Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

If (like me) your an experienced web developer who is comfortable with using JavaScript/jQuery and are wanting a book that will help you move your JavaScript skills into application development, then this is the one for you.

My one (small) gripe is that I was particularly interested in Backbone.js so would have liked a larger chapter with more worked examples - hopefully someone out there is working on a dedicated backbone.js book. other than that it's very good, and is one of the few JavaScript books I've read in a long time that I felt has taught me something that is both new and useful.

Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

The best javascript book I've read. The book doens´t focuses in the language sintax, but how to leverage the language to build full web applications. Congratulations

Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

I acquired the book because I wanted to learn more Backbone.js; the framework's docs and an example app weren't doing it for me.

The book's chapter on Backbon was well written and it made sense to me. It explained the MVC framework followed by an example using it. I prefer examples that teach so I wasn't thrilled, but it was well done so I'm just being prejudicial. The framework's reference section didn't bug me like they usually do because the author was brief and highlighted the important parts rather then every detail.

Getting the book I knew other parts of the book would be useful too. While reading the Backbone chapter I found I need to read the sections on AJAX URLs and templates too.

Received this as part of the blogger program.

Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

This book is a great introduction to serious Javascript programming. It's perfect to take you from knowing some Javascript to knowing everything you need (techniques, tips, day-to-day practical problems, libraries) to create maintainable, efficient Javascript applications.

It's probably also a good book if you don't really "get" Javascript (eg. if you think that Javascript is a limited, annoying language) and need to be shown how it can be used effectively in real, complex applications. Probably not a book for you if you have been writing complex Javascript applications for years, but I'm sure you could still learn something from it.

The book uses the MVC pattern for all the code and examples (the book is full of them). Some parts were pretty demanding for the reader, as you have to read and understand a lot of code.

I got this book as part of the O'Reilly Blogger Review Program.

Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

A more accurate name for this book might have been "JavaScript for Ruby on Rails developers". The author is very focused on ORM and MVC in JavaScript. There is some good information in here concerning language elements in general and some specific issues like cross origin requests, local storage, templates, Node.js, testing and deployment considerations. Some insightful commentary on the current state of JavaScript. So if you love Ruby and Active Record and are making the move to JavaScript you will find lots of familiar concepts reflected in a new language. If Ruby on Rails is not your thing, I can't recommend this one because all the examples are bent toward implementing Active Record and MVC.

Comments about O'Reilly Media JavaScript Web Applications:

The book is very readable and easy to follow. I hope when it is finalized it will include sample files illustrating the ideas! (there never seems to be any reference to accompanying files in the book).