title: AJAX command-line interface in browser
body: <p>I'm building a Web app to allow users to view and manipulate data, particularly numeric and geographic data. It's important that the output be clear and professional (data grids, Google Map overlays, etc.). But in terms of the user interface, I'd rather start with the flexibility of a command-line interface before building GUI-style forms.</p>
  
  <p>Can you offer any tips, tricks, or suggestions to create an AJAX-based command-line interface that can drive the rest of the interface? Pointers to existing applications would be great, too.</p>
  
  <p>The stack I'm using is Django/Python on the server side and ExtJS in the browser. If possible, I'd like to route commands to the Django shell and then just add some extra functions to output the results to a data grid, a map, etc.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>
  
  <p><strong>@Soviut</strong> Thanks for the quick response. I'm afraid I must not be making myself that clear. I want to use a shell to fire off commands on the server side that'll then feed back to output on the client side.</p>
  
  <p>Here's an example I just found: <a href="http://shell.appspot.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://shell.appspot.com/</a></p>
  
  <p>It's just that I'd like to have that not just produce text output inside the shell but also produce output that will be picked up by other AJAX listeners for data grids and maps.</p>