Good JavaScript books that ignore the DOM and HTML nonsense?
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Howdy guys, A work mate's missus is getting back in to programming after a few years break, and the language happens to be JavaScript. Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff? While she is learning JavaScript, the platform isn't a web browser, but just an extension language. Any ideas would be mucho appreciated.
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Howdy guys, A work mate's missus is getting back in to programming after a few years break, and the language happens to be JavaScript. Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff? While she is learning JavaScript, the platform isn't a web browser, but just an extension language. Any ideas would be mucho appreciated.
The best way to learn Javascript is to learn a C-style language fluently and then just use the JS API documentation.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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The best way to learn Javascript is to learn a C-style language fluently and then just use the JS API documentation.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
Thanks Ennis, I'll pass on the advice. She was pretty good at C++, so I'm sure she'll be fine. But to discuss things a bit, do you think that's the best way overall, or just best for starting out? I'm just curious, because I found my C++ background got in the way a fair bit when learning the prototyping and dynamic parts of JavaScript. It's just so conceptually different to C style languages. Scoping rules are different to C, classes are very different to C++, prototyping is wild, you actually get a runtime eval.
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Thanks Ennis, I'll pass on the advice. She was pretty good at C++, so I'm sure she'll be fine. But to discuss things a bit, do you think that's the best way overall, or just best for starting out? I'm just curious, because I found my C++ background got in the way a fair bit when learning the prototyping and dynamic parts of JavaScript. It's just so conceptually different to C style languages. Scoping rules are different to C, classes are very different to C++, prototyping is wild, you actually get a runtime eval.
The most important tool to be able to code in a language is an understanding of the fundamentals of programming and good design principles. You won't find that in any JS book, bottom line is that JS often ends up looking as bad or worse than PHP. I mean really the best way is just to buy a bunch of books and write a bunch of code; there isn't a truly easy path, per se.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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The most important tool to be able to code in a language is an understanding of the fundamentals of programming and good design principles. You won't find that in any JS book, bottom line is that JS often ends up looking as bad or worse than PHP. I mean really the best way is just to buy a bunch of books and write a bunch of code; there isn't a truly easy path, per se.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
I don't learn very well from books, so I totally agree with you. Get stuck in, have a go, apply past learning. But I've seen some pretty fantastic JS code structured in ways that are simply not possible in C++ or other C like languages, so applying the same principles is a good start, but not always the best fit. And no, I can't think of the exact code offhand, which is a shame.
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Howdy guys, A work mate's missus is getting back in to programming after a few years break, and the language happens to be JavaScript. Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff? While she is learning JavaScript, the platform isn't a web browser, but just an extension language. Any ideas would be mucho appreciated.
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Howdy guys, A work mate's missus is getting back in to programming after a few years break, and the language happens to be JavaScript. Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff? While she is learning JavaScript, the platform isn't a web browser, but just an extension language. Any ideas would be mucho appreciated.
Phil Martin... wrote:
Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff?
That's almost like asking for a book on C that doesn't mention
printf()... ;-) JavaScript: The Good Parts[^] - take most of it with a grain of salt, but take it anyway. Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja[^] - lots of DOM stuff. But lots of good JS stuff as well. Especially useful for someone designing their own library / API for JavaScript. -
Phil Martin... wrote:
Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff?
That's almost like asking for a book on C that doesn't mention
printf()... ;-) JavaScript: The Good Parts[^] - take most of it with a grain of salt, but take it anyway. Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja[^] - lots of DOM stuff. But lots of good JS stuff as well. Especially useful for someone designing their own library / API for JavaScript.Shog9 wrote:
That's almost like asking for a book on C that doesn't mention printf()... Wink
Haha! I love it!
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Thanks Marcello, I'll pass the info on. I'd also forgotten how good the Mozilla JavaScript site is. So much interesting stuff, so thanks again!
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Howdy guys, A work mate's missus is getting back in to programming after a few years break, and the language happens to be JavaScript. Does anyone know of any good books about JavaScript the language that don't waffle on about HTML, DOM and all that web stuff? While she is learning JavaScript, the platform isn't a web browser, but just an extension language. Any ideas would be mucho appreciated.
This isn't a book, but a few years ago I saw a video somewhere on Yahoo. It was a class given at Yahoo that happened to be recorded and posted publicly. I knew very little about JS at the time and I found it really informatvie. Not much help I know, hopefully the video is still around.
--Mike--