Speaking JavaScript

Like it or not, JavaScript is everywhere these days―from browser to server to mobile―and now you, too, need to learn the language or dive deeper than you have. This concise book guides you into and through JavaScript, written by a veteran programmer who once found himself in the same position.

Speaking JavaScript helps you approach the language with four standalone sections. First, a quick-start guide teaches you just enough of the language to help you be productive right away. More experienced JavaScript programmers will find a complete and easy-to-read reference that covers each language feature in depth. Complete contents include:

• JavaScript quick start: Familiar with object-oriented programming? This part helps you learn JavaScript quickly and properly.
• JavaScript in depth: Learn details of ECMAScript 5, from syntax, variables, functions, and object-oriented programming to regular expressions and JSON with lots of examples. Pick a topic and jump in.
• Background: Understand JavaScript’s history and its relationship with other programming languages.
• Tips, tools, and libraries: Survey existing style guides, best practices, advanced techniques, module systems, package managers, build tools, and learning resources.

Dr. Axel Rauschmayer specializes in JavaScript and web technologies. He blogs at 2ality.com, teaches web development for ecmanauten.de, edits JavaScript Weekly and organizes Munich’s JavaScript user group (munichjs.de). Axel has been programming since 1985, developing web applications since 1995 and held his first talk on Ajax in 2006. In 1999, he was technical manager at a German internet startup that later expanded internationally. He has done extensive research into programming language design and has followed the state and future of JavaScript since its creation.