JavaScript: The Definitive Guide
by David Flanagan
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Book Reviews of JavaScript: The Definitive Guide
Book Review: Latest edition of this guide
Summary: 5 Stars
The last time I bought this was the Second Edition. Boy, a lot has changed since then!
I've mostly avoided Javascript because of platform compatibility issues. These aren't entirely gone now, but it certainly has gotten bette, and this book shows how to get around what remains.
I liked the "no-fluff" writing. David Flanagan covers everything concisely - some reviewers here have complained about lack of examples, but I felt that those given were sufficient.
The basic structure is as it was before (language overview in part I, client side use in browsers in part II) but many subjects have been expanded and there are entire new chapters.
Definitely definitive :-)
Book Review: The book is aptly named!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to agree with the bulk of the reviews that I've read about this book: it IS the DEFINITIVE guide to Javascript. I'm just learning Javascript, and I bought another book that was an overly gentle introduction to Javascript (since I've been programming for quite some time), and after I went through that one and another one, I finally bought this one, and I half expected that it would be a little bit hard to chew at this point in my Javascript learning curve: not so! There are very very few typos (I spotted a couple in the first 150 pages), and the author explains everything very very clearly. I could scarcely be happier with this book than I am.
(This review concerns the new 5th edition.)
Book Review: Maturity of the language itself
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first started programming javascript that lasted only a week or so (this was around 2000), the trouble I had with it was with the loose typing and the generality of the language. After reading the core portion of this book, I got to see the advantages and power of what I had problems with. It only took me 12 hours to go from literally clueless to semi-proficient. It also helped that I went through a whole semester of software design in C++. Another subtle part of the book that you do not need to have a semester of software design to learn the language, the author does well to explain the material well. If you are new to javascript, I'd probably get another book to go along with this.Book Review: Excellent book
Summary: 5 Stars
Eventhough I just bought the book and I'm read first few chapters this book is very well structured, a good companion, definitely a book that one must have if you're planning to work on client side.
It is divided clearly into chapters (so you know exactly what is going) easy to follow and as well easy to jump whenever you feel that you need something in particular at later stage.
Concise writing (I don't like some authors that spend more time on writing about what they do on the weekends rather that on topic), it is 5th edition this clearly shows how long this book has lasted a clear evidence of quality.
I like in general books from O'Rielly.
Book Review: Good book.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is I believe the best book about basic Javascript on the market right now.
Pros: Technically complete, solid writing style, understandable examples, no better intro books on the market.
Cons: Authors repeatedly show that they prefer class-based object systems, which Javascript is not. Authors do not effectively teach advanced Javascript prototype-based object usage and in fact seem to view it as a nuisance to be avoided. Authors don't regularly use closures except in section on closures.
I would recommend following this book up with "Javascript: The Good Parts" and making sure you fully grok how to use closures to avoid namespace pollution.