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on July 4, 2014
I've studied Javascript in classes and on my own with other resources, and this book is definitely one of the best, clearest resources for understanding the language. It covers all the core elements clearly, and gradually adds more layers to what's being taught, which is especially important since so many people I know are overwhelmed with how complicated the language can be at times.
The only downside, as I thought, is that there's a LOT to cover. One already needs a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, and then these are two more closely-connected languages that need to be covered. So it takes commitment and persistence to really get the language down. If you have that, though, this is one of the best ways to learn the language outside of a classroom.
The only downside, as I thought, is that there's a LOT to cover. One already needs a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, and then these are two more closely-connected languages that need to be covered. So it takes commitment and persistence to really get the language down. If you have that, though, this is one of the best ways to learn the language outside of a classroom.
on December 6, 2014
We recently started using this book at Portland Code School after several of our students recommended it to us. Their copies are dog-eared and infused with post-it flags.
This introductory information is available literally everywhere on the web and the question you have to ask is, "Why bother with a physical book?" The answer to that question is simply to experience the hardcover version of this book.
It's beautiful. Inviting. Its page layout and graphic design tell you that you are embarked upon something professional and yet easy to learn. The text is written with a simplicity that doesn't talk down to the reader. This book is clear in its explanations and yet comprehensive in its coverage of the subject. As much as I love the "Head First" series of books, some times they are too precious. This book is just as inviting, but it condenses the information and covers a lot of ground.
At first I was concerned that, like some coffee table books, the coating on the pages showed finger prints. I didn't want to mar the excellent presentation. But, as I continue to use it, revisiting pages and reviewing elements of the language, I started to view them as footprints in the snow -- reassurance that I had been here before and already knew something about the subject. They were one of the many ways I can track my progress.
There will come a time that I don't visit these pages as often, as always happens with introductory books to technical subjects. And, I will also buy an ebook version of this when it's available so I can track along with my students without having to carry paper around as they experience and enjoy the textbook for the first time.
But I will continue to recommend this, as a physical book, to students of JavaScript.
This introductory information is available literally everywhere on the web and the question you have to ask is, "Why bother with a physical book?" The answer to that question is simply to experience the hardcover version of this book.
It's beautiful. Inviting. Its page layout and graphic design tell you that you are embarked upon something professional and yet easy to learn. The text is written with a simplicity that doesn't talk down to the reader. This book is clear in its explanations and yet comprehensive in its coverage of the subject. As much as I love the "Head First" series of books, some times they are too precious. This book is just as inviting, but it condenses the information and covers a lot of ground.
At first I was concerned that, like some coffee table books, the coating on the pages showed finger prints. I didn't want to mar the excellent presentation. But, as I continue to use it, revisiting pages and reviewing elements of the language, I started to view them as footprints in the snow -- reassurance that I had been here before and already knew something about the subject. They were one of the many ways I can track my progress.
There will come a time that I don't visit these pages as often, as always happens with introductory books to technical subjects. And, I will also buy an ebook version of this when it's available so I can track along with my students without having to carry paper around as they experience and enjoy the textbook for the first time.
But I will continue to recommend this, as a physical book, to students of JavaScript.
on September 7, 2014
Summary first: This book presumes some knowledge of HTML & CSS (look up Duckett' preceding book if necessary), and introduces main elements of Javascript adequate for basic web-design projects, with no claims to comprehensiveness, and it's certainly a success in that respect.
PRESENTATION: Impressive. Looks more like a Wired issue than your typical introductory programming/scripting book, as the latter usually try to fit as much information as possible into limited space, which makes pragmatic sense, but makes you not want to pick up the book and proceed. This book uses space liberally, sacrificing limited space (~600 pages + index) for readability ( devoting an entire page to the diagram of a for loop for instance), using very large fonts for summaries, etc.
The design is elegant, and also well-thought: Different text colors, italics etc, are fully employed to make newly introduced syntax easier to comprehend. All code sinppets are included in blue boxes clearly separated from the text, where necessary, javascript and html codes are presented side-by-side. For every method / syntax introduced, browser compatibility is given in a table, and more compatible alternatives offered when necessry.
SCOPE: As a corollary of the presentation approach, the scope is limited, albeit sensibly. The book aims to present JavaScript to the extent that it can be employed in basic web design, without trying to present the language in its entire functionality, as such important concepts/aspects are left out (Regular expressions, for instance). Also, HTML and CSS are NOT covered in the book(they're covered in Duckett's preceding book "HTML and CSS", prequel to this one), JQuery, Ajax & JSON are covered in a total of 150 pages, providing a decent, sensible introduction only.
COMPARISON/SUGGESTIONS: If you want a more comprehensive guide at hand, consider getting Flanagan's "Javascript: The Definitive Guide", or an equivalent. If you want a more compelling and detailed approach to the language, supplement this book with "Eloquent Javascript", a book available, free of charge, online.
ONLINE SUPPLEMENTATION: True to its claim, all code presented in the book are available online for bulk-download.
Table of Content (CHAPTERS): 1 The ABC of Programming / 2 Basic JS Instructions / 3 Functions, Methods, Objects / 4 Decisions & Loops / 5 DOM / 6 Events / 7 JQuery / 8 Ajax & JSON / 9 APIs / 10 Error Handling & Debugging / 11 Content Panels / 12 Filtering, Searching & Sorting / 13 Form Enhancement & Validation / Index
DURABILITY (WHENCE THE MISSING STAR DERIVES): I've read the entire book on the same bookholder & desk very gently, and still ended up with every page detached from the spine. (For comparison, other books I've read with the same method look almost unused). It's sad to see such a horrible spine/binding chosen for a book when so much care has obviously gone into its composition and design. Hope they revise the spine in future editions.
PRESENTATION: Impressive. Looks more like a Wired issue than your typical introductory programming/scripting book, as the latter usually try to fit as much information as possible into limited space, which makes pragmatic sense, but makes you not want to pick up the book and proceed. This book uses space liberally, sacrificing limited space (~600 pages + index) for readability ( devoting an entire page to the diagram of a for loop for instance), using very large fonts for summaries, etc.
The design is elegant, and also well-thought: Different text colors, italics etc, are fully employed to make newly introduced syntax easier to comprehend. All code sinppets are included in blue boxes clearly separated from the text, where necessary, javascript and html codes are presented side-by-side. For every method / syntax introduced, browser compatibility is given in a table, and more compatible alternatives offered when necessry.
SCOPE: As a corollary of the presentation approach, the scope is limited, albeit sensibly. The book aims to present JavaScript to the extent that it can be employed in basic web design, without trying to present the language in its entire functionality, as such important concepts/aspects are left out (Regular expressions, for instance). Also, HTML and CSS are NOT covered in the book(they're covered in Duckett's preceding book "HTML and CSS", prequel to this one), JQuery, Ajax & JSON are covered in a total of 150 pages, providing a decent, sensible introduction only.
COMPARISON/SUGGESTIONS: If you want a more comprehensive guide at hand, consider getting Flanagan's "Javascript: The Definitive Guide", or an equivalent. If you want a more compelling and detailed approach to the language, supplement this book with "Eloquent Javascript", a book available, free of charge, online.
ONLINE SUPPLEMENTATION: True to its claim, all code presented in the book are available online for bulk-download.
Table of Content (CHAPTERS): 1 The ABC of Programming / 2 Basic JS Instructions / 3 Functions, Methods, Objects / 4 Decisions & Loops / 5 DOM / 6 Events / 7 JQuery / 8 Ajax & JSON / 9 APIs / 10 Error Handling & Debugging / 11 Content Panels / 12 Filtering, Searching & Sorting / 13 Form Enhancement & Validation / Index
DURABILITY (WHENCE THE MISSING STAR DERIVES): I've read the entire book on the same bookholder & desk very gently, and still ended up with every page detached from the spine. (For comparison, other books I've read with the same method look almost unused). It's sad to see such a horrible spine/binding chosen for a book when so much care has obviously gone into its composition and design. Hope they revise the spine in future editions.
on October 27, 2014
If you've seen or used this author's previous book, "HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites", you know exactly what to expect from this one. The formatting is beautiful, as is the design of the information being conveyed to you. The first book was a required textbook for a Web Design course I took last year, and I found it so helpful and easy to learn from that I couldn't help but buy this one as soon as it came out.
As far as the actual information and quality of information, both books provide insight into both the languages themselves and how to code with them, but also what the uses and applications are for what you're learning. There are several chapters dedicated to higher level development practices that go beyond simply writing code and focus on better design and efficiency on projects as a whole.
Big thumbs up from me, a very good choice for anyone looking to self-study these two languages.
As far as the actual information and quality of information, both books provide insight into both the languages themselves and how to code with them, but also what the uses and applications are for what you're learning. There are several chapters dedicated to higher level development practices that go beyond simply writing code and focus on better design and efficiency on projects as a whole.
Big thumbs up from me, a very good choice for anyone looking to self-study these two languages.
TOP 500 REVIEWERon December 17, 2015
I really like how this book presents the material. I find it much more "fun" to read and learn this way. It's a good beginners book for someone who already knows some HTML and CSS.
Rather than rehash many of the items in other comments, I'm just going to give the thoughts that I feel are most important for my personal review:
* The physical book and page quality is quite good but I find that some of the pages, especially the darker ones are fingerprint and oil magnets. Some reviewers complains of poor quality in that the book is falling apart, but my paperback book is fine. I suspect those people got a defective book and hopefully have received a free replacement.
* There are some technical issues in the book, but not a great number... though it would have been better if they author had checked all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a program like CSE HTML Validator to find some of these issues. One issue that comes to mind is where after() should have been used instead of append().
* Instead of http links the book and examples should use https where supported because I ran into issues with browsers not loading http content when I put it on my webserver which forces https... or at least it should use protocol relative links. I had to manually edit several files to change the links. Example: change "<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" to "<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" Notice the protocol relative link that stars with "//" instead of "http://".
* There are some minor grammar issues, but not a lot.
* This is not an exhaustive reference on JavaScript, so don't expect that. Also, as other reviews have mentioned, there's nothing on prototypes.
Because of the above I'm deducting 1/2 a star... so 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5.
It's a very good book overall.... and I recommend it even though it's not perfect (what is?).
Rather than rehash many of the items in other comments, I'm just going to give the thoughts that I feel are most important for my personal review:
* The physical book and page quality is quite good but I find that some of the pages, especially the darker ones are fingerprint and oil magnets. Some reviewers complains of poor quality in that the book is falling apart, but my paperback book is fine. I suspect those people got a defective book and hopefully have received a free replacement.
* There are some technical issues in the book, but not a great number... though it would have been better if they author had checked all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a program like CSE HTML Validator to find some of these issues. One issue that comes to mind is where after() should have been used instead of append().
* Instead of http links the book and examples should use https where supported because I ran into issues with browsers not loading http content when I put it on my webserver which forces https... or at least it should use protocol relative links. I had to manually edit several files to change the links. Example: change "<script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" to "<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js">" Notice the protocol relative link that stars with "//" instead of "http://".
* There are some minor grammar issues, but not a lot.
* This is not an exhaustive reference on JavaScript, so don't expect that. Also, as other reviews have mentioned, there's nothing on prototypes.
Because of the above I'm deducting 1/2 a star... so 4.5 stars and rounding up to 5.
It's a very good book overall.... and I recommend it even though it's not perfect (what is?).
on July 17, 2014
Wow. If you haven't picked up Duckett's HTML & CSS resource, you're behind. That book was superb and still serves as an excellent reference. JavaScript & jQuery go above and beyond your typical resource.
One problem I have with most coding books is that give super specific examples, have boring and outdated illustrations, and have either too much code or too much text to sift through. Duckett's book provides you with various examples (often using one throughout the chapter and showing the whole thing in the end) and walks you through various ways of achieving something, while offering the best practices for given situations. It takes hard-to-grasp concepts for novices (and even veterans) and defines and illustrates them in their truest fashion.
Combine this with a hands-on tool like Code Academy, and you'll be a master of JavaScript and jQuery in no time!
One problem I have with most coding books is that give super specific examples, have boring and outdated illustrations, and have either too much code or too much text to sift through. Duckett's book provides you with various examples (often using one throughout the chapter and showing the whole thing in the end) and walks you through various ways of achieving something, while offering the best practices for given situations. It takes hard-to-grasp concepts for novices (and even veterans) and defines and illustrates them in their truest fashion.
Combine this with a hands-on tool like Code Academy, and you'll be a master of JavaScript and jQuery in no time!
I'm self taught for the most part and I believe this is a great book for those who wants to learn JS and ...
on October 2, 2014
I usually don't leave comments but I feel I'm obligated too with this book. I'm self taught for the most part and I believe this is a great book for those who wants to learn JS and JQuery. The author does a great job literally babying you through syntax and explaining the code to you in a manner where all levels of programmers will understand. I haven't finished through the whole book yet but from what I seen and read definitely a must buy. Some of the negative reviews has nothing to do with the book content but the book's publisher. I bought the hardcover to be on the safe side to hopefully avoid this issue. Looking forward in buying more material from this author. 5 stars!
on April 29, 2015
Holy moly, this book is amazing... no wonder it's #1 seller, it's unbelievable how well it teaches you. It might not be as hard coded as the O'Reilly books but this book is presented so beautiful, I can literally read it from page 1 till the end like a beautiful novel. It gives you step by step examples and beautiful explanations that no other book will offer as well as this one does. Most of the time you get a programming book, look up some stuff, and be like oh okay, the syntax is the same here and there I know how to use it, and don't even finish the whole book. You will literally go through this book from page 1 enjoying every second of it and learn so much that no other hard coded book can offer. Like I said it's not much hard coded or detailed like the O'Reilly books but this will actually help you learn, and most of everything is already online, so what you need is a book that actually educated you, and as for the resources, you can find them around the web, but organizerd knowledge is a golden ticket. Basically.. Yes I recommend this book...
on July 5, 2014
Although it seems these days that 'beautiful' is a buzzword used to describe anything having to do with the web, there is no better word to describe this book. Adding to that—informative, thorough, and otherwise incredible.
This book targets a reader of truly any level and whether you're new to web design entirely or just trying to expand your skills, you'll find that this book is never too dense or boring. The author starts with the simple stuff for those who need to learn the basics, but it's written in a way that even someone with a little experience will probably still enjoy skimming over the first few chapters.
Visual learners are really in for a treat with this book, as just about every remotely difficult concept is illustrated in detail with helpful notes everywhere. As one would expect, all the code examples found in the book are available online for you to follow along, and you can bet that just about every line of code is explained in clear detail.
Although this book is primarily about JavaScript and jQuery on the front-end side, the author touches upon the necessary components of HTML5 and CSS while also explaining some back-end basics.
I don't usually write reviews on my purchases, but this book is just *that* good. It's the only book you need to more or less master JS and jQuery and gives you everything you need to get started on some real projects. Best $20 I've ever spent and I can promise you won't regret it.
This book targets a reader of truly any level and whether you're new to web design entirely or just trying to expand your skills, you'll find that this book is never too dense or boring. The author starts with the simple stuff for those who need to learn the basics, but it's written in a way that even someone with a little experience will probably still enjoy skimming over the first few chapters.
Visual learners are really in for a treat with this book, as just about every remotely difficult concept is illustrated in detail with helpful notes everywhere. As one would expect, all the code examples found in the book are available online for you to follow along, and you can bet that just about every line of code is explained in clear detail.
Although this book is primarily about JavaScript and jQuery on the front-end side, the author touches upon the necessary components of HTML5 and CSS while also explaining some back-end basics.
I don't usually write reviews on my purchases, but this book is just *that* good. It's the only book you need to more or less master JS and jQuery and gives you everything you need to get started on some real projects. Best $20 I've ever spent and I can promise you won't regret it.
