Core not autoloading

[eluser]Pascal Kriete[/eluser]

Is there a file with an autoload function that I need to require in my bootstrap

Since CI is PHP 4 compatible, it doesn't provide an __autoload function. You are, of course, welcome to add your own though.

If I explicitly require Controller I would then need to do the same for all base classes used in Controller

Even if you require all other files, you will soon run into trouble. A lot of PHP scripts work backwards by including all dependencies needed for a file. CI on the other hand, works it's way up from index.php until it eventually instantiates the controller. If you're curious how it works take a look at system/codeigniter/codeigniter.php, where all major bootstrapping is done.

The easiest way to do ajax calls is to handle them directly in a regular controller. It depends on what loader.php does though.

Let me know if that clears things up at all.