Hi Mitch,
While we don't get into the history of JavaScript/ECMAScript or
explain what a CSS class is, for example, I can assure you that the
book doesn't assume a whole lot of knowledge.
The first chapter deals with some really, really basic stuff, like:
- what jQuery does
- why jQuery works well
- how to download the jquery.js file
- how and where to include jquery.js and your custom script file in
the <head> of your HTML document
- how to add a class to an element on page load
You'll also see elementary tips like this:
"After the stylesheet is referenced, the JavaScript files are
included. It is important that the script tag for the jQuery library
be placed before the tag for our custom scripts; otherwise, the
jQuery framework will not be available when our code attempts to
reference it."
So, there may not be much "fluff," but we tried really hard to
explain even the simplest of concepts so that people making a shift
from design to development or from some other programming language to
JavaScript would feel comfortable.
Besides, from what I see on your web site, you are very far from
being a dummy.
If you have any questions along the way, I'd be happy to try to
answer them, as I'm sure would many others on this list.
Welcome!
--Karl
_________________
Karl Swedberg
www.englishrules.com
www.learningjquery.com
On Jul 19, 2007, at 3:28 PM, Mitchell Waite wrote:
Thanks to everyone for recommending the book, I ordered it right away.
However, I get the impression from this comment in the five minute
review
this is not a "for Dummies" book
" Glancing at the Table of Contents - I'm happy to note there are
no basic
introductory 'HTML/Javascript' chapters (no fluff!) you dive right
into a
simple jQuery script where you manipulate some CSS."
I was hoping there would be a basic intro to the things most people
familiar
with JavaScript take for granted.
So
" Initially you start at the basics - jQuery syntax, selectors,
events and
using effects."
I would like to see several pages of different ways to activate a
jQuery, as
I have seen at least a dozen,. For example as dumb as this sounds
it took me
a while to figure out you can call anything in jQuery, using a
onclick="foo()". But I have not been able to get several jQuery
functions to
work this way either.
I am not familiar with all the events like "attaching" and "focus" and
things like "chaining" are new to me.
Again, I'm talking a real dummy here :) Though I am proud of what I
have
been able to do:
http://www.whatbird.com/wwwroot/NEW_TAB_SEARCH.html
Check the effects on the Text and Small Icon views and click the
Sorting->First, Last to see it puff.
The big challenge in this simulation was getting the effects to
wait a fixed
time before firing, so as to simulate a real trip to the server.
Mitch
-----Original Message-----
From: jquery-en@googlegroups.com [mailto:jquery-
[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Rey Bango
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:28 AM
To: jquery-en@googlegroups.com
Subject: [jQuery] Re: jQuery for Dummies
Hi Mitchell,
Welcome to jQuery my man. Here's a great option for you. jQuery team
member Karl Swedberg and Jonathan Chaffer have authored a book called
"Learning jQuery : Better Interaction Design and Web Development with
Simple JavaScript Techniques"
You can find it here: http://www.packtpub.com/jQuery/book/mid/
100407j4kh3d
I would highly recommend you pick it up and in addition, jump over to
the following sites:
learningjquery.com
http://15daysofjquery.com/
They were invaluable to me during my initial road to understanding the
library.
I hope this helps.
Rey
Mitchell Waite wrote:
I'm trying to learn jQuery from the tutorials at the web site.
They are
very
good but assume a pretty good knowledge of javascript and calling and
using
functions in ways that bewilder me.
Is there any kind of Idiot's Guide to using jQuery?
If not does anyone want to co-author one with me?
Mitch Waite
http://www.mitchwaite.com
http://www.whatbird.com
--
BrightLight Development, LLC.
954-775-1111 (o)
954-600-2726 (c)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.iambright.com
