JavaScript Resources

[unkwntech]

Im looking for a few good resources online to learn JavaScript.

I have a book or 2 but, books tend to become dated rather quickly.

[cleary1981]

If you work your way through w3c tutorials you will get the basics. I find it quite handy  to refer to if I can't remeber syntax

 

http://www.w3schools.com/JS/default.asp

 

Also you can have a look at some frameworks like

 

http://script.aculo.us/

 

Using these makes programming much easier. Hope this helps

[unkwntech]

I already know basic JavaScript to the extent that that w3schools goes.

I'm really looking to go a bit further and understand AJAX a bit better also.

And I would like to avoid frameworks.

 

But THank you.

[cleary1981]

have you tried

http://www.webreference.com/programming/javascript/

[RichardRotterdam]

best way to learn it is by just trying out some javascript tutorials which involve javascript DOM and Ajax. avoiding the frameworks for learning purposes would be a good idea but once you get the hang of it useing a framework would be a good idea to safe your self a lot of time and frusteration.

 

for example typing

$('content_div')

//instead of
document.getElementById('content_div');

//or even better

//ajax action
$('ajax_content').load('ajax_call.php');

really makes things a lot easier

[unkwntech]

@cleary - I'll definitely look at it.

@Dj Kat - I've got most of the DOM stuff down, It's more the more advanced stuff that I am looking to learn.  And I defiantly agree about the framework, however I don't like to be dependent on other peoples code, which is why even in PHP I refuse to use the frameworks.

[KevinM1]

@cleary - I'll definitely look at it.

@Dj Kat - I've got most of the DOM stuff down, It's more the more advanced stuff that I am looking to learn.  And I defiantly agree about the framework, however I don't like to be dependent on other peoples code, which is why even in PHP I refuse to use the frameworks.

 

I used to feel the same way.  There's no real logical reason for that general feeling, though.  In fact, there's a term for it -- Not Invented Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Invented_Here).

 

Frameworks/libraries exist so you can be more productive.  Why reinvent the wheel when someone else already has developed efficient, flexable code that can handle the low-level stuff?  Regarding JavaScript, jQuery(http://docs.jquery.com/Main_Page) is an example of a framework done right.  It's lightweight, powerful, and makes coding a lot easier.

 

Now, this isn't to say that 'rolling your own' would be a useless endeavor.  Even if your own framework isn't as efficient as one of the professional ones, what you learn in creating one is invaluable.  Similarly, there are plenty of 3rd party libraries that aren't so hot, so you shouldn't assume that all 3rd party code is wonderful.  Still, with that said, you won't lose street cred if you decide to use jQuery, or Prototype, or any of the other good ones.

[RichardRotterdam]

other then that using frameworks makes your javascript code a lot cleaner and programming OO looks more like you would in php. Strange i havent used any php framework yet I'm still debating about using either Zend or cakePHP . but thats offtopic from this. back to your topic what would you concider advanced javascript?

[unkwntech]

what would you concider advanced javascript?

I don't know I just assumed there was more to javascript then DOM stuff.