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Notes from previous [[Frontend Web Development]] classes.
Notes from previous [[Front-end Web Development]] classes.


==== Class for 2013-04-01: Preprocessors ====
==== Class for 2014-04-14: version control (Git) and the command line ====
This class expanded upon the topic of backend web apps by talking about preprocessor languages - languages which compile into HTML, CSS, or JS. We'd taken a look at PHP and ERB, but we also walked through languages that look nothing like HTML (HAML), and languages that compile into CSS (Less, Sass + Compass) and JS (CoffeeScript). These languages can make your life much easier as they help keep you from repeating yourself (DRY!).
This class is a general overview on version control and the command line. I've taught how to use an FTP client to upload files to the web, but the truth is that most developers don't do that anymore - rather, they collaborate with their peers by using version control systems, which allows them to keep track of their work in a reliable fashion and push it to the web.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVjD2JEoMPo Lecture video]'''<br>
Again, this class isn't about web development per se - it's just an important introduction to using the command line to work with Git, one of the most popular version control systems. Everyone will create their own fork of a repository and check in their work.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class21/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-03-25: Backend web development ====
There is no recap period for this class.
This class was all about the seedy underbelly of web development: the backend!


I know we already have a [[Backend_web_dev_in_Ruby_on_Rails|backend class here at Noisebridge]], but this one was tailored toward frontend developers wanting to get a taste of how things come together. We spent the first half talking about PHP, then moved onto a Rails, a more complex example.
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gyokfBklfI Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class18/shell-cheatsheet.txt Lecture materials]'''


Here are the steps used for class preparation:
==== Class for 2014-04-07: The mobile web ====
We'll take [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class17/blog.zip this blog] and turn it into a mobile-accessible website via the use of media queries. We'll also talk about the rest of the world of the mobile web: user agent strings (and why you shouldn't trust them), frameworks like jQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch (and why they're not perfect), and the future of HTML5/CSS3 in mobile website and app development.


----
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-jU1ALAayA Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class17/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


===== THE EASY WAY: =====
==== Class for 2014-03-31: CSS3 ====
If you would like to follow along and are on Windows or OS X, the easiest option is to run a virtual machine:
We've covered CSS3 before, but in the context of a mockup. We'll look further into CSS3 with a demonstration of what the new technologies are, how to make the most of them, and how to make sites using CSS3 look good in less capable browsers.
* Install [https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads VirtualBox AND the Extension Pack]
* [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class20/Ubuntu.ova Download this preconfigured Ubuntu virtual machine (1.82GB)]
* Double-click the .ova file. You might want to check the "reinitialize the MAC address" step.
* Start the machine after installation and you're all set!
* System username and password are both "frontend". Feel free to change them if that's uncomfortable.


===== THE HARDER WAY: =====
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZx1h-9YYXA Lecture video]'''<br>
If you don't want to use a virtual machine. I haven't tried these myself, so I can't profess as to how easy or hard it is.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class16/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


On Linux, you'll need to follow these steps:
==== Class for 2014-03-24: HTML5 elements ====
* http://ryanbigg.com/2010/12/ubuntu-ruby-rvm-rails-and-you/
We'll take an entertaining (in my opinion) look through [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class15/html.zip this page containing every currently valid HTML element]. Many of them are considered "HTML5" elements, but that's just because they're relatively new.
* https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ApacheMySQLPHP


On Windows or Mac OS X:
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjtkKkZEAbQ Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class15/html.zip Lecture materials]'''


* Start with RailsInstaller: http://railsinstaller.org/
==== Class for 2014-03-17: Sign-up forms ====
* And for PHP:
We'll continue working on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class13/lecture.zip our site] and add a sign-up form, with validation, inside the modal. We'll learn about built-in HTML5 validation, but also use the [http://jqueryvalidation.org/ jQuery Validation plugin] to help us where browser support is necessary.
** Mac: http://www.mamp.info/en/index.html
** Windows: http://www.wampserver.com/en/


===== THE HARDEST WAY: =====
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHmOcayp24 Lecture video]'''<br>
Install Apache, PHP, RVM, Ruby, and Rails individually. Good luck!
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class14/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


----
==== Class for 2014-03-10: Modals and menus ====
We'll go back to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class6/noiseco.zip "professional" site we put together a number of weeks ago] and add more functionality to it with some jQuery plugins. We'll first make a dialog box - or a "modal" - pop up when you click the sign up buttons. We'll do this by introducing [http://jqueryui.com/ jQuery UI] to make common user controls easier to create. We'll also compare our CSS-only menu with one made with the help of jQuery, explaining the differences between the two.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR7O8r8vU-c Lecture video]'''
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqqCLlciWtc Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class13/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-03-18: Version control (Git) and the command line ====
==== Class for 2014-03-03: AJAX ====
This class was a general overview on version control and the command line. I'd taught how to use an FTP client to upload files to the web, but the truth is that most developers don't do that anymore - rather, they collaborate with their peers by using version control systems, which allows them to keep track of their work in a reliable fashion and push it to the web.
We'll talk about Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a technology that allows us to talk to a server without leaving the page. jQuery makes this extremely easy. We'll add AJAX functionality to [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class11/lecture.zip our app we've been building on]. We'll use this [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class12/tweet.php.zip PHP file] to test it out.


Again, this class wasn't about web development per se - it was just an important introduction to using the command line to work with Git, one of the most popular version control systems. Everyone created their own repository and checked in their work.
If you don't already have web hosting, please sign up for some at [https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net/ NearlyFreeSpeech.NET] for free (or very cheap). Also, install the [https://filezilla-project.org/ FileZilla Client].


We signed up for a free account at [https://github.com/ GitHub] and installed [http://git-scm.com/ Git]. Those on Windows installed [http://msysgit.github.com/ Git for Windows] (all default options are fine).
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmwfupfKztk Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class12/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''No video for this class :('''<br>
==== Class for 2014-02-24: jQuery, cont'd ====
'''[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/frontend_example The repository we created]'''
We'll continue learning about jQuery by focusing on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class10/lecture.zip the example we saw last class]. We'll add functionality to it that made it seem more like the real thing.


==== Class for 2013-03-11: Old vs. new: progressive enhancement and browser testing ====
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eikIkAlVNlM Lecture video]'''<br>
We talked about progressive enhancement - a practice where websites are created in a layered way that makes them accessible and cross-browser friendly. We looked at [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class19/sites.zip two versions of an example site] and demonstrated how one is outdated, and the other adheres to progressive enhancement principles. We've touched on these concepts throughout the whole class, but in this class we focused on why they're important, and what could happen if you DON'T adhere to them.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class11/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


This segued nicely into a talk about browser testing - how to do it and what to look out for.
==== Class for 2014-02-10: jQuery ====
We'll introduce jQuery, a JavaScript library that makes web programming a whole lot easier. jQuery is the most popular of many libraries that allow us to interact with the document easily, while also providing us with a few tools that are missing from the base language.


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vtsFku4ang Lecture video]'''<br>
To learn what jQuery can do, we'll add some scripting to [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class10/assets.zip this sample web app].
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class19/sites.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-03-04: CSS3 ====
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvNAepROnes Lecture video]'''<br>
We've covered CSS3 before, but in the context of a mockup. We went further into CSS3 with a demonstration of what the new technologies are, how to make the most of them, and how to make sites using them look good in less capable browsers.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class10/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP1nxrI_3WU Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2014-02-03: JavaScript, cont'd ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class18/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
We'll continue discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.


==== Class for 2013-02-25: Mobile websites ====
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHcmLkhMkhA Lecture video]'''<br>
We took [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class17/blog.zip this blog] and turned it into a mobile-accessible website via the use of media queries. We also talked about the rest of the world of the mobile web: user agent strings, frameworks like jQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch, and the future of HTML5/CSS3 in mobile website and app development.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class9/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjEJrNgrJVw Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2014-01-27: JavaScript ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class17/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
We'll talk about JavaScript: making web pages interactive through client-side code. We'll use the console, which is part of the browser's developer tools, to demonstrate the basics of the language. This and next week's class can be treated as a general introduction to programming.


==== Class for 2013-02-11: HTML5 elements ====
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqTmmhEj8k Lecture video]'''<br>
We took an entertaining (in my opinion) look through [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class16/html.zip this page containing every currently valid HTML element]. Many of them are considered "HTML5", but that's just because they're new.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class8/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or9Y1facTtc Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2014-01-20: HTTP & SFTP ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class16/html.zip Lecture materials]'''
We'll talk about file transfer: HTTP, which is the method of getting and sending information in the web browser, and SFTP, which is a method of securely uploading files to a web host.


==== Class for 2013-02-04: More useful jQuery plugins ====
We'll set up free web hosting accounts at [https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net NearlyFreeSpeech.NET], and upload to them using [http://filezilla-project.org the FileZilla client].
Our final jQuery-focused class touched on a number of other common plugins that are found in the wild. We took a closer look at Bootstrap and jQuery UI, and looked at plugins that make your page look super snazzy:
* [http://jqueryui.com/demos/datepicker/ Datepicker (jQuery UI)] - fancy datepickers appearing near your input fields
* [http://jqueryui.com/demos/accordion/ Accordion (jQuery UI)] - collapse and unfold lists of elements
* [http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/javascript.html#scrollspy Scrollspy (Bootstrap)] - change navs to highlight where you are scrolled on a page
* [http://jquery.malsup.com/cycle/ Cycle] - make easy slideshows
* [http://harvesthq.github.com/chosen/ Chosen] - style dropdowns


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35CJx9lkGyE Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8rpnf_BHxE Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class15/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class7/lecture.txt Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-01-28: Sign-up forms ====
==== Class for 2014-01-13: Working from professional mockups, cont'd ====
We continued working on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class13/lecture.zip our site] and added a sign-up form, with validation, inside the modal. We used the [http://bassistance.de/jquery-plugins/jquery-plugin-validation/ jQuery Validation plugin]. This is a very common request from clients and it comes in handy to know all the tips and tricks of forms and validation, and what new HTML5 elements can provide.
We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the CSS box model, floats, and positioning, and work off of [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup.png this mockup] and its [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup_annotations.png annotated version] to make a site that could pass as a professional design (but don't take my word for it). [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/assets.zip Image assets can be found here].


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tv6uPMmQNY Lecture video]'''<br>
We didn't exactly finish, but I went ahead and put on the finishing touches. [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class6/noiseco The final product can be found here] (but where we left off can be found in the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class6/lecture.zip lecture materials]).
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class14/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-01-14: Menus and modals ====
'''No video for this class. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMeTFrR1rtA Try last series's video.]'''<br>
We went back to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class13/noiseco.zip "professional" site we'd put together a number of weeks ago] and added more functionality to it with some jQuery plugins. We first made a dialog box - or a "modal" - pop up when you click the sign up buttons. We did this by introducing [http://jqueryui.com/ jQuery UI] to make common web development tasks easier. We also add some dropdown functionality to our menus using pure CSS, but this can be done using jQuery UI or [http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/ Bootstrap] as well.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class6/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''No video for this class. :('''<br>
==== Class for 2014-01-06: Working from professional mockups ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class13/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the CSS box model, floats, and positioning, and work off of [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup.png this mockup] and its [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup_annotations.png annotated version] to make a site that could pass as a professional design (but don't take my word for it). [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/assets.zip Image assets can be found here].


==== Class for 2013-01-07: AJAX ====
'''No video for this class. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y6MxRAPfLs Try last series's video.]'''<br>
We talked about Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a technology that allows us to talk to a server without leaving the page. jQuery makes this extremely easy. We added AJAX functionality to [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class10/lecture.zip our app we've been building on]. We used this [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class9/tweet.php.zip PHP file] to test it out.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class5/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS-uoDnslh8 Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2013-12-09: CSS positioning ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class12/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
In the last few classes, we've focused on element measurements and floats. This time, we'll focus on positioning of elements: spacing them out from other elements using margins, and using absolute, relative, or fixed positioning to put the elements anywhere we want on the whole page.


==== Class for 2012-12-17: File transfer ====
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q453KMiCC2s Lecture video]'''<br>
We talked about file transfer - not only uploading files using FTP, but using the web browser to get and send information via forms and other methods (an overall talk about HTTP GET/POST).
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class4/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


We downloaded and installed [http://filezilla-project.org FileZilla] and signed up for a [https://nearlyfreespeech.net NearlyFreeSpeech.NET] hosting account.
==== Class for 2013-12-02: CSS floats ====
Floating is the secret sauce behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's aligned to the left or right. We'll learn about floats by taking a look at some examples, then take a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class4/mockup.png mockup] and create a site from it.


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohL0FRC9us8 Lecture video]'''<br>
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class3/answersheet.zip The site's final code (not finished in class) is here.]
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class11/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2012-12-10: jQuery, cont'd ====
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_U7YZzbW0 Lecture video]'''<br>
We continued learning about jQuery by focusing on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class5/answer%20sheet.zip the example we saw last week]. We're added functionality to it that made it seem more like the real thing.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class3/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMKdZ0IlD48 Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2013-11-18: CSS selectors and the box model ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class10/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
CSS selectors are probably the most complex part of the CSS language, so we'll look at them further in-depth. We'll also talk about the box model, the display concept that makes words and containers on the web look like they do.


==== Class for 2012-12-03: jQuery ====
'''No video for this class. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqQph1vry7A Try last series's video.]'''<br>
We introduced jQuery, a JavaScript library that makes web programming a whole lot easier.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class2/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


'''No video for this class. :('''<br>
==== Class for 2013-11-11: the basics ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class9/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
<span style="color:green">'''THIS is the class to attend if you are a complete beginner!'''</span> We are starting the curriculum of this class from square one. We'll cover the very basics:
 
* Explaining "front-end" vs. "back-end"
==== Class for 2012-11-26: JavaScript, cont'd ====
We continued discussed JavaScript basics: arrays, iterators, loops, creating functions, and the debugger.
 
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_4Z33l0lnY Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class8/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-11-12: JavaScript ====
We talked about JavaScript: making webpages interactive through client-side code. We used the console, which is part of the browser's developer tools, to demonstrate the basics of the language.
 
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP6_pd25-Ps Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class7/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-11-05: Working from professional mockups, cont'd ====
We continued putting our professional-looking site together from [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class5/lecture.zip where we left off].
 
As a reminder, here is the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup.png mockup] and its [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup_annotations.png annotated version]. [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/assets.zip Image assets can be found here].
 
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class11/index.html Here is the code that the mockup was based off of] - a good way to check your work. It might differ slightly from what we did in class.
 
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvC4ZLFpbtE Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class6/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-10-22: Working from professional mockups ====
We worked off of [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup.png this mockup] and its [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup_annotations.png annotated version] to make a site that could pass as a professional design (but don't take my word for it). [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/assets.zip Image assets can be found here].
 
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to3-VjUPU64 Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class5/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-10-15: CSS floats ====
Floating is the secret sauce behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's aligned to the left or right. We learned about floats by taking a look at some examples, then took a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class4/mockup.png mockup] and created a site from it.
 
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJeN9P8x1VE Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class4/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-10-08: CSS positioning ====
We focused on positioning of elements: spacing them out from other elements using margins, positioning them absolutely on the page, positioning them relatively, fixed and more.
 
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTL_YDz3zmo Lecture video]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class3/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-10-01: CSS selectors and the box model ====
CSS selectors are probably the most complex part of the CSS language, so we looked at them further in-depth. We also talked about the box model, the display concept that makes words and containers on the web look like they do.
 
'''No video for this class. :('''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class2/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
 
==== Class for 2012-09-24: the basics ====
We covered the very basics:
* Explaining "frontend" vs. "backend"
* Discussing tools of the trade
* Discussing tools of the trade
* Explaining the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
* Explaining the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
* Writing a basic HTML page
* Writing a basic HTML page
* Styling the page with basic CSS
* Styling the page with basic CSS
* Explaining the role of frontend web development as a job and career
* Explaining the role of front-end web development as a job and career
 
No recap session for this class. Please show up '''promptly''' at or before 8pm, as physical space is limited. Bring a laptop!
 
P.S. This might be the last series I teach for a while. I might take a longer break after the end of the series (in about 6 months). We'll see. But if you've been meaning to attend, this is your chance!


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r87aEOpelzQ Lecture video]'''<br>
'''No video for this class. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmDCjhCuNtU Try last series's video.]'''<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series3/class1/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series5/class1/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


----
----


[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Notes archive]]
[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Notes archive]]

Revision as of 10:34, 16 April 2014

Notes from previous Front-end Web Development classes.

Class for 2014-04-14: version control (Git) and the command line

This class is a general overview on version control and the command line. I've taught how to use an FTP client to upload files to the web, but the truth is that most developers don't do that anymore - rather, they collaborate with their peers by using version control systems, which allows them to keep track of their work in a reliable fashion and push it to the web.

Again, this class isn't about web development per se - it's just an important introduction to using the command line to work with Git, one of the most popular version control systems. Everyone will create their own fork of a repository and check in their work.

There is no recap period for this class.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-04-07: The mobile web

We'll take this blog and turn it into a mobile-accessible website via the use of media queries. We'll also talk about the rest of the world of the mobile web: user agent strings (and why you shouldn't trust them), frameworks like jQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch (and why they're not perfect), and the future of HTML5/CSS3 in mobile website and app development.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-03-31: CSS3

We've covered CSS3 before, but in the context of a mockup. We'll look further into CSS3 with a demonstration of what the new technologies are, how to make the most of them, and how to make sites using CSS3 look good in less capable browsers.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-03-24: HTML5 elements

We'll take an entertaining (in my opinion) look through this page containing every currently valid HTML element. Many of them are considered "HTML5" elements, but that's just because they're relatively new.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-03-17: Sign-up forms

We'll continue working on our site and add a sign-up form, with validation, inside the modal. We'll learn about built-in HTML5 validation, but also use the jQuery Validation plugin to help us where browser support is necessary.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-03-10: Modals and menus

We'll go back to the "professional" site we put together a number of weeks ago and add more functionality to it with some jQuery plugins. We'll first make a dialog box - or a "modal" - pop up when you click the sign up buttons. We'll do this by introducing jQuery UI to make common user controls easier to create. We'll also compare our CSS-only menu with one made with the help of jQuery, explaining the differences between the two.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-03-03: AJAX

We'll talk about Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, a technology that allows us to talk to a server without leaving the page. jQuery makes this extremely easy. We'll add AJAX functionality to our app we've been building on. We'll use this PHP file to test it out.

If you don't already have web hosting, please sign up for some at NearlyFreeSpeech.NET for free (or very cheap). Also, install the FileZilla Client.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-02-24: jQuery, cont'd

We'll continue learning about jQuery by focusing on the example we saw last class. We'll add functionality to it that made it seem more like the real thing.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-02-10: jQuery

We'll introduce jQuery, a JavaScript library that makes web programming a whole lot easier. jQuery is the most popular of many libraries that allow us to interact with the document easily, while also providing us with a few tools that are missing from the base language.

To learn what jQuery can do, we'll add some scripting to this sample web app.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-02-03: JavaScript, cont'd

We'll continue discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-01-27: JavaScript

We'll talk about JavaScript: making web pages interactive through client-side code. We'll use the console, which is part of the browser's developer tools, to demonstrate the basics of the language. This and next week's class can be treated as a general introduction to programming.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-01-20: HTTP & SFTP

We'll talk about file transfer: HTTP, which is the method of getting and sending information in the web browser, and SFTP, which is a method of securely uploading files to a web host.

We'll set up free web hosting accounts at NearlyFreeSpeech.NET, and upload to them using the FileZilla client.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-01-13: Working from professional mockups, cont'd

We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the CSS box model, floats, and positioning, and work off of this mockup and its annotated version to make a site that could pass as a professional design (but don't take my word for it). Image assets can be found here.

We didn't exactly finish, but I went ahead and put on the finishing touches. The final product can be found here (but where we left off can be found in the lecture materials).

No video for this class. Try last series's video.
Lecture materials

Class for 2014-01-06: Working from professional mockups

We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the CSS box model, floats, and positioning, and work off of this mockup and its annotated version to make a site that could pass as a professional design (but don't take my word for it). Image assets can be found here.

No video for this class. Try last series's video.
Lecture materials

Class for 2013-12-09: CSS positioning

In the last few classes, we've focused on element measurements and floats. This time, we'll focus on positioning of elements: spacing them out from other elements using margins, and using absolute, relative, or fixed positioning to put the elements anywhere we want on the whole page.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2013-12-02: CSS floats

Floating is the secret sauce behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's aligned to the left or right. We'll learn about floats by taking a look at some examples, then take a mockup and create a site from it.

The site's final code (not finished in class) is here.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2013-11-18: CSS selectors and the box model

CSS selectors are probably the most complex part of the CSS language, so we'll look at them further in-depth. We'll also talk about the box model, the display concept that makes words and containers on the web look like they do.

No video for this class. Try last series's video.
Lecture materials

Class for 2013-11-11: the basics

THIS is the class to attend if you are a complete beginner! We are starting the curriculum of this class from square one. We'll cover the very basics:

  • Explaining "front-end" vs. "back-end"
  • Discussing tools of the trade
  • Explaining the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
  • Writing a basic HTML page
  • Styling the page with basic CSS
  • Explaining the role of front-end web development as a job and career

No recap session for this class. Please show up promptly at or before 8pm, as physical space is limited. Bring a laptop!

P.S. This might be the last series I teach for a while. I might take a longer break after the end of the series (in about 6 months). We'll see. But if you've been meaning to attend, this is your chance!

No video for this class. Try last series's video.
Lecture materials


Notes archive