Customer Reviews

Mastering Javascript

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mastering Javascript is an excellent book for a newcomer to JavaScript, but I find that its value for updating my previous knowledge of JavaScript was much less than I expected. The book is a hefty 1100+ pages, and they avoid providing beginner's information on HTML, thankfully. Yet the language in the book is somewhat dry, even considering normal standards of writing in similar style books.

The book is good for those who already have a background in programming, and are interested in venturing into JavaScript. There are extended JavaScript examples in the book, and sample code is provided on a companion CD.

A very appreciated section on XML is included, and this was the section I focused on the most. Yet it doesn't develop it as much as I would have expected it to, considering how much it had already done with previous topics.

All in all, I would have enjoyed it more if this had been my first introduction to JavaScript. As is, it is still a good ride, though not as satisfying the second time around.

I'm about half way through the book and I find that is very informative, easy to follow. The one think I don't like is that it is focused on older browser development for Navigator 3. But I would definetly recomend this book to others.

If you like tutorials to be fun as well as informative, look elsewhere. I can't count the number of times my eyelids started drooping after 15 minutes because the material in this book is so dry. Unfortunately that dryness also extends to how well you pick up the information. Unless you really enjoy this style of writing, the mind begins to wander and you can miss important facts because all the facts just seem to run together. I'm sure the information in this book is supposed to be designed for the beginner with HTML and some programming experience, but the author doesn't make it very easy to digest.

If you want to have sophisticated webpages without using Net Framework 2 or 3, then this book is a must. I highly recommend it.

This book does not cover the details of most of the Javascript objects. The examples are good enough for beginners who are just getting to know javascript.

Well-written, easy to follow, and comprehensive. I enjoyed reading this one from cover to cover, and learned a ton of stuff: JavaScript philosophy, operators, statements, control structures, pre-defined objects & methods, plug-ins, layers, even server-side Javascript - all good stuff. Newbies: get "HTML 4.0 How-To" first, then this book, then "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide" by O'Reilly for a desk reference.

While I found some of the examples to be most useful others were lacking in detail. In particular, I found a couple of examples where the sample covered the initial command, but didn't expand to cover the parameters for the command. When attempting to execute the command the way the book said (not showed) it was more a guessing game as to what was really meant. Found it difficult to find examples for some commands and functions. On the other hand, I have been using the book. I've found that I have made progress and have used some of the examples to jumpstart applications I've developed. I Give it 3 stars.

I was given this book as a total beginner to JavaScript, and it was an extremely frustrating experience. The author writes in a very dry tone that will alienate those unfamiliar with programming concepts and protocol. I've looked at the JavaScript Bible in comparison, and it seems like a far superior resource for the JavaScript beginner. If you are a beginner, save yourself a great deal of frustration and look there first.

This book does not cover the JavaScript language as well as the "JavaScript Bible" and "JavaScript, The Definitive Guide" published by O'Reilly. If you believe in getting the best education the first time around, look elsewhere.

I am 15 and have no other programming experience. To many people told me i needed to know C++ to learn javascript. No way this book was great, it taught everything that javascript gives and does not jump right into advaced topics....thats why i loved this book and rated it the way i have. If your just beginning javascript i suggest this book highly or if you are an advaced javascript user this book is great just for a reference.