Author/s : Ray Harris
Publisher : Murach
Category :Web design, HTML and JavaScript Review by : Jeanne Boyarsky
Rating : 9 horseshoes
My Wii says the 767 page "Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting" book weighs three pounds. Yet it only costs $38.15 with free shipping in the US (at murach.com). Note the book covers CSS as well although the title doesn't mention it.
The book starts with the really basic - what is HTTP - but suggests which parts to skip if you already know these. The book introduced good practices such as accessibility and the least common denominator. It also showed using tools properly such as Firebug.
What I particularly liked: the book source code was easy to download, the exercises got you to try the concepts, Section 508 got a mention, the OO approach.
All examples/applications are self contained. This means there is some repetition. I get it - we need to define the "$" function everyplace if we want to use it. It does get one used to reading JavaScript apps.
I also would have liked some more explanation about WHY one does certain things. The Murach two page layout worked well. In many cases, I chose which side of the page to read which let me read at my own pace.
Overall, I think the book is a great one for starting out with JavaScript/CSS/DOM. Unless you need to carry it around with you.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review on behalf of JavaRanch.
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