title: When is it acceptable to use jQuery?
body: <p>I have recently been thinking alot about where to draw the line, and I wanted to get some answers from you experienced developers out there.  When is it acceptable to reference jQuery in a web app?</p>
  
  <p>Some supporting arguments for <strong>Always Using jQuery</strong>:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>You can reference jQuery from Google's repository, where it might already be cached on the client, eliminating the extra hefty request</li>
  <li>You don't have to deal with common cross-browser issues, as they are already taken care of</li>
  <li>You enjoy writing the code because it is developer-friendly</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Some supporting arguments for <strong>Never Using jQuery</strong>:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Unsettling dependency of a third-party library, which could contain costly bugs, and could lead to unjustifiably poor performance</li>
  <li>You have to learn a new syntax (just when you thought you had regular Javascript figured out...)</li>
  <li>Even the simplest of tasks can perform poorly, because of the inherent complexity of the framework</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I listed arguments as part of the question because I do not wish to have answers weighing the arguments of both sides.  I am hoping for always/never answers, preferrably with test case scenarios (vague <em>or</em> detailed).</p>
  
  <p>For example: "If I ever need to do any AJAX requests in my web app, I always use jQuery".</p>