Eric Wendelin's Blog

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.

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A life hack reprograms your personal workflow to save you time and effort.

Gina Trapani’s Lifehacker book centers around this philosophy. Life is too precious to waste time doing some monotonous computing task. You must find ways to make your computer do more for you. This book outlines 10 main principles of being a lifehacker, organized into 88 life-hacks that range from taking great notes to accessing your personal wiki on your home computer from work:

Chapter 1: Free Up Mental RAM

Gina explains how to relieve your mind of the brambles of ideas, notes, and tasks so you can concentrate on the task at hand. My favorite tip here is using Flickr to develop your (Digital) photographic memory by taking pictures of signs with store hours, possible gifts, insurance photos, or items that will remind you of something you might need to do. A good lifehacker always has resources to write down ideas or a way to remind yourself
later - even in the bathroom.

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