JavaScript Course Introduction

Objectives

  • Find course information on syllabus
  • Use Desire2Learn resources for course
  • Find course resources on instructor website
  • Discuss content and structure of text

Topics

  • review syllabus (online)
  • browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari) available free on web (we will mostly be using Chrome and Firefox)
  • set up accounts on kermit for posting assignments
  • required text: Murach's JavaScript, 2nd edition by Delamater
  • recommended text: Understanding ECMAScript 6 by Zakas (No Starch Press)
    • good introduction to new features in ECMAScript 6
    • explains how new features in ECMAScript 6 differ from ECMAScript 5
    • provides code to demonstrate new features, but not sample applications
  • recommended text: JavaScript by Negrino and Smith (Peachpit Press)
    • many short examples, covers all the basic topics in the CIS 119 course
    • usually breaks topics down into small chunks
    • examples sometimes a little more complex than they have to be
    • sometimes lacks explanations of how things work (which is when online references of the Flanagan text come in handy)
    • not intended as an in-depth reference
  • recommended text: JavaScript: The Definitive Guide by David Flanagan (O'Reilly)
    • a little outdated, but still a good reference
    • very detailed
    • does not cover ECMAScript 6
  • up-to-date and comprehensive resources for JavaScript can be found on the Web
  • review resources available on Desire2Learn
    • discussion
    • email
    • gradebook
  • review resources available on course web site
    • syllabus
    • links to resources
    • assignments
    • online notes
    • due dates
    • exam review materials