diff --git a/include/login_form.php b/include/login_form.php
index d1af23459..211302a87 100755
--- a/include/login_form.php
+++ b/include/login_form.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 	        if (login && login != this.previousLogin) {
                 this.previousLogin = login;
 
-                xhrJson("public.php", {op: "getprofiles", login: login},
+                xhr.json("public.php", {op: "getprofiles", login: login},
                     (reply) => {
                         const profile = dijit.byId('profile');
 
diff --git a/js/App.js b/js/App.js
index d61c6ead0..0c12c7e6f 100644
--- a/js/App.js
+++ b/js/App.js
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ const App = {
    checkForUpdates: function() {
       console.log('checking for updates...');
 
-      xhrJson("backend.php", {op: 'rpc', method: 'checkforupdates'})
+      xhr.json("backend.php", {op: 'rpc', method: 'checkforupdates'})
          .then((reply) => {
             console.log('update reply', reply);
 
diff --git a/js/Article.js b/js/Article.js
index 90be90f7b..379e05644 100644
--- a/js/Article.js
+++ b/js/Article.js
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ const Article = {
 	displayUrl: function (id) {
 		const query = {op: "article", method: "getmetadatabyid", id: id};
 
-		xhrJson("backend.php", query, (reply) => {
+		xhr.json("backend.php", query, (reply) => {
 			if (reply && reply.link) {
 				prompt(__("Article URL:"), reply.link);
 			} else {
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ const Article = {
 		const tmph = dojo.connect(dialog, 'onShow', function () {
 			dojo.disconnect(tmph);
 
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "article", method: "printArticleTags", id: id}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "article", method: "printArticleTags", id: id}, (reply) => {
 
 				dijit.getEnclosingWidget(App.byId("tags_str"))
 					.attr('value', reply.tags.join(", "))
diff --git a/js/CommonDialogs.js b/js/CommonDialogs.js
index 6ace91c8c..3acd2b577 100644
--- a/js/CommonDialogs.js
+++ b/js/CommonDialogs.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 			return false;
 		},
 		subscribeToFeed: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php",
+			xhr.json("backend.php",
 					{op: "feeds", method: "subscribeToFeed"},
 					(reply) => {
 						const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 		},
 		showFeedsWithErrors: function() {
 
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "feedsWithErrors"}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "feedsWithErrors"}, (reply) => {
 
 				const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 					id: "errorFeedsDlg",
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 
 			Notify.progress("Loading, please wait...", true);
 
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "getOPMLKey"}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "getOPMLKey"}, (reply) => {
 				try {
 					const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 						title: __("Public OPML URL"),
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 							if (confirm(__("Replace current OPML publishing address with a new one?"))) {
 								Notify.progress("Trying to change address...", true);
 
-								xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "regenOPMLKey"}, (reply) => {
+								xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "regenOPMLKey"}, (reply) => {
 									if (reply) {
 										const new_link = reply.link;
 										const target = this.domNode.querySelector('.generated_url');
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 
 			Notify.progress("Loading, please wait...", true);
 
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "getsharedurl", id: feed, is_cat: is_cat, search: search}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "getsharedurl", id: feed, is_cat: is_cat, search: search}, (reply) => {
 				try {
 					const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 						title: __("Show as feed"),
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ const	CommonDialogs = {
 
 								const query = {op: "pref-feeds", method: "regenFeedKey", id: feed, is_cat: is_cat};
 
-								xhrJson("backend.php", query, (reply) => {
+								xhr.json("backend.php", query, (reply) => {
 									const new_link = reply.link;
 									const target = this.domNode.querySelector(".generated_url");
 
diff --git a/js/Feeds.js b/js/Feeds.js
index 67c78cbfe..7cefe2235 100644
--- a/js/Feeds.js
+++ b/js/Feeds.js
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ const	Feeds = {
 			return tree.model.store.getValue(nuf, 'bare_id');
 	},
 	search: function() {
-		xhrJson("backend.php",
+		xhr.json("backend.php",
 					{op: "feeds", method: "search"},
 					(reply) => {
 						try {
diff --git a/js/PrefFeedTree.js b/js/PrefFeedTree.js
index 92194e037..c7228e6ff 100644
--- a/js/PrefFeedTree.js
+++ b/js/PrefFeedTree.js
@@ -210,14 +210,14 @@ define(["dojo/_base/declare", "dojo/dom-construct", "lib/CheckBoxTree", "dojo/_b
 			return false;
 		},
 		checkErrorFeeds: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "feedsWithErrors"}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "feedsWithErrors"}, (reply) => {
 				if (reply.length > 0) {
 					Element.show(dijit.byId("pref_feeds_errors_btn").domNode);
 				}
 			});
 		},
 		checkInactiveFeeds: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "inactivefeeds"}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-feeds", method: "inactivefeeds"}, (reply) => {
 				if (reply.length > 0) {
 					Element.show(dijit.byId("pref_feeds_inactive_btn").domNode);
 				}
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ define(["dojo/_base/declare", "dojo/dom-construct", "lib/CheckBoxTree", "dojo/_b
 			}
 		},
 		batchSubscribe: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: 'pref-feeds', method: 'batchSubscribe'}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: 'pref-feeds', method: 'batchSubscribe'}, (reply) => {
 				const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 					id: "batchSubDlg",
 					title: __("Batch subscribe"),
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ define(["dojo/_base/declare", "dojo/dom-construct", "lib/CheckBoxTree", "dojo/_b
 			});
 		},
 		showInactiveFeeds: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: 'pref-feeds', method: 'inactivefeeds'}, function (reply) {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: 'pref-feeds', method: 'inactivefeeds'}, function (reply) {
 
 				const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 					id: "inactiveFeedsDlg",
diff --git a/js/PrefHelpers.js b/js/PrefHelpers.js
index d4db15c3b..c17966291 100644
--- a/js/PrefHelpers.js
+++ b/js/PrefHelpers.js
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ const	Helpers = {
 					}
 				},
 				refresh: function() {
-					xhrJson("backend.php", {op: 'pref-prefs', method: 'getprofiles'}, (reply) => {
+					xhr.json("backend.php", {op: 'pref-prefs', method: 'getprofiles'}, (reply) => {
 						dialog.attr('content', `
 							<div dojoType='fox.Toolbar'>
 								<div dojoType='fox.form.DropDownButton'>
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ const	Helpers = {
 	},
 	Prefs: {
 		customizeCSS: function() {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-prefs", method: "customizeCSS"}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-prefs", method: "customizeCSS"}, (reply) => {
 
 				const dialog = new fox.SingleUseDialog({
 					title: __("Customize stylesheet"),
diff --git a/js/PrefLabelTree.js b/js/PrefLabelTree.js
index 4392dfc44..9d16a147c 100644
--- a/js/PrefLabelTree.js
+++ b/js/PrefLabelTree.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ define(["dojo/_base/declare", "dojo/dom-construct", "lib/CheckBoxTree", "dijit/f
 			});
 		},
 		editLabel: function(id) {
-			xhrJson("backend.php", {op: "pref-labels", method: "edit", id: id}, (reply) => {
+			xhr.json("backend.php", {op: "pref-labels", method: "edit", id: id}, (reply) => {
 
 				console.log(reply);
 
diff --git a/js/PrefUsers.js b/js/PrefUsers.js
index 64466ef18..5b490a2a5 100644
--- a/js/PrefUsers.js
+++ b/js/PrefUsers.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const	Users = {
 		}
 	},
 	edit: function(id) {
-		xhrJson('backend.php', {op: 'pref-users', method: 'edit', id: id}, (reply) => {
+		xhr.json('backend.php', {op: 'pref-users', method: 'edit', id: id}, (reply) => {
 			const user = reply.user;
 			const admin_disabled = (user.id == 1);
 
diff --git a/js/common.js b/js/common.js
index dbe1ae3c3..f3fcdd905 100755
--- a/js/common.js
+++ b/js/common.js
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ String.prototype.stripTags = function() {
 
 const xhr = {
 	post: function(url, params = {}, complete = undefined) {
-		console.log("xhr.post:", params);
+		console.log('xhr.post', '>>>', params);
 
 		return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
 			if (typeof __csrf_token != "undefined")
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ const xhr = {
 					reject(error);
 				},
 				load: function(data, ioargs) {
+					//console.log('xhr.post', '<<<', data, ioargs);
+
 					if (complete != undefined)
 						complete(data, ioargs.xhr);
 
@@ -176,6 +178,8 @@ const xhr = {
 					reject(e);
 				}
 
+				console.log('xhr.json', '<<<', obj);
+
 				if (complete != undefined) complete(obj);
 
 				resolve(obj);
@@ -209,21 +213,7 @@ function xhrPost(url, params = {}, complete = undefined) {
 
 /* exported xhrJson */
 function xhrJson(url, params = {}, complete = undefined) {
-	return new Promise((resolve, reject) =>
-		xhrPost(url, params).then((reply) => {
-			let obj = null;
-
-			try {
-				obj = JSON.parse(reply.responseText);
-			} catch (e) {
-				console.error("xhrJson", e, reply);
-				reject(e);
-			}
-
-			if (complete != undefined) complete(obj);
-
-			resolve(obj);
-		}));
+	return xhr.json(url, params, complete);
 }
 
 /* common helpers not worthy of separate Dojo modules */
diff --git a/plugins/af_readability/init.js b/plugins/af_readability/init.js
index 6dec82f45..5297416b3 100644
--- a/plugins/af_readability/init.js
+++ b/plugins/af_readability/init.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Plugins.Af_Readability = {
 
         Notify.progress("Loading, please wait...");
 
-        xhrJson("backend.php", App.getPhArgs("af_readability", "embed", {id: id}), (reply) => {
+        xhr.json("backend.php", App.getPhArgs("af_readability", "embed", {id: id}), (reply) => {
 
             if (content && reply.content) {
                 content.setAttribute(self.orig_attr_name, content.innerHTML);
diff --git a/plugins/mail/init.php b/plugins/mail/init.php
index d96006b21..16e22f342 100644
--- a/plugins/mail/init.php
+++ b/plugins/mail/init.php
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class Mail extends Plugin {
 			<script type='dojo/method' event='onSubmit' args='evt'>
 				evt.preventDefault();
 				if (this.validate()) {
-					xhrJson("backend.php", this.getValues(), (reply) => {
+					xhr.json("backend.php", this.getValues(), (reply) => {
 						if (reply && reply.error)
 							Notify.error(reply.error);
 						else
diff --git a/plugins/mail/mail.js b/plugins/mail/mail.js
index 36b0baac5..fc0898085 100644
--- a/plugins/mail/mail.js
+++ b/plugins/mail/mail.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Plugins.Mail = {
 			title: __("Forward article by email"),
 			execute: function () {
 				if (this.validate()) {
-					xhrJson("backend.php", this.attr('value'), (reply) => {
+					xhr.json("backend.php", this.attr('value'), (reply) => {
 						if (reply) {
 							const error = reply['error'];
 
diff --git a/plugins/note/note.js b/plugins/note/note.js
index d2d9c2b01..36bc426cd 100644
--- a/plugins/note/note.js
+++ b/plugins/note/note.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Plugins.Note = {
 				if (this.validate()) {
 					Notify.progress("Saving article note...", true);
 
-					xhrJson("backend.php", this.attr('value'), (reply) => {
+					xhr.json("backend.php", this.attr('value'), (reply) => {
 						Notify.close();
 						dialog.hide();
 
diff --git a/plugins/share/share.js b/plugins/share/share.js
index a5f60d267..d7b8cd1f9 100644
--- a/plugins/share/share.js
+++ b/plugins/share/share.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Plugins.Share = {
 
 					Notify.progress("Trying to change URL...", true);
 
-					xhrJson("backend.php", App.getPhArgs("share", "newkey", {id: id}), (reply) => {
+					xhr.json("backend.php", App.getPhArgs("share", "newkey", {id: id}), (reply) => {
 						if (reply) {
 							const new_link = reply.link;
 							const target = dialog.domNode.querySelector(".target-url");