I took a fair amount of time looking at data structures and algorithms while I was studying for my interviews with Google, and based on informed suggestions from Steve Yegge’s infamous post, I decided to buy The Algorithm Design Manual by Steven S. Skiena.

If you don’t care to read my ramblings about this book, here’s a summary: Buy this book if you do ANY serious programming.

What makes The Algorithm Design Manual

2 main reasons I make this blatantly positive assessment:

1. The first several chapters are dedicated to the basics of data structures and common problems involving algorithms. This is obviously not a unique feature, but what is unique are the “war stories” from actual field work. The stories include discussion about the failure cases and how Skiena went about solving problems he encountered. This alone is enough to make this book worthwhile.
2. Chapters 11-18 are a giant catalogue of algorithmic problems. Again, not a unique trait. However, not only does Skiena describe the basic approaches to solving each type of problem, he includes links to different implementations of in-the-field optimized solutions. He also brings up questions you should ask yourself when choosing an implementation.

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I have liked the works of Jacob Gube of Six Revisions and Garrick Cheung of the MooTools Community Team, so when Packt Publishing wanted me to review their book, I accepted.

I hope authors, as well as readers, will gain some insights. Here is my review of MooTools 1.2 Beginner’s Guide.
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Peter-Paul Koch explains how to create beautiful JavaScript and shows you how to combine it with proper HTML and CSS for the best web experience in ppk on JavaScript. Here is my review.

The structure of this book

ppk begins with a brief history of JavaScript and explains the “fat and thin” JavaScript cycle. I would agree with him on that we are in a fattening state right now, but I think the tides will turn soon (my guess is before 2010).

Then ppk gives a basic overview of accessibility (which he adds to later) before introducing us to the 8 real world scripts used as examples in this book:

• Textarea Maxlength
• Usable Forms
• Form Validation
• Dropdown Menu
• Edit Style Sheets
• Sandwich Picker
• XMLHTTP Speed Meter
• Site Survey

We then see chapters on browsers, how to prepare your markup for good JavaScript and a series of chapters that use his examples heavily giving light on several very diverse topics of JavaScript. Continue reading →