototype.js</tt> to a suitable location. Then include it in your HTMLlike so:  <script type="text/javascript" src="/path/to/prototype.js"></script>=== Building Prototype from source<tt>prototype.js</tt> is a composite file generated from many source files in the <tt>src/</tt> directory. To build Prototype, you'll need:* a copy of the Prototype source tree, either from a distribution tarball or  from the Subversion repository (see below)* Ruby 1.8.2 or higher (http://www.ruby-lang.org/)* Rake -- Ruby Make (http://rake.rubyforge.org/)* RDoc, if your Ruby distribution does not include itFrom the root Prototype directory,* <tt>rake dist</tt> will preprocess the Prototype source using ERB and   generate the composite <tt>dist/prototype.js</tt>.* <tt>rake package</tt> will create a distribution tarball in the   <tt>pkg/</tt> directory.== Contributing to PrototypeCheck out the Prototype source with   $ svn co http://dev.rubyonrails.org/svn/rails/spinoffs/prototype/Modify the files in <tt>src/</tt>, add tests in <tt>test/</tt> if possible, and post a patch to http://dev.rubyonrails.org/newticket (please make sure to pick "Prototype" as the component).== DocumentationPlease see the Prototype documentation on the script.aculo.us wiki:  http://wiki.script.aculo.us/scriptaculous/show/Prototype