Comments on: A Belated Word on The JavaScript Anthology

By: Jenny McDermott

Jenny McDermott — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:52:35 +0000

Aw, Jeez. Now I have to buy another book. Someday I WILL spend money on something else!

By: brothercake

brothercake — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:53:07 +0000

@keithlaw - I hear what you’re saying - a few of the examples in chapter 1 are quite advanced and not fully explained, and that’s because we needed to put quick, practical solutions in place.

The one you mentioned - the addLoadListener - is a prime example, where there needed to be a ubiquitous solution, but it was really too early to explain it properly. That’s why the chapter refers forward to Chapter 13, where event listening is explained in more detail from the ground up :)

By: keithlaw

keithlaw — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 06:33:57 +0000

I have been using this book for the last week. I am struggling with some of the code examples on eventhandlers and eventlisteners. The book does often assume you know more than you do ( certainly in my case ). Page 16 it says: ” You get the idea!” Actually I get the idea but not the how to implement it.

This topic is key to the whole use of javascript and a little more clarity for the slow learners would have been useful.

I now have a library of 9 sitepoint books - the clearest are the css anthology and Kevin’s PHP/SQL - the most difficult are the Dynamic HTML and this one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:38:40 +0000

Craig: I’ll be talking at a Sydney WSG meeting in June, to which I’ll probably bring along a few copies (if you can hang on that long).

There’s also a bunch of workshops I’m doing around Australia with Russ Weakley in May:

http://maxdesign.com.au/workshop-javascript2006/

By: ugadarnell

ugadarnell — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:57:24 +0000

Since reading the sample chapters, I’ve finally learned how to separate my JavaScript from my HTML properly. I also finally learned how to properly handle events in JavaScript. I was actually able to understand the Dojo Framework’s event handling afterward as well. I learned more from these sample chapters than from any other JavaScript instruction or reference.

This book actually tells you how you should be building JavaScript on your webpages to make it cross-browser compatible, rather than just explaining how people used to do it, or how to do it with the latest standards (which don’t work in all browsers). More technical books should be like this book.

I’ll be ordering it soon myself if I can’t convince my boss to purchase it for me. This book really is what I’ve been missing in my study of client-side programming!

I really liked the sample chapters. Thanks to anyone who took part in getting this book out there.

By: EOBeav

EOBeav — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:02:49 +0000

I know just enough JavaScript to be dangerous. I’ve ordered my JavaScript Anthology book, and it will be here day after tomorrow. Just in time for Spring Break. Can’t wait!

By: Octal

Octal — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 12:26:53 +0000

After reading Simon’s excellent (Re)introduction to Javascript (and after reading the sample chapters) I decided to put this book on my wishlist

By: Kailash Badu

Kailash Badu — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:57:34 +0000

I wish i could bye that book here in Nepal.

By: Skyblaze

Skyblaze — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 08:28:54 +0000

If you’re familiar with basic programming principles like variables and flow of control, then yes. If not, you’ll want to follow one of the introductory JavaScript tutorials (like ours) before tackling this book.

Well it isn’t true, ’cause for example i noticed that in the first chapter it talks about event handlers etc. that you must already know as a concept; infact it talks about that knowing that the reader already knows the argument.

By: Kevin Yank

Kevin Yank — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 04:59:14 +0000

Any chance you could bring a few copies to the WSG meeting in Sydney?

I would if I were going to be there… Have you got a plane ticket for me?