Beginning Ajax (Programmer to Programmer)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 498 pages
• Published by: Wrox March 19, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0470106751
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0470106754
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.3 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Product Description
Using proven examples and explaining concepts step by step, this book shows you how building Ajax-enabled sites and applications allows more interactive user interfaces than ever before. You’ll learn about the differences in capabilities between client-side and server-side development techniques, as well as how Ajax crosses this boundary. You’ll also discover how Ajax techniques can be summed up by patterns (which are development models that you’ll use repeatedly). With a extreme proficiency of these techniques, you’ll be able to breathe new life into your Web sites.

Back Cover Copy
As one of the prime enablers of innovations such as wikis, blogs, and third-party APIs, Ajax is redefining the way Web applications are created. This book familiarizes you with the core technologies behind Ajax, and shows you how to start building Web sites using Ajax techniques. It explains concepts step-by-step, using proven examples, so that you can immediately begin applying the information.

You'll see how building Ajax-enabled sites and applications allows more interactive user interfaces than ever before. You'll learn about the differences in capabilities between client-side and server-side development techniques, as well as how Ajax crosses this boundary. You'll discover how Ajax techniques can be summed up by patterns (which are development models that you'll use repeatedly). With a extreme proficiency of these techniques, you'll be able to breathe new life into your Web sites and applications.

What you will learn from this book

• Ajax pros and cons so you know the best way to use it
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  The fundamental JavaScript and DOM techniques underlying Ajax
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  Methods for using the XMLHttpRequest object (the primary Ajax enabler) to call ASP.NET, PHP, and Java applications
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  How to store and transmit XML data that many Ajax applications use
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  How to debug JavaScript in your Ajax applications manually and how to write error handlers
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  Ways to combine applications through Web services or APIs to create mashups

Who this book is for

This book is for Web developers who want to start building sites using Ajax techniques and are familiar with (X)HTML, JavaScript, and basic CSS.The reader will also need to be familiar with either PHP or ASP.NET for the server-side examples, although an extensive knowledge of either is not expected.

Reader Reviews
For a book aimed at those learning a new programming technique, the book commits the cardinal sin...bad code. The code errors are rampant; sometimes blatant, sometimes not, but occur often enough that trying to follow the examples becomes a technique in frustration rather than learning. It would be fine if the exersizes were in code examination or forensics but it is intended as a beginner's book. For the amount of money this book costs, one would be loathe to throw it away, but I feel I have no choice.