What about creating a book about Javascript?

[orion_rus]

I think this is a good idea because i see only one book which is good and written with by proffessional. But if we can get together we can make good thing i think.
What are u thinking about it?

[Bernard Marx]

Yes..but No!

I bought 3 books on Javascript. The first I kept by my bed because of it's superior ability to make me feel sleepy. I never finished it, and didn't have a clue about scripting until I tried the second book.

There are some really good ones out there, and perhaps there should be another. I have a strong feeling about where all the literature goes wrong. This comes from my own stumbling pattern, and is strengthened by knocking around at WebmasterWorld.

I feel that not enough emphasis is placed on (and I made these numbers up):

- The 10 JS/DHTML mistakes that ALL newbies make, which only get sorted out at Javascript forums after they've been made.

- The 5 features of Javascript that make it flexible and interesting.

If I was given the task of teaching someone Javascript from scratch, I would actually avoid browsers completely until lesson 7. Assuming Windows is provided, I'd have everything done with a decent text editor (Textpad, HTMLKit,..) that can hook up directly with WScript and CScript. None of that "save - switch to browser - refresh;...", which gets so tedious, and discourages experimentation.

I'd do this because I feel that 'pure' Javascript is actually pretty easy, especially if there isn't a browser's DOM to confuse things. Once 'pure 'Javascript is mastered you have the tools to take on browser programming (mastery of which, most people will agree, is impossible!).

Thing is, you can't sell books like that. Javascript books are either aimed at programmers experienced in other languages, or are aimed at the "image rollovers in one hour" market.

Yet the biggest reason for my negative reaction is simply that the market for Javascript books is totally flooded.

[edited by: Bernard_Marx at 10:17 pm (utc) on Feb. 1, 2005]

[lZakl]

Thumbs up post Bernard... I agree! Also, once people have read 3 JS books, they WILL be reluctant to try another... So even IF the market had not been flooded... well... I feel the best way to learn JS is trial & error and forums like this one. All of the JS books out there that I've tried (that would be 5) were cmplete cr@p. So I surfed and taught myself.

-- Zak

[orion_rus]

I think there is nothing impossible, in Russia some other situation. It's not more then 7-8 different books, and they are poor(. Great only 1 book by oreily edition.
And where do u see a problem about selling it? U give it to an any edition, they took or leave it) i think if a book would be good they take it. Am i wrong?

[Bernard Marx]

Found this today: www.lucstokes.com/

Have a listen to his to his recorded message.
What a nice young man.

[orion_rus]

Yes Bernard he is a good man) But he trying).
May be we can write a message to any edition? i think they agree to take a book if we write idenctical message.
Let's do it?)