7 ms·

JavaScript Web Apps by O'Reilly

111 points by maccman 15y ago

neovive 15y ago
Just ordered the ebook and read through the first chapter. Great work! This is exactly the book I was looking for to take my JS skills to the next level and just the right size. Once a programming book goes beyond 300+ pages, it starts becoming an impediment to progress.
weepy 15y ago
Looking forward to my copy in the post !
maccman 15y ago
I've just released the final version in paperback - also available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144930351X/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144930351X/
- mikaelgramont 15y ago
  Like others I bought the ebook back in May. Is the final version different enough to make me re-read it now?
  - maccman 15y ago
    Most of it was finished back then - just a lot of copyediting, and the final chapters have changed.
- raptrex 15y ago
  Do you guys know of anything that is $3 I can buy to qualify for free shipping?
  - steve_b 15y ago
    Confessions of an English Opium Eater - Thomas De Quincey Good quick read. http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-English-Opium-Eater-Penguin/dp/B0058M7QUW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314812668&sr=8-3 http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-English-Opium-Eater-Pengui... For an extra $5 you can pick up this which is fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Relativity-Fourth-Dimension-Rudolf/dp/0486234002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314812843&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Relativity-Fourth-Dimension-R...
- mindrunner 15y ago
  Thanks for this book. Just purchased it. It gonna be useful for my future web apps.
dan_martell 15y ago
Congrats Alex!
smoody 15y ago
I just ordered direct from O'Reilly (eBook) and, before ordered, located a coupon code that worked for me (on August 31, 2011): 4cast -- it gave me a 50% discount on the eBook ($13.99) and supposedly gives 50% off on the printed version. The books looks to be useful for people who want to build/understand an MVC library from the ground-up with jQuery as a base. There are also chapters about the various ready-built solutions. Nicely done maccman.
- palguay 15y ago
  Thanks, the coupon code worked for me .
- PedroCandeias 15y ago
  Cheers for the coupon, mate. Worked for me too.
- dugmartin 15y ago
  The coupon does work for both - you save $2 over the bundled price.
- mindrunner 15y ago
  Cheers for the coupon dude. Just got the ebook :)
jentulman 15y ago
Bought (and enjoyed) this back in May while it was still a preview and I'm really pleased to have the finished copy now. Congratulations Alex, really liked the writing style and it's been very helpful alongside 'The Definitive guide'.
ajayka 15y ago
Just ordered it!
- fatalerrorx3 15y ago
  I was just about to order it, but their registration system is messed up...makes me iffy on the idea of buying it now -- if they can't get a simple checkout process right =D
  - rachelj 15y ago
    Hey, sorry registration wasn't good. What was the problem? Did you run into an error, or was it just that setting up an account was a hassle?
    - mindrunner 15y ago
      I have to agree. I had to jump through hoops, and registration was a PITA. If not for the 'feeding frenzy' I was in, I would have not bought the ebook at that moment. Edit: The book was worth it, jsut the process of buying it
danso 15y ago
I didn't click through to the preview pages: Does the book talk about some of the existing frameworks, such as backbone.js? Or does it walk you through rolling your own MVC?
- zinssmeister 15y ago
  Yes it covers backbone.js and other frameworks.
d0m 15y ago
It's freaking that there's a backbone.js section in it. Am I the only one on earth who doesn't like this library ?!
- agscala 15y ago
  What's not to like about it?
- pacomerh 15y ago
  You're certainly the only I have read who doesn't like it.
- lobo_tuerto 15y ago
  If you'd like to explain what is it that you don't like about it? I've just introduced myself into it, and I'm really liking all about it. ALL.
  - d0m 15y ago
    I feel backbone.js is a great base to build a custom mvc framework on top of it. However, for simple projects, I find it to be to heavyweight. I.e. it's really hard to have nested collections (You have to rebind all events). Views could give you a better hand for 90% of scenarios.. These are only 2 examples, but this is why I say it's more of a meta-framework. (I use backbone and patch it with lots of function, event binding, etc. and only then I can use it in my code). So, I think there's still a place for a smaller, more 90%/10% mvc framework.. and have backbone.js to fallback on in the 10%. In fact, this framework could be build on top of backbone :)
juretriglav 15y ago
Appeared exactly when I needed it. I'm currently exploring the JS web app world, and I am in need of some guidance. Sometimes I struggle because my flow currently consists of taking apart other JS apps, instead of having a solid foundation and implementing my own solutions. There are some things that just aren't intuitive, when you're reading other people's code. I hope this book either enables me to write code from scratch or significantly speeds up my "decompiling" of other people's code. Congrats on the launch! Must've been quite a ride, since from what I read, you're traveling the world and surfing. Nicely done.
- PedroCandeias 15y ago
  I'm with you. After 10-odd years of getting by just from reading documentation, blogs and stackoverflow (on lamp+js), I recently rediscovered the joy of good quality technical books. There's nothing like taking a nice, structured tour from the 101 all the way to the more advanced topics, is there?
  - romansanchez 15y ago
    Not at all. Books are usually my first way to go too, then I'll go to blogs, documentation, etc.
PedroCandeias 15y ago
Took a look at the toc, looked like a great package, made the purchase. Hoping to read it soon. Well done, maccman.
rushabh 15y ago
While no doubt it must be no mean task to document fast moving technology (I have just seen the toc), but many of these concepts/libraries are still evolving. Maybe a good record to check back in a few years, what worked, what didnt.
baalexander 15y ago
I bought the Early Release of this book a couple months ago. The book does a good job of introducing MVC concepts and how they can and should be implemented in a JavaScript web app. Even if you have a background in RoR, Django, CakePHP, etc., the best practices for implementing the MVC concepts client side should prove helpful. The most worthwhile part of the book - for me - was maccman's coverage of three popular JavaScript MVC frameworks: Backbone, Spine, and JavascriptMVC. The coverage included the basics of how each framework worked, as well as sample apps for each. Other gems included dependency management options (module loaders) and testing client side apps. My only complaint - and one that maccman can't be faulted for - is the book covers a topic that's rapidly changing. There's few de facto client-side frameworks for MVC or dependency management or maybe even testing. Personally, I think that makes this more exciting, and the book does cover the current state well.
danso 15y ago
Since you're one of the few published experts on this specific, evolving area :), what are your thoughts on the tradeoffs between the current popular frameworks (i.e. are they so different - yet mature - that each one could conceivably be a best fit for a certain type of applications?). And which framework do you currently prefer?
foobarbazoo 15y ago
Wow, a JavaScript MVC application book with no SproutCore coverage whatsoever. If anyone needed proof that SproutCore has failed to launch, this is it.
- rxcfc 15y ago
  A failure of an author to cover his bases is hardly proof that SproutCore is doing poorly.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- tomdale 15y ago
  To be fair, this book is about libraries that are strictly MVC implemented in JavaScript, and no more. At the time Alex was writing the book, SproutCore 1.4 was the current version, and is obviously a "full-stack" framework, including a UI library. SproutCore 2.0 alpha was released on May 25th of this year, so Alex didn't have time to cover it. My hope is that a second edition would hopefully at least mention it, now that it is much more competitive with things like Backbone and Knockout, et al. :)
  - maccman 15y ago
    This is precisely correct.
Sindrome 15y ago
Added to safari book case.
Joeri 15y ago
Jvascript web applications seems too generic as a title. The book covers one way, but there are many different approaches to skin that cat. The whole javascript apps scene won't stabilize until we get cross-framework ways of building ui components and doing layout. I should be able to take a sproutcore component and use it in an extjs layout, without it becoming a giant hack.
lobo_tuerto 15y ago
What version of backbonejs is covered in this book?

111 points by maccman 15y ago

Just ordered the ebook and read through the first chapter. Great work! This is exactly the book I was looking for to take my JS skills to the next level and just the right size. Once a programming book goes beyond 300+ pages, it starts becoming an impediment to progress.

weepy 15y ago

Looking forward to my copy in the post !

maccman 15y ago

I've just released the final version in paperback - also available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144930351X/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/144930351X/

mikaelgramont 15y ago
Like others I bought the ebook back in May. Is the final version different enough to make me re-read it now?
- maccman 15y ago
  Most of it was finished back then - just a lot of copyediting, and the final chapters have changed.
raptrex 15y ago
Do you guys know of anything that is $3 I can buy to qualify for free shipping?
- steve_b 15y ago
  Confessions of an English Opium Eater - Thomas De Quincey Good quick read. http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-English-Opium-Eater-Penguin/dp/B0058M7QUW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1314812668&sr=8-3 http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-English-Opium-Eater-Pengui... For an extra $5 you can pick up this which is fantastic: http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Relativity-Fourth-Dimension-Rudolf/dp/0486234002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314812843&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Relativity-Fourth-Dimension-R...
mindrunner 15y ago
Thanks for this book. Just purchased it. It gonna be useful for my future web apps.

dan_martell 15y ago

Congrats Alex!

smoody 15y ago

I just ordered direct from O'Reilly (eBook) and, before ordered, located a coupon code that worked for me (on August 31, 2011): 4cast -- it gave me a 50% discount on the eBook ($13.99) and supposedly gives 50% off on the printed version. The books looks to be useful for people who want to build/understand an MVC library from the ground-up with jQuery as a base. There are also chapters about the various ready-built solutions. Nicely done maccman.

palguay 15y ago
Thanks, the coupon code worked for me .
PedroCandeias 15y ago
Cheers for the coupon, mate. Worked for me too.
dugmartin 15y ago
The coupon does work for both - you save $2 over the bundled price.
mindrunner 15y ago
Cheers for the coupon dude. Just got the ebook :)

jentulman 15y ago

Bought (and enjoyed) this back in May while it was still a preview and I'm really pleased to have the finished copy now. Congratulations Alex, really liked the writing style and it's been very helpful alongside 'The Definitive guide'.

ajayka 15y ago

Just ordered it!

fatalerrorx3 15y ago
I was just about to order it, but their registration system is messed up...makes me iffy on the idea of buying it now -- if they can't get a simple checkout process right =D
- rachelj 15y ago
  Hey, sorry registration wasn't good. What was the problem? Did you run into an error, or was it just that setting up an account was a hassle?
  - mindrunner 15y ago
    I have to agree. I had to jump through hoops, and registration was a PITA. If not for the 'feeding frenzy' I was in, I would have not bought the ebook at that moment. Edit: The book was worth it, jsut the process of buying it

danso 15y ago

I didn't click through to the preview pages: Does the book talk about some of the existing frameworks, such as backbone.js? Or does it walk you through rolling your own MVC?

zinssmeister 15y ago
Yes it covers backbone.js and other frameworks.

d0m 15y ago

It's freaking that there's a backbone.js section in it. Am I the only one on earth who doesn't like this library ?!

agscala 15y ago
What's not to like about it?
pacomerh 15y ago
You're certainly the only I have read who doesn't like it.
lobo_tuerto 15y ago
If you'd like to explain what is it that you don't like about it? I've just introduced myself into it, and I'm really liking all about it. ALL.
- d0m 15y ago
  I feel backbone.js is a great base to build a custom mvc framework on top of it. However, for simple projects, I find it to be to heavyweight. I.e. it's really hard to have nested collections (You have to rebind all events). Views could give you a better hand for 90% of scenarios.. These are only 2 examples, but this is why I say it's more of a meta-framework. (I use backbone and patch it with lots of function, event binding, etc. and only then I can use it in my code). So, I think there's still a place for a smaller, more 90%/10% mvc framework.. and have backbone.js to fallback on in the 10%. In fact, this framework could be build on top of backbone :)

juretriglav 15y ago

Appeared exactly when I needed it. I'm currently exploring the JS web app world, and I am in need of some guidance. Sometimes I struggle because my flow currently consists of taking apart other JS apps, instead of having a solid foundation and implementing my own solutions. There are some things that just aren't intuitive, when you're reading other people's code. I hope this book either enables me to write code from scratch or significantly speeds up my "decompiling" of other people's code. Congrats on the launch! Must've been quite a ride, since from what I read, you're traveling the world and surfing. Nicely done.

PedroCandeias 15y ago
I'm with you. After 10-odd years of getting by just from reading documentation, blogs and stackoverflow (on lamp+js), I recently rediscovered the joy of good quality technical books. There's nothing like taking a nice, structured tour from the 101 all the way to the more advanced topics, is there?
- romansanchez 15y ago
  Not at all. Books are usually my first way to go too, then I'll go to blogs, documentation, etc.

PedroCandeias 15y ago

Took a look at the toc, looked like a great package, made the purchase. Hoping to read it soon. Well done, maccman.

rushabh 15y ago

While no doubt it must be no mean task to document fast moving technology (I have just seen the toc), but many of these concepts/libraries are still evolving. Maybe a good record to check back in a few years, what worked, what didnt.

baalexander 15y ago

I bought the Early Release of this book a couple months ago. The book does a good job of introducing MVC concepts and how they can and should be implemented in a JavaScript web app. Even if you have a background in RoR, Django, CakePHP, etc., the best practices for implementing the MVC concepts client side should prove helpful. The most worthwhile part of the book - for me - was maccman's coverage of three popular JavaScript MVC frameworks: Backbone, Spine, and JavascriptMVC. The coverage included the basics of how each framework worked, as well as sample apps for each. Other gems included dependency management options (module loaders) and testing client side apps. My only complaint - and one that maccman can't be faulted for - is the book covers a topic that's rapidly changing. There's few de facto client-side frameworks for MVC or dependency management or maybe even testing. Personally, I think that makes this more exciting, and the book does cover the current state well.

danso 15y ago

Since you're one of the few published experts on this specific, evolving area :), what are your thoughts on the tradeoffs between the current popular frameworks (i.e. are they so different - yet mature - that each one could conceivably be a best fit for a certain type of applications?). And which framework do you currently prefer?

foobarbazoo 15y ago

Wow, a JavaScript MVC application book with no SproutCore coverage whatsoever. If anyone needed proof that SproutCore has failed to launch, this is it.

rxcfc 15y ago
A failure of an author to cover his bases is hardly proof that SproutCore is doing poorly.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
tomdale 15y ago
To be fair, this book is about libraries that are strictly MVC implemented in JavaScript, and no more. At the time Alex was writing the book, SproutCore 1.4 was the current version, and is obviously a "full-stack" framework, including a UI library. SproutCore 2.0 alpha was released on May 25th of this year, so Alex didn't have time to cover it. My hope is that a second edition would hopefully at least mention it, now that it is much more competitive with things like Backbone and Knockout, et al. :)
- maccman 15y ago
  This is precisely correct.

Sindrome 15y ago

Added to safari book case.

Joeri 15y ago

Jvascript web applications seems too generic as a title. The book covers one way, but there are many different approaches to skin that cat. The whole javascript apps scene won't stabilize until we get cross-framework ways of building ui components and doing layout. I should be able to take a sproutcore component and use it in an extjs layout, without it becoming a giant hack.

lobo_tuerto 15y ago

What version of backbonejs is covered in this book?