Suggestions for JavaScript JumpStart

[tedster]

First of all, thanks to my fellow moderator korkus2000 for writing up the first installment of JavaScript JumpStart [webmasterworld.com]. Nicely done!

The idea is to explore situations where JavaScript is often used, and to give you the tools to customize your basic scripts. Form validation with javascript [webmasterworld.com] is the opening thread - a situation that comes up on a great many sites. I know that I never formally studied javascript and I'll bet many members are in the same boat -- we'd like to customize a script for our site, but it can seem so overwhelming. Well, it doesn't need to be.

What other javascript topics would members like to learn more about?

No promises about if or when -- this is free labor here, after all ;) But knowing what's on your mind will help direct future intallments.

You can also find javascript help in our Generic Javascript [webmasterworld.com] thread.

[BlobFisk]

How about something on regular expressions in JavaScript?

[korkus2000]

We have had many threads about basic javascript problems. I know many here are experts at javascript, but I know others have never touched it. So do people who don't know javascript feel that it is fine to just use the WYSIWYGs javascript? Do people feel javascript is not important anymore because of server-side scripting?

[jatar_k]

I will say that I still write all my own js and think it is as important as the scripting (well, almost). They are all pieces of the puzzle.

Content, HTML, JS, PHP, Graphics CSS, etc are all needed to make a site. Each has its own part to play. I don't need to script something that js could do better, right tool for every job.

What about basic event handling as a topic?

What's a WYSIWYG?;)

[BlobFisk]

Do people feel javascript is not important anymore because of server-side scripting?

Server side scripting is very important, but it is just that - a script that executes on the server. When it comes to the client side, JavaScript is without equal (I know that I'm being dismissive of VBScript, but I think that due to compatibility issues, JavaScript is the one true solution).

You can't handle real time events and real time interactivity with a server side script - you need a client side script.

As for off-the-shelf code, it's great, but in order to customise a script you need to understand the technology. A lot of the free for use script are hugely bloated due to the need for ease of use (for example the dHTML menu scripts).

[txbakers]

I'll ditto BlobFisk above. You need to have both solutions available - client and server.

There's no reason to send a request to the server only to return it because a field is left blank, or a person only put 6 digits where 9 were required. Those can be trapped faster client side.

Locales are another reason to use client side scripts. Today's date and current time are not the same on my server as they are on the client machine.