search results can be fetched via ajax - via a.k.a live search

6 files changed, 595 insertions, 31 deletions

diff --git a/askbot/const/__init__.py b/askbot/const/__init__.py
index 98b8e49c..dedbd115 100644
--- a/askbot/const/__init__.py
+++ b/askbot/const/__init__.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ USERS_PAGE_SIZE = 28#todo: move it to settings?
 USERNAME_REGEX_STRING = r'^[\w \-]+$'
 
 #chars that can go before or after @mention
-TWITTER_STYLE_MENTION_TERMINATION_CHARS = '\n ;:,.!?<>'
+TWITTER_STYLE_MENTION_TERMINATION_CHARS = '\n ;:,.!?<>"\''
 
 COMMENT_HARD_MAX_LENGTH = 2048
 
diff --git a/askbot/skins/default/media/js/live_search.js b/askbot/skins/default/media/js/live_search.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0cf7817b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/askbot/skins/default/media/js/live_search.js
@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+$(document).ready(function(){
+    var query = $('input#keywords');
+    var prev_text = $.trim(query.val());
+    var running = false;
+    var q_list_sel = 'listA';//id of question listing div
+
+    var refresh_x_button = function(){
+        if ($.trim(query.val()).length > 0){
+            if (query.attr('class') == 'searchInput'){
+                query.attr('class', 'searchInputCancelable');
+                x_button = $('<input class="cancelSearchBtn" type="button" name="reset_query"/>');
+                //x_button.click(reset_query);
+                x_button.val('x');
+                x_button.click(
+                    function(){
+                        query.val('');
+                        reset_query();
+                    }
+                );
+                query.after(x_button);
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            $('input[name=reset_query]').remove();
+            query.attr('class', 'searchInput');
+        }
+    };
+
+    var eval_query = function(){
+        cur_text = $.trim(query.val());
+        if (cur_text != prev_text && running === false){
+            if (cur_text.length > 3){
+                send_query(cur_text);
+                running = true;
+            }
+            else if (cur_text.length === 0){
+                reset_query();
+                running = true;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    var listen = function(){
+        running = false;
+        refresh_x_button();
+        query.keydown(function(e){
+            refresh_x_button();
+            if (running === false){
+                setTimeout(eval_query, 50);
+            }
+        });
+        query.keyup(function(){
+            refresh_x_button();
+        });
+    }
+
+    var render_counter = function(count, word, color, bgcolor){
+        return '<div class="votes"' +
+                    '<span class="item-count" ' + 
+                        'style="color:' + color +
+                        ';background:' + bgcolor + '"' +
+                    '>' +
+                        count +
+                    '</span>' +
+                    '<div>' + word + '</div>' +
+                '</div>';
+    }
+
+    var render_title = function(result){
+        return '<h2>' +
+                    '<a title="' + result['summary'] + '" ' +
+                        'href="' + result['url'] + '"' +
+                    '>' +
+                        result['title'] +
+                    '</a>' +
+                '</h2>';
+    };
+
+    var render_user_link = function(result){
+        if (result['u_url'] !== false){
+            return '<a ' +
+                        'href="' + result['u_url'] + '"' +
+                    '>' +
+                        result['u_name'] +
+                    '</a> ';
+        }
+        else {
+            return '';
+        }
+    };
+
+    var render_badge = function(result, key){
+        return '<span ' + 
+                    'title="' + result[key + '_title'] + '"' +
+                '>' +
+                '<span ' +
+                    'class="' + result[key + '_css_class'] + '"' +
+                '>' + result[key + '_badge_symbol'] + '</span>' +
+                '<span class="badgecount">' + result[key] + '</span>';
+    };
+
+    var render_user_badge_and_karma = function(result){
+        var rep_title = result['u_rep'] + ' ' + result['u_rep_word'];
+        var html = '<span ' +
+                        'class="reputation-score" ' +
+                        'title="' + rep_title + '"' +
+                    '>' + result['u_rep'] + '</span>';
+        if (result['u_gold'] > 0){
+            html += render_badge(result, 'u_gold');
+        }
+        if (result['u_silver'] > 0){
+            html += render_badge(result, 'u_silver');
+        }
+        if (result['u_bronze'] > 0){
+            html += render_badge(result, 'u_bronze');
+        }
+        return html;
+    };
+
+    var render_user_info = function(result){
+        var user_html = 
+        '<div class="userinfo">' +
+            '<span class="relativetime" ' +
+                'title="' + result['timestamp'] + '"' +
+            '>' +
+            result['timesince'] +
+            '</span> ' +
+            render_user_link(result) +
+            render_user_badge_and_karma(result) +
+        '</div>';
+        return user_html;
+    };
+
+    var render_tag = function(tag_name){
+        var url = scriptUrl + 
+                    $.i18n._('questions/') + 
+                    '?tags=' + encodeURI(tag_name);
+        var tag_title = $.i18n._(
+                            "see questions tagged '{tag}'"
+                        ).replace(
+                            '{tag}',
+                            tag_name
+                        );
+        return '<a ' +
+                    'href="' + url + '" ' + 
+                    'title="' + tag_title + '" rel="tag"' +
+                '>' + tag_name + '</a>';
+    };
+
+    var render_tags = function(tags){
+        var tags_html = '<div class="tags">';
+        for (var i=0; i<tags.length; i++){
+            tags_html += render_tag(tags[i]);
+        }
+        tags_html += '</div>';
+        return tags_html;
+    };
+
+    var render_question = function(question){
+        var entry_html = 
+        '<div class="short-summary">' + 
+            '<div class="counts">' +
+                render_counter(
+                    question['votes'],
+                    question['votes_word'],
+                    question['votes_color'],
+                    question['votes_bgcolor']
+                ) +
+                render_counter(
+                    question['answers'],
+                    question['answers_word'],
+                    question['answers_color'],
+                    question['answers_bgcolor']
+                ) +
+                render_counter(
+                    question['views'],
+                    question['views_word'],
+                    question['views_color'],
+                    question['views_bgcolor']
+                ) +
+            '</div>' + 
+            render_title(question) +
+            render_user_info(question) +
+            render_tags(question['tags']) +
+        '</div>';
+        return entry_html;
+    };
+
+    var render_question_list = function(questions){
+        var output = '';
+        //alert(questions.length);
+        for (var i=0; i<questions.length; i++){
+            output += render_question(questions[i]);
+        }
+        return output;//render_question(questions[2]);
+    };
+
+    var render_faces = function(faces){
+        if (faces.length === 0){
+            return;
+        }
+        $('#contrib-users>a').remove();
+        var html = '';
+        for (var i=0; i<faces.length; i++){
+            html += faces[i];
+        }
+        //alert(html);
+        $('#contrib-users').append(html);
+    };
+
+    var render_related_tags = function(tags){
+        if (tags.length === 0){
+            return;
+        }
+        var html = '';
+        for (var i=0; i<tags.length; i++){
+            html += render_tag(tags[i]['name']);
+            html += '<span class="tag-number">&#215; ' +
+                        tags[i]['used_count'] +
+                    '</span>' +
+                    '<br />';
+        }
+        $('#related-tags').html(html);
+    };
+
+    var render_paginator = function(paginator){
+        var pager = $('#pager');
+        if (! pager.is(':empty')){
+            pager.html(paginator);
+        }
+    };
+
+    var set_question_count = function(count_html){
+        $('#question-count').html(count_html);
+    }
+
+    var render_result = function(data, text_status, xhr){
+        var old_list = $('#' + q_list_sel);
+        var new_list = $('<div></div>');
+        if (data['questions'].length > 0){
+            new_list.html(render_question_list(data['questions']));
+            old_list.hide();
+            old_list.after(new_list);
+            old_list.remove();
+            //rename new div to old
+            new_list.attr('id', q_list_sel);
+            render_paginator(data['paginator']);
+            set_question_count(data['question_counter']);
+        }
+        render_faces(data['faces']);
+        render_related_tags(data['related_tags']);
+        query.focus();
+        //show new div
+    }
+
+    var try_again = function(){
+        running = false;
+        eval_query();
+    }
+
+    var send_query = function(query_text){
+        $.ajax({
+            url: scriptUrl + $.i18n._('questions/'), 
+            data: {query: query_text},
+            dataType: 'json',
+            success: render_result,
+            complete: try_again,
+        });
+        prev_text = query_text;
+    }
+
+    var reset_query = function(){
+        refresh_x_button();
+        $.ajax({
+            url: scriptUrl + $.i18n._('questions/'), 
+            data: {reset_query: true},
+            dataType: 'json',
+            success: render_result,
+            complete: try_again,
+        });
+        prev_text = '';
+    }
+
+    listen();
+});
diff --git a/askbot/skins/default/templates/input_bar.html b/askbot/skins/default/templates/input_bar.html
index 66e6ed94..018f79d9 100644
--- a/askbot/skins/default/templates/input_bar.html
+++ b/askbot/skins/default/templates/input_bar.html
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {% load i18n %}
 {% load smart_if %}
 {% if active_tab != "ask" %}
+{% spaceless %}
 <div id="searchBar">
     {% comment %}url action depends on which tab is active{% endcomment %}
     <form 
@@ -22,12 +23,11 @@
                 name="query" 
                 id="keywords"/>
             {% if query %}{% comment %}query is only defined by questions view{% endcomment %}
-            <input type="button" 
-                value="x" 
-                name="reset_query" 
+            <input type="button"
+                value="x"
+                name="reset_query"
                 {% comment %}todo - make sure it works on Enter keypress{% endcomment %}
-                onclick="window.location.href='{% url questions %}?reset_query=true'" 
-                value="true" 
+                onclick="window.location.href='{% url questions %}?reset_query=true'"
                 class="cancelSearchBtn"/>
             {% endif %}
             <input type="submit" value="{% trans "search" %}" name="search" class="searchBtn" />
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
             {% endif %}
     </form>
 </div>
+{% endspaceless %}
 {% else %}
     {% include "ask_form.html" %}
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions.html b/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions.html
index cf9517e1..36a15ae1 100644
--- a/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions.html
+++ b/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions.html
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 {% endblock %}
 {% block content %}
 {% get_current_language as LANGUAGE_CODE %}
-{% cache 600 "scope_sort_tabs" search_tags scope sort query context.page context.page_size LANGUAGE_CODE %}
+{% cache 600 "scope_sort_tabs" search_tags request.user scope sort query context.page context.page_size LANGUAGE_CODE %}
 <div class="tabBar">
     <div class="tabsC">
         <span class="label">{% trans "In:" %}</span>
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@
                     alt="{% trans "subscribe to the questions feed" %}"
                 src="{% media "/images/feed-icon-small.png" %}"/> {% trans "rss feed" %}</a>)
         </p>
-        <p class="search-result-summary">
+        <p id="question-count" class="search-result-summary">
         {% if author_name or search_tags or query %}
             {% blocktrans count questions_count as cnt with questions_count|intcomma as q_num %}
                 {{q_num}} question found
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
         <div class="userinfo">
             <span class="relativetime" title="{{question.last_activity_at}}">{% diff_date question.last_activity_at %}</span>
             {% if question.last_activity_by %}
-            &nbsp;<a href="{% url user_profile question.last_activity_by.id question.last_activity_by.username|slugify %}">{{ question.last_activity_by }}</a>&nbsp;{% get_score_badge question.last_activity_by %}
+            <a href="{% url user_profile question.last_activity_by.id question.last_activity_by.username|slugify %}">{{ question.last_activity_by }}</a> {% get_score_badge question.last_activity_by %}
             {% endif %}
         </div>
         <div class="tags">
@@ -286,11 +286,12 @@
             </p>
         {% endif %}
 </div>
+<script type="text/javascript" src="{% media "/js/live_search.js" %}"></script>
 {% endblock %}
 
     {% block tail %}
             {% if questions_count > 10 %}{%comment%}todo: remove magic number{%endcomment%}
-                <div class="pager">{% cnprog_paginator context %}</div>
+                <div id="pager" class="pager">{% cnprog_paginator context %}</div>
                 <div class="pagesize">{% cnprog_pagesize context %}</div>
             {% endif %}
     {% endblock %}
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@
     {% if contributors %}
         {% get_current_language as LANGUAGE_CODE %}
         {% cache 600 contributors search_tags scope sort query context.page context.page_size LANGUAGE_CODE %}
-        <div class="boxC">
+        <div id="contrib-users" class="boxC">
         <h3 class="subtitle">{% trans "Contributors" %}</h3>
         {% for person in contributors %}
             {% gravatar person 48 %}
@@ -317,7 +318,7 @@
         {% cache 600 tags search_tags scope sort query context.page context.page_size LANGUAGE_CODE %}
         <div class="boxC">
             <h3 class="subtitle">{% trans "Related tags" %}</h3>
-            <div class="tags">
+            <div id="related-tags" class="tags">
                 {% for tag in tags %}
                     <a 
                         rel="tag" 
diff --git a/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions_ajax.html b/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions_ajax.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83e4d09f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/askbot/skins/default/templates/questions_ajax.html
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+<!-- questions_ajax.html -->
+{% load extra_tags %}
+{% load i18n %}
+{% load humanize %}
+{% load extra_filters %}
+{% load smart_if %}
+{% load cache %}
+{% get_current_language as LANGUAGE_CODE %}
+{% cache 60 questions search_tags scope sort query context.page context.page_size LANGUAGE_CODE %}
+    {% for question in questions.object_list %}
+    <div class="short-summary">
+        <div class="counts">
+            <div class="votes">
+                <span 
+                    class="item-count"
+                    {% if question.score == 0 %}
+                    style="background:{{settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG}}"
+                    {% else %}
+                    style="background:{{settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_MIN_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_MIN_FG}}"
+                    {% endif %}
+                >{{question.score|humanize_counter}}</span>
+                <div>
+                {% blocktrans count question.score as cnt %}vote{% plural %}votes{% endblocktrans %}
+                </div>
+            </div >
+            {% comment %}
+            <div {% if question.answer_accepted %}title="{% trans "this answer has been accepted to be correct" %}"{% endif %} class="status {% if question.answer_accepted %}answered-accepted{% endif %} {% ifequal question.answer_count 0 %}unanswered{% endifequal %}{% ifnotequal question.answer_count 0 %}answered{% endifnotequal %}">
+            {% endcomment %}
+            <div class="votes"> 
+                <span 
+                    class="item-count"
+                    {% if question.answer_count == 0 %}
+                        style="background:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG}}"
+                    {% else %}
+                        {% if question.answer_accepted %}
+                        style="background:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_ACCEPTED_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_ACCEPTED_FG}}"
+                        {% else %}
+                        style="background:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_MIN_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_MIN_FG}}"
+                        {% endif %}
+                    {% endif %}
+                >{{question.answer_count|humanize_counter}}</span>
+                <div>
+                {% blocktrans count question.answer_count as cnt %}answer{% plural %}answers{% endblocktrans %}
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="votes">
+                 <span class="item-count"
+                 {% if question.view_count == 0 %}
+                    style="background:{{settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG}}"
+                 {% else %}
+                    style="background:{{settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_MIN_BG}};color:{{settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_MIN_FG}}"
+                 {% endif %}
+                 >{{question.view_count|humanize_counter}}</span>
+                <div>
+                {% blocktrans count question.view_count as cnt %}view{% plural %}views{% endblocktrans %}
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <h2><a title="{{question.summary}}" href="{% url question id=question.id %}{{question.title|slugify}}">{{question.title}}</a></h2>
+        <div class="userinfo">
+            <span class="relativetime" title="{{question.last_activity_at}}">{% diff_date question.last_activity_at %}</span>
+            {% if question.last_activity_by %}
+            <a href="{% url user_profile question.last_activity_by.id question.last_activity_by.username|slugify %}">{{ question.last_activity_by }}</a> {% get_score_badge question.last_activity_by %}
+            {% endif %}
+        </div>
+        <div class="tags">
+            {% for tag in question.tagname_list %}
+            <a href="{% url questions %}?tags={{tag|urlencode}}" title="{% blocktrans %}see questions tagged '{{ tag }}'{%endblocktrans %}" rel="tag">{{ tag }}</a>
+            {% endfor %}
+        </div>
+    </div>
+    {% endfor %}
+{% endcache %}
+        {% comment %}todo: fix css here{% endcomment %}
+        {% if questions_count == 0 %}
+            {% comment %}todo: add tips to widen selection{% endcomment%}
+            <p class="evenMore" style="padding-top:30px;text-align:center;">
+            {% if scope == "unanswered" %}
+                {% trans "There are no unanswered questions here" %}
+            {% endif %}
+            {% if scope == "favorite" %}
+                {% trans "No favorite questions here. " %}
+                {% trans "Please start (bookmark) some questions when you visit them" %}
+            {% endif %}
+            </p>
+            {% if query or search_tags or author_name %}
+            <p class="evenMore" style="text-align:center">
+                {% trans "You can expand your search by " %}
+                {% ifmany query search_tags author_name %}
+                    {% joinitems using ', ' ' or ' %}
+                        {% if author_name %}
+                        <a href="{% url questions %}?reset_author=true">{% trans "resetting author" %}</a>
+                        {% endif %}
+                    {% separator %}
+                        {% if search_tags %}
+                            <a href="{% url questions %}?reset_tags=true">{% trans "resetting tags" %}</a>
+                        {% endif %}
+                    {% separator %}
+                        {% ifmany query search_tags author_name %}
+                            <a href="{% url questions %}?start_over=true">{% trans "starting over" %}</a>
+                        {% endifmany %}
+                    {% endjoinitems %}
+                {% else %}
+                    <a href="{% url questions %}?start_over=true">{% trans "starting over" %}</a>
+                {% endifmany %}
+            </p>
+            {% endif %}
+            <p class="evenMore" style="text-align:center">
+            <a href="{% url ask %}">{% trans "Please always feel free to ask your question!" %}</a>
+            </p>
+        {% else %}
+            <p class="evenMore" style="padding-left:9px">
+                {% trans "Did not find what you were looking for?" %} 
+                <a href="{% url ask %}">{% trans "Please, post your question!" %}</a>
+            </p>
+        {% endif %}
+</div>
+<!-- end questions_ajax.html -->
diff --git a/askbot/views/readers.py b/askbot/views/readers.py
index 31eeee67..5baac3ab 100644
--- a/askbot/views/readers.py
+++ b/askbot/views/readers.py
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.shortcuts import render_to_response, get_object_or_404
 from django.http import HttpResponseRedirect, HttpResponse, HttpResponseForbidden, Http404
 from django.core.paginator import Paginator, EmptyPage, InvalidPage
-from django.template import RequestContext
+from django.template import RequestContext, Context
+from django.template import loader
+from django.template import defaultfilters
 from django.utils.html import *
 from django.utils import simplejson
 from django.db.models import Q
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.views.decorators.cache import cache_page
 from django.core import exceptions as django_exceptions
+from django.contrib.humanize.templatetags import humanize
 
 from askbot.utils.slug import slugify
 from askbot.utils.html import sanitize_html
@@ -35,6 +38,9 @@ from askbot.utils.forms import get_next_url
 from askbot.utils.functions import not_a_robot_request
 from askbot.utils.decorators import profile
 from askbot.search.state_manager import SearchState
+from askbot.templatetags import extra_tags
+from askbot.templatetags import extra_filters
+from askbot.conf import settings as askbot_settings
 
 # used in index page
 #todo: - take these out of const or settings
@@ -130,16 +136,164 @@ def questions(request):
         raise Http404
 
     questions = objects_list.page(search_state.page)
+
     #todo maybe do this search on query the set instead
     related_tags = Tag.objects.get_tags_by_questions(questions.object_list)
+    contributors = Question.objects.get_question_and_answer_contributors(questions.object_list)
+
+    paginator_context = {
+        'is_paginated' : True,
+        'pages': objects_list.num_pages,
+        'page': search_state.page,
+        'has_previous': questions.has_previous(),
+        'has_next': questions.has_next(),
+        'previous': questions.previous_page_number(),
+        'next': questions.next_page_number(),
+        'base_url' : request.path + '?sort=%s&' % search_state.sort,#todo in T sort=>sort_method
+        'page_size' : search_state.page_size,#todo in T pagesize -> page_size
+    }
+
+    if request.is_ajax():
+        q_count = objects_list.count
+        question_counter = ungettext(
+                                '%(q_num)s question',
+                                '%(q_num)s questions',
+                                q_count
+                            ) % {
+                                'q_num': humanize.intcomma(q_count),
+                            }
+
+        paginator_tpl = loader.get_template('paginator.html')
+        paginator_html = paginator_tpl.render(
+                                    Context(
+                                        extra_tags.cnprog_paginator(
+                                                        paginator_context
+                                                    )
+                                    )
+                                )
+
+        ajax_data = {
+            #current page is 1 by default now
+            #because ajax is only called by update in the search button
+            'paginator': paginator_html,
+            'question_counter': question_counter,
+            'questions': list(),
+            'related_tags': list(),
+            'faces': list()
+        }
+
+        badge_levels = dict(Badge.TYPE_CHOICES)
+        def pluralize_badge_count(count, level):
+            return ungettext(
+                '%(badge_count)d %(badge_level)s badge',
+                '%(badge_count)d %(badge_level)s badges',
+                count
+            ) % {
+                'badge_count': count, 
+                'badge_level': badge_levels[level]
+            }
+
+        gold_badge_css_class = Badge.CSS_CLASSES[Badge.GOLD],
+        silver_badge_css_class = Badge.CSS_CLASSES[Badge.SILVER],
+        bronze_badge_css_class = Badge.CSS_CLASSES[Badge.BRONZE],
+
+        for tag in related_tags:
+            tag_data = {
+                'name': tag.name,
+                'used_count': humanize.intcomma(tag.used_count)
+            }
+            ajax_data['related_tags'].append(tag_data)
+
+        for contributor in contributors:
+            ajax_data['faces'].append(extra_tags.gravatar(contributor, 48))
+
+        for question in questions.object_list:
+            timestamp = question.last_activity_at
+            author = question.last_activity_by
+            #'u_gold_title': pluralized_gold_badge_title,
+            #'u_silver': author.silver,
+            #'u_silver_title': pluralized_silver_badge_title,
+            #'u_bronze': author.bronze,
+            #'u_bronze_title': pluralized_bronze_badge_title,
+            if question.score == 0:
+                votes_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG
+                votes_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG
+            else:
+                votes_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_MIN_FG
+                votes_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_VOTE_COUNTER_MIN_BG
+
+            if question.answer_count == 0:
+                answers_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG
+                answers_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG
+            elif question.answer_accepted:
+                answers_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_ACCEPTED_FG
+                answers_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_ACCEPTED_BG
+            else:
+                answers_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_MIN_FG
+                answers_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_ANSWER_COUNTER_MIN_BG
+
+            if question.view_count == 0:
+                views_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_EMPTY_FG
+                views_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_EMPTY_BG
+            else:
+                views_color = askbot_settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_MIN_FG
+                views_bgcolor = askbot_settings.COLORS_VIEW_COUNTER_MIN_BG
+
+            question_data = {
+                'title': question.title,
+                'summary': question.summary,
+                'url': question.get_absolute_url(),
+                'tags': question.get_tag_names(),
+                'votes': extra_filters.humanize_counter(question.score),
+                'votes_color': votes_color,
+                'votes_bgcolor': votes_bgcolor,
+                'votes_word': ungettext('vote', 'votes', question.score),
+                'answers': extra_filters.humanize_counter(question.answer_count),
+                'answers_color': answers_color,
+                'answers_bgcolor': answers_bgcolor,
+                'answers_word': ungettext('answer', 'answers', question.answer_count),
+                'views': extra_filters.humanize_counter(question.view_count),
+                'views_color': views_color,
+                'views_bgcolor': views_bgcolor,
+                'views_word': ungettext('view', 'views', question.view_count),
+                'timestamp': unicode(timestamp),
+                'timesince': extra_tags.diff_date(timestamp),
+                'u_url': author.get_absolute_url(),
+                'u_name': author.username,
+                'u_rep': author.reputation,
+                'u_gold': author.gold,
+                'u_gold_title': pluralize_badge_count(
+                                                author.gold,
+                                                Badge.GOLD
+                                            ),
+                'u_gold_badge_symbol': Badge.DISPLAY_SYMBOL,
+                'u_gold_css_class': gold_badge_css_class,
+                'u_silver': author.silver,
+                'u_silver_title': pluralize_badge_count(
+                                            author.silver,
+                                            Badge.SILVER
+                                        ),
+                'u_silver_badge_symbol': Badge.DISPLAY_SYMBOL,
+                'u_silver_css_class': silver_badge_css_class,
+                'u_bronze': author.bronze,
+                'u_bronze_title': pluralize_badge_count(
+                                            author.bronze,
+                                            Badge.BRONZE
+                                        ),
+                'u_bronze_badge_symbol': Badge.DISPLAY_SYMBOL,
+                'u_bronze_css_class': bronze_badge_css_class,
+            }
+            ajax_data['questions'].append(question_data)
+
+        return HttpResponse(
+                    simplejson.dumps(ajax_data),
+                    mimetype = 'application/json'
+                )
 
     tags_autocomplete = _get_tags_cache_json()
 
-    contributors = Question.objects.get_question_and_answer_contributors(questions.object_list)
 
-    #todo: organize variables by type
-    #before = datetime.datetime.now()
-    output = render_to_response('questions.html', {
+    template_context = RequestContext(request, {
         'view_name': 'questions',
         'active_tab': 'questions',
         'questions' : questions,
@@ -156,20 +310,21 @@ def questions(request):
         'ignored_tag_names': meta_data.get('ignored_tag_names',None), 
         'sort': search_state.sort,
         'scope': search_state.scope,
-        'context' : {
-            'is_paginated' : True,
-            'pages': objects_list.num_pages,
-            'page': search_state.page,
-            'has_previous': questions.has_previous(),
-            'has_next': questions.has_next(),
-            'previous': questions.previous_page_number(),
-            'next': questions.next_page_number(),
-            'base_url' : request.path + '?sort=%s&' % search_state.sort,#todo in T sort=>sort_method
-            'page_size' : search_state.page_size,#todo in T pagesize -> page_size
-        }}, context_instance=RequestContext(request))
+        'context' : paginator_context,
+        })
+
+    #todo: organize variables by type
+    if request.is_ajax():
+        template = loader.get_template('questions_ajax.html')
+        question_snippet = template.render(template_context)
+        output = {'question_snippet': question_snippet}
+        #print simplejson.dumps(output)
+        return HttpResponse(simplejson.dumps(output), mimetype='application/json')
+    else:
+        template = loader.get_template('questions.html')
+        return HttpResponse(template.render(template_context))
     #after = datetime.datetime.now()
     #print 'time to render %s' % (after - before)
-    return output
 
 def search(request): #generates listing of questions matching a search query - including tags and just words
     """redirects to people and tag search pages
@@ -267,9 +422,13 @@ def question(request, id):#refactor - long subroutine. display question body, an
 
     question = get_object_or_404(Question, id=id)
     try:
-        path_prefix = r'/%s%s%d/' % (settings.ASKBOT_URL,_('question/'), question.id)
+        path_prefix = r'/%s%s%d/' % (
+                                        settings.ASKBOT_URL,
+                                        _('question/'),
+                                        question.id
+                                    )
         if not request.path.startswith(path_prefix):
-            logging.critical('bad request path %s' % request_path)
+            logging.critical('bad request path %s' % request.path)
             raise Http404
         slug = request.path.replace(path_prefix, '', 1)
         logging.debug('have slug %s' % slug)