I just uploaded the largest chapter, 9, and had hoped to get 10 loaded tonight, but my mind isn’t working well. Aha, I though, write in the weblog instead.
This has been such a difficult book in more ways than one. The examples were huge and now, during editing, I have to find some way to cut them down to size; or at least trim that which shows in the book.
There are so many factors complicating the examples and the writing: cross-browser differences, quirks, IE, memory leaks, XHTML doctypes, IE, markup, CSS, JavaScript, etc etc IE etc. Then there are the issues of graceful degradation so that an application works with scripting turned off, making the code unobtrusive, and most importantly, making it accessible. Testing with JAWs, with Windows Eyes, not even sure how to use the applications.
The examples must also be exciting, fresh, innovative, and fun. Sparkly, hip, fashionable. Attractive, clean, impressive. Efficient and secure. Optimized and compartmentalized. Leave Web 2.0 in the dust of my passing.
I had a wonderful time with Chapter 8 and advanced CSS and SVG and Canvas–what a kick. I really like my database examples, and I think I’ve made some good, solid points throughout the book. I’ve touched on all the major components, demonstrated the major libraries, but provided most of the code. There’s booze in it, but no sex.
My biggest concern? I don’t write JavaScript like it’s Ruby.