tag : how to

JavaScript

Scalable JavaScript Applications

JavaScript applications continue to grow as the web grows. We’re all learning that using application frameworks, such Backbone.js, Ember, Knockout, AngularJS, and countless others, but do these frameworks offer everything that we need? According to some very smart JavaScript programmers, there’s still a little more needed if you want a truly scalable JavaScript application.

JavaScript

Impressive Presentations With Impress.js and Extensions

Recently, there have been numerous JavaScript libraries released that make creating presentations in the web browser _somewhat_simple, and many geeks are jumping on the chance to depend less on Microsoft and start using their web development skills in new domains. This is an introduction to one of those libraries and a demonstration on how to extend it to make your job as a presenter even easier.

JavaScript

Making a Node.js Command-Line Utility

Today, we’re going to cover how to turn your Node.js script into a native command-line utility, and then how to share it with the world using NPM (Node Package Manager). In the video, I’m using the trial-and-error approach to show you everything that is required and show the errors you might encounter along the way if you forget a step. It’s actually quite simple.

JavaScript

Automatic Minification With Node.js and RequireJS

Last time we talked about how to use NPM and some of the command line utilities that you can install that are built using Node.js. Today, we’re actually going to build a small command line utility ourselves that can be a bit of a time saver. We’re going to use the RequireJS optimizer to automatically concatenate and minify our CSS files the moment any of them are changed.

JavaScript

Node.js for True Beginners

I remember trying to get into starting with Node.js months ago and, to be frank, it wasn’t the simplest process. Installation was a hassle, and pretty much required the use of a Linux of Mac computer. Now, Node.js has evolved to the point where just about anyone can get started using Node.js (maybe not my grandparents, but they don’t even have a computer). Let’s get started!

JavaScript

Backbone Application Walkthrough Part 5: RequireJS - Video Tutorial

Finally! We’ve made it to the end of the Backbone.js Application Walkthrough video tutorial series. In this final video, we make few small adjustments for the sake of organization and a bunch of other changes that convert the application to work using RequireJS. Almost every file gets touched in this video, but each only receives minor changes in order to create an overall major change in modularity and optimization.

JavaScript

Backbone Application Walkthrough Part 4: It Lives! - Video Tutorial

We’ve made it to part 4 of this Backbone application walkthrough series. This time we finally get the app to do something worthwhile… like work! The application finally lives as we implement the router and hit the “GO” button. Check out the power of the router and don’t forget that just because it’s running, does not mean we’re done. The next and final video in this series converts the application to work with AMD and RequireJS.

JavaScript

Backbone.js Application Walkthrough Part 3: New View and External Templating – Video Tutorial

Moving on to part 3 of the Backbone Application Walkthrough video series, we work on moving all of the templates to external files to reduce the dependency on the templates being included in the index.html file and so that they might become available if we use these views on different pages. Also, I added an extra view that wasn’t in the original application because, as you’ll see in the video, it makes things a little nicer.

JavaScript

Backbone.js Application Walkthrough Part 2: Views and Templates – Video Tutorial

We’re moving right along in our video series of tutorials walking you through the process of writing a Backbone.js application. Today we cover the views and embedded templates. There are a number of views here, all pulling from the same models and collections of wine. You’ll see each view, what it’s for, and how it works its magic. Click on through for this long look at Backbone.js views and templates.

JavaScript

Backbone.js Application Walkthrough Part 1: HTML and Models - Video Tutorial

The day everyone has long been waiting for has finally arrived. I’ve just started the first part of a series of posts walking through how to build an actual application using the Backbone.js JavaScript MVC framework. With this first piece of the puzzle I cover the structure of the application and get you started with some HTML plus the model and collection JavaScript code. Let’s take a look!