BKJSAPCB.RVW   20000502

"JavaScript Application Cookbook", Jerry Bradenbaugh, 1999,
1-56592-577-7, U$34.95/C$48.95
%A   Jerry Bradenbaugh hotsyte@mail.serve.com
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   1999
%G   1-56592-577-7
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$34.95/C$48.95 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%P   462 p.
%T   "JavaScript Application Cookbook"

Both the Editor's Note and the Preface state that this book is not a
tutorial: you will not learn JavaScript from it, at least, not easily. 
The editor also says that, unlike other programming "cookbooks," even
within the same series, this volume does not present a collection of
common techniques in a reference style.  Bradenbaugh takes the
cookbook theme quite literally in tendering ten "recipes" for
complete, usable applications.  Some may need a bit of modification,
and, of course, every programmer and Web designer is going to want to
put his or her own stamp on the interface, but all are functional as
they stand.

(There is no disk included with the book, but all code is available
for download from the net.)

A brief introduction is included giving reasons for the use of
JavaScript.  It also proposes some general JavaScript programming
style tips, including pointers on compatibility and the approaches
used in the applications in the book.

Each chapter lays out the environment needed for the program, an
outline of the structure, some JavaScript techniques that are used,
and suggests some potential extensions, enhancements, or modifications
you may wish to explore.  The book is, of course, loaded with
JavaScript code, but the author is careful to explain everything quite
carefully.  While it may not be a straightforward way to learn
JavaScript from scratch, those who have got the basics can learn a lot
about the language very quickly from this book.

The programs are broadly based, although they vary in usefulness. 
They include a client-side search engine, an online test, an
interactive slideshow, an interface for using multiple search engines,
an engine for generating image rollover code, an application for
recalling user preferences using cookies (probably more of an adjunct
utility), a shopping cart, a simple substitution cipher, a greeting
card generator, and context sensitive help.  Also included is a
chapter on JavaScript source files, including a number of helpful
utilities.

Three very useful appendices are included.  There is a brief but quite
complete language reference.  Appendix B contains a number of useful,
helpful, and interesting Web sites related to JavaScript and the
applications.  In addition, there is a terse, but serviceable
introduction to Perl, so you get two languages (well, maybe one and a
half) for the price of one.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKJSAPCB.RVW   20000502