How to Create Fluent Interfaces in JavaScript
Fluent interfaces (think chaining in jQuery) seem magical until you understand how they work. Creating chainable interfaces in JavaScript by Joshua Clanton takes a quick look at the simplicity of implementing a chainable interface.
Native equivalents of jQuery functions
Obviously native methods are faster because jQuery has to deal with older browsers and host of other things. I completely agree. That’s why this post is not meant at all to be anti-jQuery. But if you are able to target modern browsers in your work, using the native C++ methods provided by your browser will not-surprisingly give you a tremendous performance boost in most areas… I think there are many developers who don’t realize that most of the jQuery methods they use have native equivalents that require the same or only a slighter larger amount of code to use.
— Lee Brimelow
It’s certainly worth knowing what is natively available in JavaScript. Lee Brimelow has written a useful guide in a non-inflammatory tone which allows the message to be better heard. Also includes browser compatibility references.
Go to: Native equivalents of jQuery functions
Related posts:
I know jQuery, now what?
Why it’s time to sunset jQuery
How Good C# Habits can Encourage Bad JavaScript Habits
it is important that we as developers understand the language instead of just thinking that our previous language knowledge will get us by.
— Elijah Manor
Knowing one programming language paves the way for learning others but we still have to take the time to understand the idioms, nuances and best-practices of the language we are working in.
In How Good C# Habits can Encourage Bad JavaScript Habits : Part 1 : Enterprise jQuery Elijah Manor discusses some of the pitfalls of coming to JavaScript from C#.
5 Things You Should Stop Doing With jQuery
When I first started using jQuery, I was so excited. I was using vanilla JS and really struggling with understanding when elements on a page were ready and how I could access them… Some of the worst jQuery code ever written was written by me – I can assure you of that.
— Burke Holland
Some thoughts on writing jQuery that sucks less.
I know jQuery, now what?
My default starting position is no longer “include jQuery by default”. I understand more JavaScript and how things work. I have my own criteria for when to include jQuery, and when not to include jQuery. But if I don’t include jQuery, then what?— Remy Sharp
Along the same lines topically as Why it’s time to sunset jQuery. Remy Sharp has written a thoughtful and helpful post exploring his criteria for when to use and not use jQuery along with ways of handling tasks without jQuery.
Why Its Time to Sunset jQuery
In many ways thanks to jQuery, jQuery itself is no longer needed.
— Chris Love
As might have been expected, Chris Love’s article suggesting that maybe front-end developers don’t need jQuery as much as they think they do has stirred up a bit of controversy.
Read the article and the responses on Hacker News.
Promises & Deferreds in JavaScript pt.2
In part 2 I dive more into use cases, nuances and a thorough exploration of jQuery’s .then()
4 best JavaScript or JQuery books for beginners
There are a lot of JavaScript and Jquery books on the market at the moment. It’s hard to know which books to pick-up. Many of the books on the shelves are fine for learning the basic concepts but do not leave the reader with a deep knowledge of how the JavaScript works, best practices or tips that seasoned JavaScript programmers pick up along the way. After reading and reviewing countless books, 4 books stand out of the crowd if you want to start learning JavaScript or JQuery.
DOM Scripting
by Jeremy Keith and Jeffery Sambells
A great project oriented introduction to modern JavaScript practice applied to the Document Object Model (DOM). DOM Scripting is a great book for beginners. It starts with a thorough crash-course on the JavaScript language before moving into a series of projects including building a dynamic image gallery. Along the way, the authors cover important issues like cross-browser compatibility, graceful degradation and re-factoring code. For those who will use JavaScript primarily to add interactive elements to websites, the book is a good starting point that also feels rewarding as you complete the projects throughout the book.
Object Oriented Javascript: Create scalable and reusable high-quality JavaScript applications and libraries
by Stoyan Stefanov
This is my all time favorite Javascript book for beginners as well as intermediate programmers. Object Oriented JavaScript is highly interactive, teaching code through practice. The approach in Object Oriented Javascript is not through doing projects but through active experimentation and exploration of the nuances of JavaScript. If you’re looking to have a strong understanding of the how’s and why’s of JavaScript, this book is a great place to begin or a follow-up to working through DOM Scripting.
Javascript: The Good Parts
by Douglas Crockford
Javascript: The Good Parts is not a book for beginners. I include it in the list because it is a must-read for anybody looking to further their understanding and practice of JavaScript. I recommend reading it topically alongside one of the other beginning books. Author, Douglas Crockford is widely regarded as the JavaScript expert by many in the JavaScript community. In JavaScript: The Good Parts, Crockford focuses on imparting wisdom and best practices for working with JavaScript. If you want to write efficient scalable and maintainable code, this is the book to read.
Learning JQuery
by Jonathan Chaffer and Karl Swedberg
Learning JQuery is the most beginner friendly and in-depth book covering the core concepts of JQuery that I have read. No prior knowledge of JQuery or JavaScript is necessary (although some familiarity with JavaScript is helpful). Throughout the book attention is paid to imparting best practices that will improve your code quality even if you already have some knowledge of JQuery or JavaScript.
See also my follow up post: JavaScript books to take your skills to the next level.
