Product Description

“For those not ready to tackle the complexities of Objective-C, this is a great way to get started building iPhone apps. If you know the basics of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, you’ll be building apps in no time.”

—August Trometer, Owner of FoggyNoggin Software, www.foggynoggin.com

Discover the Easier, Faster Way to Build High-Quality iPhone Applications

Now, you don’t need to dive headfirst into Objective-C to write state-of-the-art applications for the iPhone. You can use web development tools and technologies you already know: JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. In this book, long-time web and mobile application developer Lee S. Barney shows you how to use the QuickConnect and PhoneGap frameworks to create secure, high-quality, modular hybrid iPhone applications.

Lee S. Barney walks you through the entire hybrid iPhone development process, from creating great user interfaces to compiling, deploying, and executing applications. Along the way, he introduces techniques and sample code designed to streamline development, eliminate complexity, optimize performance, and leverage all iPhone’s native capabilities—from its accelerometer and GPS to its built-in database. Coverage includes

• Using Dashcode and Xcode together to create unique, exciting hybrid iPhone applications
• Using the QuickConnect JavaScript API to perform tasks ranging from vibrating the phone to accessing the accelerometer and GPS location data
• Accessing native iPhone functionality using the PhoneGap JavaScript API
• Storing, retrieving, and managing data on the iPhone, even without network access
• Using XMLHttpRequest to access or synchronize remote data and use web services
• Creating Google-based maps for your own app that work like those you see in the iPhone’s Maps application

This book systematically lowers the barriers to iPhone development, enabling web developers to build any iPhone application they can imagine without long development cycles or steep learning curves!

Customer Reviews (5)

Not recommend
Disappointed after go through the first 10 pages.The codes were successfully compiled with lots of warning points.I had to go into each each of them and commented out.But what is the point!The point is to get us to learn not to get confused why the codes were full of warnings.

Like other reviewer, I agree that the author might be a little bit rush on publishing the book.More details and explanations as well as images are needed.

If you are really into developing iPhone apps, I would recommend checking other books.

Excellent book for both programmers and non-programmers
I decided to wait until after my first iPhone app was accepted by Apple in the App store before reviewing this book.My app, based on the QuickConnect framework described in this book is lean and fast, and it was accepted by iTune within three days of submission.What I like about the book is that it showed me in the first chapter how to start developing my app with the QuickConnect framework. My app received 49 downloads on the first day.However, I then decided to start charging for the app and the number of downloads significantly declined.

There are several excellent reviews of this book, and I will not repeat their content here.You must understand that to develop iPhone apps in the way described in this book, you will need to have a Mac - a fast one is not required.You will also need to learn to use Apple's free development platform, XCode.

When I bought this book, I did not realize that the author had a QuickConnect google group and that he would answer my question when I got stuck with a private interface issue.I have bought many technical books, but I have never received personal help from an author before.

Using this book does not confine you to developing in HTML and javascript.He describes the Objective C code in his framework, which provides good examples for your own hybrid development in C, HTML, javascript and css.

I have done C programming in the past, but it is difficult, and one can work much faster using the techniques described in this book. One of my goals is doing custom iPhone app development for corporations, and now I can create prototype apps to show a client in a few hours.To get a competitiveedge against HTML only developers, you extend your apps capabilities using the libraries provided by Apple. After the first few chapters, the book begins describing the objective Ccode within the QuickConnect framework. You do not need to understand these later chapters to start developing your own apps, but they will help you as your development skills improve.

A great book and ideas
This book demonstrates new ways and techniques for writing hybrid applications. It should be a part of any iPhone developer's library. It is clearly written and very easy to understand and follow. I was able to get the example projects running very quickly and use them to better understand the author' ideas.
If you can't easily follow this book, then you may not be ready to develop iPhone applications!It's very straight forward stuff.
Even if you are a seasoned Objective-C developer it would not be a bad idea to read this book, if only to see what these guys are up to.
Highly recommended

A must have for anyone new to iphone dev.
Before my review I want to tell you about my background.I have been a web developer (html,dhtml,js,ajax,php,asp,asp.net,cfm) since 1999.I have also done a ton of client server apps on windows with unix / oracle backend.Just recently i released three apps on the android os, with one of them being a phonegap app.So my understanding of programming and is pretty extensive.I have also taken the Stanford iTunes course on iPhone development, which is a must do for any wannabe iPhone dev.

For me I wanted to be able to utilize my abilities to develop apps efficiently.Since I am not a huge fan of Obj-C, I couldn't do that with the native language of the iphone.This book helps you understand how to utilize the main functions of the phone (play sound / accel / gps) without having to write much Obj-C.

As far as moving Dashcode to xCode, this is a very simple process.Once you learn it, which it only takes one time doing it, you will fly through it.I do remember seeing a video the author posted on his website on how to do this.So if you struggle understanding how to migrate the source from Dashcode to xCode, take a look at the authors site.

Something that is really nice that the author did was include a ton of examples on how to use QCiPhone.This includes Dashcode and xCode examples.It includes a nice map example.However it is not the embedded 3.0 map, it is a little different but still works nicely.It allows you to place pins on the map as well as use your fingers to pinch and expand.

So far the book does not mention the use of google group the author set up.If you have questions, you can always post them on the QC google group.Which I have been out there many times searching for methods other users have posted.You can also communicate with the author directly on that site.He is very helpful.

I like how the author has given you a nice model to follow, ie. Validation Control Functions, Business Control Functions, View Control Function, and Error Control Functions.By following this model, you can create a nice modular app with reusable code.

Overall, the book is a great place to start developing your first web app that you put on the app store.

Ugh! 10 pages in...
I was very excited to get this book, as I had pre-ordered it before it was even published. I received it today and was surprised by how thin it was, 172 pages not counting the appendices. Not a big deal, though I'm used to huge volumes with other programing/development related books. In fact, it's nice not having to lug around a 20-pound volume.

The author dives right in on the subject in Chapter 1 discussing two distinct methods for developing iPhone apps with HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Applications can be deployed as full-fledged iPhone apps (not requiring hosted server files) or as iPhone web-apps (requiring hosting files on a server). The author goes on to explain how this is possible using Apple's iPhone SDK and either, QuickConnectiPhone or PhoneGap, both of which are JavaScript APIs. The author, Lee S. Barney, is actually the creator of the QuickConnectiPhone (hereafter, QCIP) project.

The first project uses the QCIP method in Dashcode, part of Apple's iPhone SDK, and is essentially 5 easy steps in a 'Hello World' project. Button, text, click button, text changes. Note, this doesn't actually create a final iPhone app proper, rather it creates a demo that will run in the iPhone simulator, sans the app button. Part two describes how to import the files you have just created into Xcode, another part of the iPhone SDK, to compile a finished iPhone app.

The problem is, that right out of the gate, the demo throws a compiler error and doesn't work as intended. After several re-reads of the text to make sure I'm not brain-farting, I begin digging into the code to find that the main.js file has some functionality that has been code generated that is creating the error and that seemingly has nothing to do with the demonstration at hand. I comment that functionality out, and the demo runs without error.

Step Two involves importing the files that were created in Dashcode into Xcode. Suffice it to say this is quite a lengthy multi-step affair, that is not as simple as going to the File menu and selecting Import files. I say this for any one who has not used Xcode before. It is software that many HTML/CSS/Javascript developers will find daunting. If you've used Xcode before, no big surprises, though much time is spent undoing things and deleting things, moving files around, etc. It seems that a better written QCIP project template could have handled alot of that, but then again, I've never written an Xcode project template before and am a novice Mac programmer.

The authors explanations in Step Two already have my head spinning and I can see that I am going to need to go though this material very slowly. The authors instructions read like a run on sentence with no pauses in between "do this" and "then click on that", making it rather hard to follow along, especially given the small, IMO, font size and tight leading of the text. The structure of the steps and explanations could have been written in a format that made following them easier.

To qualify this review, I will state that I have been a web designer/developer for about 8 years, using HTML, CSS, PHP, Lasso, ColdFusion and JavaScript. I just got into iPhone development within the last couple of months and was hoping this book would provide that "Ah, Ha!" moment, allowing me to develop iPhone apps without having to learn Objective-C. Even though the book suggests this is possible, it's contents are full of Objective-C explanations, code and methodologies.

Searching the publishers website, I could not find an errata to help with the problems I was having, albeit the book was just published this week.

I do like the premise the author has created with his methods, along with the QuickConnectiPhone framework, he is obviously a very smart individual on the subject.

Perhaps, the book has been rushed to market. The again, perhaps too, is this review.

I will keep working with the material in this book and am hopeful it turns a corner somewhere. If so, I will be sure to revise this review. If not, I'll be taking at least one of my stars back.
... Read more

Product Description
The JavaScript Programming Language provides a brief introduction to the JavaScript language that is now an important component of every programmer's tool box. It offers an overview of JavaScript to students interested in pursuing advanced programming skills. Clear and concise, The JavaScript Programming Language is an excellent primer to this popular dynamic language and is ideal for use on its own or when coupled with one of Jones and Bartlett's outstanding introductory computer science texts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best beginner's book
The most impressing feature of this book is that it's less than 100 pages and very easy to read. At the same time, it covers things from the very basics of JavaScript to dynamic HTML, and to Ajax. There is also a website for this book where you can test simple but very educational example codes in the book.

I have some programing background (I am not a programmer) but never touched JavaScript. I finished this book within 2 nights and really got a good understanding of this language, and its applications such as dynamic HTML and Ajax. It's not a reference book so I need to check other sources for more details later on. But now I think I can start building web pages with JavaScript!

I definitely recommend this book as the beginner's first book. And after this book you may not need others. You'll know what to look for on the internet. ... Read more

Product Description
This unique book provides an introduction to programming on the Internet. Class-tested over a two-year period, this text covers the "nuts and bolts" of Internet programming. In addition to core fundamentals, readers are introduced to Web page construction HTML, managing an account on a web server, client-server model, and JavaScript programming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Good for beginners
This book is easy to understand and has many helpful examples. The book's website is veryhelpful as well. If you are a beginner this is a good book to have, I have had it for a few weeks and have already made a basic webpage.

I use it as a college textbook.
This is the best book I have found for Freshman/Sophomore-level HTML and JavaScript.I use it with PERL and CGI for the World Wide Web (2nd Edition) by Elizabeth Castro for a complete Sophomore course in designing Commercial-Quality websites with server-side processing.Hint:Be sure to get the Second Printing (First Edition), as there are a lot of typos in the HTML section of the First Printing.The author has an excellent support website at cknuckles.com, which augments some of the problems and provides solutions to some of the exercises.

Where is the website that is referenced in the book
Can anyone tell me what the website is for this book's lessons. It references it many times but I cant seem to find out where it is actually "Stated" in the book.

Thanks in advance

excellent !!!
if u already know something about setting up web pages using html and u wish to add some interactive features to yr web pages,this will be a very good book to start with.This book contains very clear and simple explantions for javascripts.Many concepts are explained using simple yet relevant analogies....if u are hardworking enough u can learn good javascripts in one or two weeks using this book......definitely value for money.

Uhm...
I haven't read the book, but I find it suspious that every review posted so far was outrageously positive, and posted within an 8 day period. In addition, most of them are anonymous.Perhaps the Publisher or Author is trying to boost sales with duplicate reviews.Buyer Beware. ... Read more

Product Description

This book covers the entire process of building a website. This process involves much more than just technical knowledge, and this book provides you with all the information you'll need to understand the concepts behind designing and developing for the Web, as well as the best means to deliver professional, best-practice-based results.

There is far more to building a successful website than knowing a little Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The process starts long before any coding takes place, and this book introduces you to the agile development process, explaining why this method makes so much sense for web projects and how best to implement it. Planning is vital, so you'll also learn how to use techniques such as brainstorming, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to get your project off to the best possible start and help ensure smooth progress as it develops.

An understanding of correct, semantic markup is essential to any web professional, so this book explains how XHTML should be used to structure content so that the markup adheres to current web standards. You'll learn about the wide range of HTML elements available to you, and you'll learn how and when to use them through building example web pages.

Without creative use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), websites would all look largely the same. CSS gives you the ability to set your website apart from the rest while maintaining the integrity of your markup. You'll learn how CSS works and how to apply styles to your pages, enabling you to realize your design ideas in the browser.

JavaScript can be used to make your website easier and more interesting to use. This book provides information on appropriate uses of this technology and introduces the concepts of programming using it. You'll also see how JavaScript works as part of the much-hyped technique Ajax and in turn where Ajax fits into the wider Web 2.0 picture.

While a website is being built, it needs to be tested across multiple browsers and platforms to ensure that the site works for all users, regardless of ability or disability, and the book explains how best to do these tasks. Then, it discusses the process of launching and maintaining the site so that it will continue to work for all its users throughout its life-cycle.

The book concludes by covering server-side technologies, acting as a guide to the different options available and explaining differences between available products. With insights from renowned experts such as Jason Fried of 37signals, Daniel Burka of Digg and Pownce, and Chris Messina of Citizen Agency, Foundation Website Creation provides invaluable information applicable to every web project, regardless of size, scope, or budget.

In this book you'll

• See how the Web has developed and the role web standards play
• Learn how to plan and manage the building of a website
• Learn how to separate content from presentation with HTML and CSS
• See how JavaScript can be used to enhance your website
• Learn how best to test, launch, and maintain a website

Summary of Contents

• Chapter 1 Introducing the Past, Present, and Future of the Web
• Chapter 2 Keeping a Project on Track
• Chapter 3 Planning and High-Level Design
• Chapter 4 Writing Markup with HTML and XHTML
• Chapter 5 Exploring Fundamental Concepts of CSS
• Chapter 6 Developing CSS in Practice: From Design to Deployment
• Chapter 7 Creating Interactivity with JavaScript
• Chapter 8 Testing, Launching, and Maintaining
• Chapter 9 Web 2.0: Using Ajax and Social Software
• Chapter 10 Using Server-Side Technologies
• Afterword The Business of the Web

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book for beginners!
I'm a Flash Developer with prowess in AS2 and AS3 coding.However, when it comes to XHTML, CSS and Java I'm clueless. I don't even know what to search for when I need answers for such queries.I had great success with "Foundation ActionScript Animation: Making Things Move!" also published by Friends Of Ed so it was natural for me to purchase this book with hopes that it would be written in a similar easy to follow method.Lucky for me it was.There's a bit too much information on the history of HTML and CSS for my taste but one can easily breeze through those parts without missing much.

The book focuses on mark up and semantics all while working on one project throughout the book. You start with simple HTML without style, read on through the rest of the chapters and then pick up the same website project applying CSS styling to it.It was nice to see how it worked from start to finish.

Good book, great shipping, great condition..
Fast fast fast fast shipping. Thanks.
Good good good good condition.

Thanks

fundamentals
I purchase most CSS books that appear to have a different slant on the use of CSS.This book, although well written and authoritative, was less than I anticipated.It is, however, an excellent resource for those just now learning (X)HTML and CSS, et al.My complaint is simply that I overestimated its content.The writing style is clear and easily understandable and should be so to beginners as well.If considering a first book to learn these disciplines, this book is a good choice. ... Read more

Product Description
With all the different JavaScript titles available today, its pretty easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to finding the right book for you. Wouldnt it be great if there was a complete, comprehensive JavaScript guide for users of all levels? Well, there is: JavaScript™ Bible, 3rd Edition, written by leading JavaScript authority Danny Goodman.

Fully revised and updated to include JavaScript 1.2, JavaScript Bible, 3rd Edition provides in-depth coverage of such JavaScript basics as document objects, forms, multiple windows, and frames. You also get instruction on creating mouse-rollover images, integrating Java applets into Web pages, understanding how JavaScript works with Netscape and Microsoft browsers, deploying Dynamic HTML, and much more.

The CD-ROM features demo versions of Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash, and MarketWare HitList, seven bonus chapters, the code for the examples in the book, and the electronic version of JavaScript Bible, 3rd Edition.Amazon.com Review
Danny Goodman has repeatedly proven himself an excellentteacher of programming languages, and this latest edition ofJavaScript Bible reinforces his reputation. If you're familiarwith HTML and want to endow your pages with the kind of animation andinteractivity that JavaScript can provide, this book is the best oneyou can buy.

Goodman covers the JavaScript 1.2 languagecomprehensively, and focuses on developing documents that fullyexploit the capabilities of Netscape Navigator 4.0x. The author beginswith the fundamentals of the language--variables, loops, datastructures, functions, and the like. Then, he proceeds tosystematically explore the more difficult characteristics of thelanguage, including its limited object-orientation features and theextensions that apply to Dynamic HTML (DHTML). Server-side coverage issparse, but that technology isn't nearly as widely used as client-sideJavaScript.

JavaScript Bible contains both a tutorial and areference, so it's useful to advanced JavaScript programmers as wellas to beginners. Plus, the illustrative examples included in thesepages--and on the accompanying CD-ROM--are generally useful. You'llfind image-rollover routines, client-side database lookups, a DHTMLpuzzle, and many more programs that you'll be able to quickly adapt toyour own projects. JavaScript Bible is a winner. --DavidWall ... Read more

Customer Reviews (130)

Jesus says "buy this book!"
When they say it's a Bible they don't lie! If you don't buy this book you will go to HELL!!

Big Book, Poorly Written
This is another example of a "doorstop book" (which is where mine was until I sold it to a used book dealer for $5). Like so many other computer books (e.g. Special Edition Using... or XXXX Unleashed), this author tries to impress the buyer with the size of the book.

The content of the book was poorly organized as well as poorly written. It is difficult to navigate and learn the language. If this is the JavaScript Bible, shouldn't it educate the user in the development of JavaScripts for the web? A better structure of this book would have been to develop mock scripts for a functioning web site.
Furthermore, the CD that is included is worthless. The "hundreds" of free software titles are actually worthless trials from companies marketing their tools and products. So, I wonder why they (attempt) to teach JavaScript then include samples of actual software packages that they then market to the user.

Alternatively, I would recommend the O'Reilly book on JavaScript. O'Reilly has a track record of producing concise books that actually teach the topic. They are not 700+ page monsters that are filled with fluff. I would also caution against purchasing future editions as they tend to be nearly identical to the previous version with minor additions.

Ups and Downs
I had such a great time working through most of the material in the first 8 chapters of this book. The examples were clear and helped me to thoroughly implement what I was learning. During chapter 9, I started to get annoyed with the typos, poor answers to some of the Tutorial Exercises, and examples that were irrelevant to anything I wanted to accomplish.At the end of chapter 10, I decided to move on to an O'Reilly book.

This book strengthened my base in programming principles.I appreciated the explanations, when they were written thoroughly.When I get confused, I dig in stubbornly until I figure it out.Perhaps someone who breezes past the confusing parts will do better with this book.

Difficult to follow
I'm a frustrated beginner at Javascript. This book is part of what frustrated me. It's not very clear, with not enough examples and not enough details all at the same time. Much later, after I put down this book in frustration, I picked up WROX press' "Beginning Javascript," which I find much easier to follow. If only I had started with that book instead of this one!

THE BIBLE, NOT ONLY A RESOURCE MANUAL
I have been javascripting since 1996. As such, I've been through two editions of the javascript bible, including this third edition. It's only gotten better (as javascript has also improved in breadth). This is not a book for someone who simply wants an A-Z manual. If you want a book that truly spans the beginner through expert category, however, this IS it. Goodman provides in-depth explanations and examples at all stages of your development. If you are a beginner, start at the beginning. If you are an expert, use the index. Either way, this is a must- have for any web programmer's library. ... Read more

Product Description
Pure JavaScript is a substantial and focused reference for experienced Web developers. This book begins with an accelerated introduction to the newest features of JavaScript so that experienced Web developers can quickly understand the concepts of JavaScript and begin developing their own JavaScript solutions immediately. Pure JavaScript also contains insightful programming techniques, complete with well-commented code examples that you can immediately use in your own JavaScripts. This book contains the most complete, easily accessible JavaScript object reference with syntax, definitions, and examples of well-commented code for each entry. Amazon.com Review
Newbie and old-hand JavaScript programmers alike willappreciate Pure JavaScript, a comprehensive developer'sresource to JavaScript that covers both the big picture and precisedetails. Authors Jason Gilliam, Charlton Ting, and R. AllenWyke--developers all--have put together this well-organized title.

The bulk of this book is a top-notch JavaScript reference. Corelanguage syntax is well-presented with excellent use of examples forpractically every operator and function, and each entry includesversion compatibility with Netscape and Microsoft browsers andJavaScript releases. The authors also include references for the twocompanies' extensions to the language.

A number of appendices roundout this fine guide with attention to standard and vendor-specificsyntax details. This is a fine JavaScript reference that cuts nocorners. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: Overviewof JavaScript (origins of the language and the evolution of Microsoftand Netscape flavors), security topics (signed scripts and basicconstructs of the language, including data types, type conversions,operators, and the features of server-side JavaScript), JavaScriptexecution environment, and browser version support. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

must have
If you're a web developer, this book is a must have. I have referred to this book more than any other in my 12 years in software development. One caveat is that this book is not for beginners. It is for developers who already have some idea about how javascript works and how to incorporate it into their web projects.

A "Book" of Two Parts
I've got mixed feelings about this book. I bought it as an update to the first edition, and the information between the covers is very useful in itself. However, the information I really need -- the DOM reference -- has been relegated to the CD-ROM. The reason that I buy reference books is so that I don't have to keep toggling between my code and an on-line reference. The DOM material runs to 400 pages - too much for me to print out. Perhaps Sams could have turned the book into a two-volume reference.

nice dead-tree compilation
This book is a good reference for those with a decent know-how of Java, Cobol, C, or C++. The best thing about the tome is that it has a neat dictionary styled reference of methods, objects, properties, and not-real-world-enough example code bits. Those who want advanced stuff should refer the CookBook or the Visual QuickStart guides, and of couse beginners are better off with the Thau book or some such.

The best JavaScript reference for intermediate programmers
As the title of this book indicates, "Pure Javascript" covers everything about JavaScript in depth even better, from my point of view, than O'Reillys JavaScript: The Definite Guide.

I like the book also because its index indicates all the JavaScript syntaxis. Hence, when someone is programming and forgets the exact word, it is easy to look for it quickly, instead of wasting time browsing through all the book. Another positive aspect, is that the introduction of the book is pretty well organized (Shows you when to use JavaScript, its origin, operators, variables, fuctions, server-side JavaScrit, etc.) and gives you a concise idea of JavaScrpt capabilites.

However, the downside is that the book is not for amateur programmers since some terms are not explained in detail (the book states that it expects people who has experience with C, C++, Java or Pascal)

Overall: It is a MUST HAVE book for a serious JavaScript programmer, it is worth every penny you invest on it. But I'd recommend easier books first if you are a firt time programmer.

Excellent Resource
I am an experienced Cobol programmer but new to JavaScript.This is an excellent reference for all the items and elements used in JavaScript.The examples of item/element usage are great.There is only one drawback....the reference number of some of the code listings do not match the reference number on the CD.I notified the Publisher about this and have received noresponse to date. ... Read more

Product Description
Create real-time, highly interactive apps quickly with the powerful XMPP protocol

XMPP is a robust protocol used for a wide range of applications, including instant messaging, multi-user chat, voice and video conferencing, collaborative spaces, real-time gaming, data synchronization, and search. This book teaches you how to harness the power of XMPP in your own apps and presents you with all the tools you need to build the next generation of apps using XMPP or add new features to your current apps. Featuring the JavaScript language throughout and making use of the jQuery library, the book contains several XMPP apps of increasing complexity that serve as ideal learning tools.

Coverage Includes:

• Getting to Know XMPP
• Designing XMPP Applications
• Saying Hello: The First Application
• Exploring the XMPP Protocol: A Debugging Console
• Microblogging in Real Time: An Identica Client
• Talking with Friends: One-on-One Chat
• Exploring Services: Service Discovery and Browsing
• Group Chatting: A Multi-User Chat Client
• Publishing and Subscribing: A Shared Sketch Pad Introduction
• Writing with Friends: A Collaborative Text Editor
• Playing Games: Head to Head Tic-Tac-Toe
• Getting Attached: Bootstrapping BOSH
• Deploying XMPP Applications
• Writing Strophe Plug-ins

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Essential for working with XMPP
This book was an excellent guide to the world of XMPP. Although most of this information is available on the Internet, it is often disjointed, conflicting, and difficult to week through. However, Jack was able to help make sense of it all, and leads the reader step-by-step through integrating XMPP with the Web.

If you are struggling to understand XMPP and create a chat client for your site, this book is an essential, which I highly recommend. In fact, I used many of the ideas found in the book to create DXMPP, a module for a Facebook-like chat client for Drupal. This book is definitely the go-to for web developers wanting to learn XMPP.

Exemplary
Jack Moffitt is such a clear writer. Perhaps it's all the communication and message exchange he's experienced as an XMPP expert.

I've been following jabber/XMPP for a few years now, looking at it as a potential technology for writing multiplayer games. 'Professional XMPP' is the book I've been waiting for. Jack deftly introduces the required subjects and follows up with very readable examples (code that works!).

The application examples guide you from simple connectivity to complex multi-user demos. Jack cares so much for you, dear reader, that he provides a test server for experimentation. Without this, it could be a blocker for many people who are more adept at javascript than configuring servers and proxies.

If you're into mainstream web technologies you'll find his embrace of jQuery just right. You don't have to use it, but Strophe uses the same chaining methods that you probably already know.

This book will get you thinking about things that will trip up your app. It provides detailed, well commented examples which are downloadable from the publisher site.

Highly recommended.

Create awesome real-time apps for the web
Since the Jabber project officially became XMPP, this book is the second official tome of knowledge on the subject, and the first to specifically concentrate on XMPP development within the vein of leveraging the protocol to power low-latency web-based applications.Author Jack Moffitt does a tremendous job of introducing, working with, and building systems based on the often-confusing but critically important topic of creating online experiences based on real-time.

The book focuses on using Bidirectional streams Over Synchronous HTTP (BOSH) for empowering real-time communications over the web.The basic layout of an infrastructure to support such systems over current web technologies is dissected, and in so doing being one of the better discussions on the topic.This is helpful given the pushback many web devs typically have expressed in embracing a new technology stack.

After well-written overviews of XMPP, its lifecycle and requirements, the book is all about using BOSH to build practical, real-world demos.The examples are based on Strophe, a JavaScript library written by Moffitt, using a surprisingly simple and consistent pattern even beginning developers can pick up and be productive with in their own projects.It's code you can easily understand and use for your own work.

The book is divided into 14 chapters that won't take you all day to read and follow along with.Each chapter is about 20-30 pages, intelligently written, logically organized and appropriately enhanced with URLs, illustrations, screengrabs and syntactical explanations to support the subject.Moffitt's voice is very friendly, and the chapters are long enough to give attention to the topic at-hand, but not drawn out to be boring.You can tackle each demo at a single sitting, run the code, and then expand upon it.

The appendices are also extremely helpful, focusing on introduction to the jQuery framework, and working with BOSH connection managers.Both are very concise and helpful (although I would have appreciated an additional appendix that gets more in-depth on working with Strophe).

As far as the book's physical qualities, the Wrox binding is sturdy with thick paper, so it'll survive the process of violently flipping back and forth and forcing the book to lie flat as you work through the examples.

In short, Professional XMPP explores just a corner of the full range of services you can create with XMPP within the browser - not just merely IM for the web.That serves to be the underlying theme and key message for this book: you can create great, powerful, push-based apps with the universally familiar toolset of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

It's a great read for anyone wanting to get up and running with XMPP for the web, and will make a very welcome addition to any developmental library.

Extremely Helpful
If you're thinking about doing anything with XMPP and web applications, buy this book.

In writing my first XMPP web application (which is actually my first XMPP application ever), this book has been extremely helpful.The beginning chapters give a thorough overview of the basics of XMPP, while the remaining chapters provide real-world walkthroughs of example XMPP web applications with well-commented, easy to understand source code.

Before I bought the book, I knew enough about XMPP to think that it might be a good fit for a project I'm working on.After reading the book, I felt well-informed about XMPP as an architecture and I was convinced that my web app would, indeed, be a perfect fit for using XMPP as its transport protocol.Thanks to the many code samples in the book, I was able to create a proof of concept of my web application, using XMPP for real-time communication, in only a few days.There's no way I could have gotten up to speed so quickly without this book.

It's also worth mentioning that the author is an extremely knowledgeable and active participant in the XMPP community.On his blog, [...], he shares many insights and tips about building XMPP web applications.It's a great supplement to this book and not to be missed.

Practical XMPP
I want to preface this review by stating that I read this book without working through much of the code, as I was doing a compare/contrast between XMPP and AMQP over the holidays.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's presentation, and this was a standout book from Wrox for me, as they've improved the quality of their paper (thicker and now white), typesetting (smaller margins), and I suppose even the use of a graphic for the cover (as opposed to the author's picture) was well-received ...

The author is clearly well-versed in XMPP, and the introduction was very effective at getting me up to speed on using XMPP in an immediately sense.The chapters built upon one another in complexity, and I never felt lost, or had to re-read along the way.

Overall, I thought this book was effective, and the author's style made for an enjoyable read - one that wasn't terribly dry and at once didn't feel self-indulgent ... ... Read more

Product Description
Advanced JavaScript Third Edition provides an in-depth examination of the most important features of JavaScript. Beginning with an overview of JavaScript, the book quickly moves into more advanced features needed for complex yet robust JavaScript scripts, such as objects, arrays, and date and time functions. Additionally, various features of JavaScript that are essential for modern web pages are discussed, including manipulating the status bar, creating dynamic calendars, and working with forms, images, and the Document Object Model. Numerous examples illustrate how to implement various techniques.Topics covered:How to enhance your web pages with LED signs, banners, and images Implementing cookies to store and retrieve information The structure of the Document Object Model and how it can be used to view, access, and change an HTML document Security measures to protect private information while using the Internet ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Advanced?
This book is not advanced, it doesn't mention even current techniques used in the language, AJAX, JSON, libraries, etc. I has microsoft-tunnelled vision, it does not show the use the language has right now.
It seems the author just updates a couple of sections to create a new edition, please look further for a good javascript book.

Advanced ???
Not sure why this book is called Advanced ... it is no more advanced than my basic Javascript bible book.The object oriented section of the book is a whole 6 pages !!Are you kidding me?

Not impressed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It was my online course textbook last quarter.
This was the textbook for an online course I just finished a week ago. I like the book and recommend it for beginner webmasters. You will learn the basics and then work up through Tables, Forms, and Frames.

You are given beginning files which you can download from the web. The book then guides you to modify these files by entering actual html code. You save and view the result on your computer. The book includes lots of screen shots so that you can compare your results to what it should look like.

Since you are working on your computer to edit and view the pages, feedback is immediate. If it doesn't quite match the screenshot, you check your typing and try it again.

All the example exercises are completed with Notepad and your regular browser.

Style Sheets, JavaScript and Dynamic HTML all get a chapter each of about 30 pages. The majority of the book is about html.

There is a quick reference appendix on lots of html elements. If you are looking for a book that you can read and "teach yourself", this is a good one. Remember my course was online and all the instruction I got was the book, itself.

I spent six to eight hours completing the exercises in each of the ten chapters that my course covered to give you an idea of the time you might spend. ... Read more

Product Description

The all-in-one HTML, CSS and JavaScript beginner's guide: covering the three most important languages for web development!

Mastering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is vital for any beginning web developer - and the importance of these technologies is growing as web development moves away from proprietary alternatives such as Flash. Sams Teach Yourself HTML, CSS, and JavaScript All in One brings together everything beginners need to build powerful web applications with the new HTML5 and CSS3 standards and the latest JavaScript and Ajax libraries. With this book, beginners can get all the modern web development knowledge you need from one expert source. Bestselling author Julie Meloni (Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache All in One) teaches simply and clearly, through brief, hands-on lessons focused on knowledge you can apply immediately. Meloni covers all the building blocks of practical web design and development, integrating new techniques and features into every chapter. Each lesson builds on what's come before, showing you exactly how to use HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript together to create great web sites. Coverage includes all this, and much more: " Working with HTML5 text, fonts, tables, links, graphics, and multimedia " Advanced web page design with CSS3, including lists, fixed and liquid layouts, and designing for devices " Web Scripting with JavaScript, including DOM, syntax, functions, and libraries " Extending JavaScript with Ajax " Advanced site functionality and management, from site organization through search engine optimization

Product Description
The best value on the market for Web developers who want a complete reference to the principal tools for building interactive Web sites! You get 1000 pages of coverage on these key non-Microsoft technologies, for only $24.99. Perl is the language of choice for creating CGI scripts to add interactivity to Web sites. JavaScript, Netscape's popular scripting language for building interactive Web applications, is often used in combination with Perl. Whether you are a novice or experienced Web developer, this book offers the framework you need to get up to speed with the latest versions of Perl, CGI, and JavaScript. It also includes quick references to Perl commands and modules, plus a JavaScript object reference. This book introduces you to the work of some of Sybex's finest authors, so you'll know where to turn to learn even more about each of these topics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Difficult to follow
I bought this book mainly for Perl and CGI. I found it quite difficult to follow, and had to re-read chapters repeatedly to get the main points. Even then it was hard. I think I would prefer more "hand-holding". I always felt I was being overwhelmed.

Book for Advanced Reference
This is a very dry reading. It holds a lot of information but not fit for the learning point of view, it is set up more to be a reference for the already advanced jscript/perl/cgi programmer. The layout is not created up well enough to display samples, and only makes you more confused as you get further into the book. I found myself reading pages over 2 or 3 times before one page would make sense with the next.

What a waste of time
I just bought this book and read into it, and many of their examples are incorrect and they do not teach you very well. If you want a decent book on programming, try one from PeachPit Press.

Don't Bother...
I like Sybex's idea of giving the reader 1,000 pages of info for under [price]. But this book is not well executed: there are innumerable mistakes littering this book, but the website lists only one entry in the "errata." And these are mistakes that can frustrate a newbie (e.g., the book says that UNIX PATH varibale has a ';' delimiter when actually it is a ':', etc.) Also, the reference section for Perl modules leaves out any mention of CGI.pm -- a very important module. Both sections leave the reader wondering just what level of expertise the authors have.

I would not recommend this book.

Typical Sybex approach to making difficult topics easy
Despite some basic concept familiarization, I was horribly intimidated byJavaScript and Perl.This book does a great job of introducing and handwalking you through difficult concepts and ideas - building a little at atime -Great desk reference... Recommended to some friends and bought as agift for others! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Good coverage of programmatically implementing Dojo functionality
I used the book to help me get over the learning curve of using Dojo to implement a user interface with tabs and layout.

I needed to be able to create tabs programatically and remove them the same way.

This book helped me to do that.It also does a good job of helping make sense of the Library.

I found it useful.

It is the only Dojo book I have.

Not enough advanced topics covered
I find that the book contains mostly beginner and intermediate information. Not enough advanced topics or talking about creation the programmatic way.The layout of the book is a bit odd (Drag and Drop is only talked about for a few pages within the context of working with the Tree widget).For more advanced developers looking for more of a reference book, consider looking elsewhere.

Wow. How mediocre...
This book is good for explaining basic Dojo concepts, but it's really biased and not objective. It reads like a piece of Dojo propaganda.

Also, it spends a certain amount of time explaining things that aren't really helpful. For example, the fact that "Templates are nothing new" and that macros in the C programming language are template based doesn't really help the reader at all. If the readers are familiar with the C programming language, you don't need to tell them that templates have been around for a while. More to the point, it doesn't really matter if templates are new or old. Just explain how Dojo works. Sigh.

This thing could have been a hundred pages shorter. Kill a tree: buy this book.

An outstanding, detailed account filled with real-world examples
MASTERING DOJO: JAVASCRIPT AND AJAX TOOLS FOR GREAT WEB EXPERIENCES is an essential key to modern web programming problems resolvable by Dojo. From basic usage of Dojo to advanced tutorials, MASTERING DOJO takes the form of a class in the program with chapters building a foundation of knowledge and discussing scripting, searches, and Dojo systems alike. It's an outstanding, detailed account filled with real-world examples and perfect for students and programmers applying Dojo to web problems.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Skip the "Book Of Dojo" and go straight to this
I haven't read the other Dojo books so I can't compare them.They may be very good too.This book is well orgainsed and well written.My advise to anyone starting from scratch is not to bother with the free online documentation, "The Book of Dojo", which is a spotty and unsystematic and start with this. ... Read more

Product Description
Focuses on the design issues of using Frames, guiding readers through the programming tasks necessary to implement a good frame set, and the companion CD contains source code, templates, and design tools. Original. (Intermediate). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Does one thing and does it extremely well
This book had tips and information I needed to build my 1st framed site that were nowhere else to be found, even in much more expensive and 'expert' books. I highly recommend it.

'Must have' book for better web building
This book is my most used reference book on web design. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to create a better, more interesting, web site. Jason deals with design and includes lots of things that could and shouldbe avoided. For those who are tired of learning how to say 'Hi!' in C, C++,VB, Perl, ad.infinum, and want to accomplish something while they arelearning, this book is a blessing.

It sits on my Web design reference shelf
I found this book cleanly and clearly explains how to integrate frames into web design.Examples and illustrations reenforce how to do things.I've looked at it more than a few times to check things when I am working.

Neither a reference, a guide, a tutorial, nor a workbook.
Neither a reference, a guide, a tutorial, nor a workbook.Toss out the glossy color images, reduce the oversized font, sift it down to the actual useful information, and this book could be printed on two pages. If the author indeed asked himself why an entire book should be devoted to HTML: Frames, perhaps he could have spared us all his answer and just produced a pamphlet.The sophomoric quasi-historical segment at the beginning of the book was perhaps added merely to meet some minimal weight requirement.Ziff-Davis Press sinks to new lows.One wonders at the propriety of using this as a required text in a web based course offered by... Ziff-Davis!This is one you will definitely want to throw away.Spend your money on a decent text, one which you'll be glad to hang on to and use as a reference.

To Frame Or Not Frame
I brough this book on a whim (thanks Amazon).After designing several websites I've been wanting to design a framed site for the longest but have been very skeptical about it (browser issues) - until reading this book.This book is definitely for the beginner to the intermediate programmer/designer.The best part about the book is that it's not written from a "expert" point of view.I did find some of step by step lessons a bit sketchy but overall it's a descent book to get you up to speed on frames. ... Read more

Product Description
JavaScript is the glue that enables HTML to become interactive. Learn how you can leverage JavaScript Libraries to quickly build beautiful Web applications.* Add Ajax libraries to your Web site* Use jQuery in your Web applications* Extend jQuery with a custom plug-in* Take advantage of popular jQuery plug-ins* Work with Adobe’s Spry Framework* Use Yahoo’s YUI frameworkThe HTML5 JavaScript Model is the last of five articles that will be compiled in the book, HTML5: Designing Rich Internet Applications. Each full-color article illustrates specific aspects of the HTML5 standard with techniques to employ them. The book, HTML5: Designing Rich Internet Applications,features exclusive material in the form of a related real-world tutorial project to go alongside each article. This article is equivalent to 39 print pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Gem!
I bought this little gem on my Android G1 the other day while waiting in the dentist's office. It is well written and to the point with some nice examples. It would be especially helpful for anyone trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together between HTML5 and JavaScript. It's a bit short though at 40pgs, but then I don't know that it really needs to be longer. It really zaps the topic well! I'm going to recommend it on [...]. ... Read more

Product Description
The Web Design Pocket Guide boxed set is for both beginning users, who want a brief introduction to core web technologies, and more advanced users, who are looking for a convenient reference. It's a valuable companion to creating standards-compliant markup that will help Web designers quickly define content, meaning, presentation, and behavior. Accessible, convenient, and inexpensive, this boxed set is exactly what many web designers need. It includes the following pocket guides package in an attractive slip-cover case:

• The HTML Pocket Guide
  
• The CSS Pocket Guide
  
• The JavaScript Pocket Guide
  

Product Description

100 JavaScript power solutions in one handy guide

This practical resource contains 100 ready-to-run JavaScript plug-ins you can use to create dynamic Web content. The book begins by explaining JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and the Document Object Model (DOM). Then, each chapter in Plug-In JavaScript offers complete, working examples for specific end results you can achieve right away. Using these plug-ins, you'll be able to build JavaScript projects quicker and easier than ever, as many complex tasks are reduced to a single function call.

Get ready-made JavaScript plug-ins for:

• Resizing and repositioning objects
• Fading between objects
• Movement and animation
• Chaining and interaction
• Menus and navigation
• Text effects
• Audio and visual effects
• Cookies, Ajax, and security
• Forms and validation
• And much more

Download all of the plug-ins at the book's companion website. ... Read more

Product Description

Windows Vista Sidebar is a panel located on the desktop of a PC where gadgets can be placed for easy access and reference. These gadgets are small, single-purpose applications, such as clocks, calendars, games, RSS notifiers, search tools, stock tickers, etc, that reside on the Windows desktop and on the Windows Sidebar. The book will be a tutorial to design and develop a gadget. It will provide ready-to-use samples using .NET, XML, CSS and AJAX. After reading the book, a web developer/designer will be confident enough to start developing gadgets for Windows Vista Sidebar. The beginner portion of the book shows an overview of the subject with the design pattern, the architecture and implementation details. The later sections will have solid examples for instant results. In short, the book will tell how to do everything with Sidebar Gadgets using solid, unique examples. Brief outline: " Brief background on Gadgets " Define architecture, design consideration and implementation to give a clear view to the developer " Step by step, create a useful Gadget sample "My Blogs" " Elaborate the architecture design constraint and implementation details for the sample " Detail the standard practices " Recheck the gadget created for standard practices " Improvise and Improve with compare and contrast " Add advanced samples with .NET, AJAX and XHTML.

Customer Reviews (20)

Fantastic book !
I got a request from my boss to create a Gadget for Windows 7 and i think this was the only book available, after seeing good reviews I ordered it from Amazon. Amazon was incredibly fast in shipping. And the book was just what I needed. The set of blog chapters are good enough to get you a clear understanding. What I really liked about was the Tips and Trick section which has code samples for Auto updating your gadget, accessibility, globalization and security. And most important of all the reusable template is awesome.I might buy author's other books on mobile.

Good book on Gadgets, beginning examples too complex
Creating gadgets for Vista is fairly complicated so it's great to have this book to guide you through it.The book would greatly benefit from a much simpler first example before adding toolbar options and other more complex features in javascript that make it hard to follow the basic flow of the code. Still... probably the best book out there on the topic and I was able to create a gadget based on what I learned from this book.

Great Book
I recommend this book for everyone does not have any information about vista gadgets. Your simple language and good samples, it's easy to learn, how gadgets works and how made your own...

One of the BEST I've read recently
I had been looking for a book on "Vista gadgets" and I find this book very helpful and informative. The easy flow and the transition from chapter to chapter is very smooth so you would just keep reading until you finish the entire book once you start reading it. If you have fairly good knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript etc., web technologies, you would immediately understand that the author is very knowledgeable in this area and knows how to guide the readers.

Some of the best features about this book are the code bits, graphical representation of the information, tips and samples. The samples are very illustrative and once you work with them you'll be comfortable in creating any similar gadgets.

The author also takes so much personal interest in updating the web site [...] regularly even after months of publishing the book, I think that tells you something about the author. I believe he is very passionate about web developmentand sharing his knowledge and it reflects all over the book.

Finally, if you are serious about becoming an expert in creating vista gadgets, I strongly believe that just this book is enough and you MUST have this book in your rack.

vista gadget unfolded
I think Rajesh has done a significant amount of effort and studies to explain the Vista gadget in his book. Before reading this book i had little info about the vista gadget but after reviewing this book I have gathered all the technology and the programming aspect of Gadget. The way Rajesh has added the example and explain the impact of the gadget in the real world is just awesome. The way good and bad gadget explanation and about choosing the design for it is absolutely perfect. This book covers most part of Gadget programming for windows vista.

Although it requires lots of practice and knowledge of different technologies to create gadget but this book tries to cover most of the technologies involved.

I would definitely suggest my friend to have a look into this book.
... Read more

Product Description
JavaScript is a compact, object-based scripting language for developing client and server Internet applications. It allows you to perform form validation, format text content, and add animation, sound effects and Dynamic HTML to any Web page. JavaScript Professional Projects is geared toward the Web site developer who wants to create interactive, engaging sites. You will learn how to write not only JavaScript that can stand on its own within a Web page, but also how to write scripts that interact with applications written in other development languages. The projects presented within this book will reduce the coding work and JavaScript learning curve by providing the majority of JavaScript applications you want. ... Read more

Product Description

Do you spend too much time doing repetitiveproduction tasks such as placing and replacing images, resizing them,dragging them from one document to another, and preparing images forprinting instead of being creative? Do you use Adobe Acrobat and have astrong working knowledge of JavaScript? Then you're in luck. SinceAdobe Creative Suite 2 was created with built-in support for scripting,virtually every repetitive or time-consuming task that creativeprofessionals have to do in Acrobat can be streamlined or automatedwith the help of a script. This book describes how to use JavaScript tomanipulate and extend Adobe Acrobat, and provides reference informationfor the JavaScript objects, properties, and functions defined byAdobe's applications. Now available in print for the first time, thisbook doesn't teach you how to write code in JavaScript, but if you'refamiliar with the scripting language, and want to start writing scriptsfor Acrobat, you'll appreciate having the most definitive, up-to-datereferenceavailable. 

Customer Reviews (1)

Missing examples
The book just names all possibilities and options. You can even download it for free at Adobe's website. It lacks examples, explanations sometimes too short for a beginner. In short words: Not worth to buy. ... Read more

Product Description
AJAX is hot, hot, hot! Why? It's simple. With AJAX, internet developers and designers can create web-based applications that look and feel like desktop applications. These are responsive, highly-interactive applications that represent a new breed called "Rich Internet Applications" (RIA). This book is a guide to designing, implementing, and debugging AJAX applications. The book begins by comparing and contrasting the traditional web application lifecycle with that of an AJAX application. It then covers core AJAX technology, including the XMLHTTPRequest object, and describes various methods for "consuming" data returned by it. Because AJAX represents a fundamentally new way of creating web applications, the book is careful to explore usability guidelines for AJAX developers. This is followed by a series of use cases that show how specific problems are solved in both the pre-AJAX and post-AJAX worlds. The book ends with a chapter on debugging AJAX applications, along with appendices that cover toolkits that greatly simplify AJAX development. All of the server-side examples presented in the book will be written in PHP, the most popular langauage for server-side web programming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book, very practical and to the point.
I bought this book wondering if it would be useful for someone who knows JavaScript and DOM at a very basic level (like me), and I've been able to understand and to put in practice everything that I needed, althought, I must admit, I'm a fast learner ;). Before I bought this book I've made some web systems in PHP, and now I've been able to improve them using Ajax.

I've appreciated the "without Ajax" vs. "with Ajax" application development examples and the author's recomendations about where and how to use Ajax. The appendix briefing current Ajax libraries were very useful for me.

Efficient and to the point
I am primarily a .NET developer and while this book focuses on the use of AJAX with PHP that was hardly a factor for me.I was able to build my own AJAX library based on the examples within and use it in my current .NET projects.Something I prefer rather than using the AJAX libraries Microsoft provides.This book is of perfect depth and is quite efficient.I recommend this book.

a very thorough guide
This is a great book for someone with a good understanding of HTML and an intermediate understanding of JavaScript.Some of the examples are set up to run on a PHP server as well. Joshua talks about some common pitfalls of AJAX development as well as methods of avoiding them and considerations of real-world applications.He breaks down some of the more complicated concepts very well, and gives straight forward explanations of browser compatibility. A great reference and guide to an exciting technology.

In Depth AJAX
Understanding AJAX is a very in-depth look at some of the technologies used in modern web design.In reading this book, you will come to understand the pros and cons of using AJAX in a web site and exactly what happens between the browser and the web server.

You will get a sense of what can and can't be done using AJAX and how to get around the problems caused by the many web browser clients in use at this time.You will also come to understand how to make the user's browser do much of the work that your server used to do.Understanding AJAX also dives into the usage of many open source script libraries to make coding a modern website much easier.From adding DHTML effects to using a single page for your entire site, you will get a feel for what is possible.

This book is not for the beginner.You should have at least a moderate knowledge of HTML and Javascript, and at least a beginning understanding of a server side web scripting language (PHP is the primary language used in the book).This is not a cookbook, but does contain many code examples later in the book, including a login system and an ajax trouble ticket system.

I have been using Joshua's HTML_AJAX php/ajax library for over half a year, but was still able to learn quite a bit from this book.

I would recommend this book to any web developer who wants a thorough understanding of AJAX and how it can be used.

complex design and debugging
Eichorn's narrative teaches Ajax from scratch. But he writes for a reader already well versed in Web programming. This implies familiarity with HTML and how a Web server responds to http requests. XML knowledge is also needed. Along with how XML data is parsed, by a DOM parser or by XSLT. Actually, for the latter, the book correctly points out its sheer complexity. One nice piece of advice it offers is simply to warn you of this. Oh, knowing JavaScript and PHP also helps. Since JavaScript is the main scripting language on most current browsers. So if you want client side functionality beyond HTML, JavaScript is often the way to go, whether or not you use Ajax.

The main thrust of the book is in showing how Ajax works. An ingenious combination of client and server side functionalities. This however has led to the varied requirements described above. The book also warns that Ajax development can bring problems of its own. A useful cautionary note, in light of the recent hype about Ajax. One issue is that using Ajax to alter an existing web site can lead to unexpected changes in usability, and in the very design of the site. Plus, Ajax's production of an application-like feel to the client side on the browser can lead to complex debugging. You don't get those neat extra features at zero cost! ... Read more