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


=== Series 2 ===
==== Class for 2016-04-25: CSS positioning ====
We're going to let JavaScript take a backseat for the rest of the series, and we'll begin to focus on CSS concepts. This time, we'll focus on positioning of elements: using absolute, relative, or fixed positioning to put the elements anywhere we want on the whole page. We'll use [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series6/class4/mockup.png this mockup] along with [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series6/class4/assets.zip these assets] to put together a page that demonstrates positioning.


==== Class for 2012-05-07: Working from mockups ====
If have been daunted by the complexity of JavaScript programming, this should be a much simpler, straightforward class.
We worked off of [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup.png this mockup] and the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/mockup_annotations.png annotated version]. [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/assets.zip Assets were found here].


We took all of this and turned it into [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class5/lecture.zip this work-in-progress site]. We'll be completing it next week.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqT6IBMPglo Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class15 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-04-30: CSS floats ====
==== Class for 2016-04-18: React and Redux ====
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 [http://nytimes.com examples (inspect the page)]. We then took a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class4/mockup.png mockup] and [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class4/answersheet.zip created a site] from it.
We'll take a look at [https://lunch.labzero.com Lunch], an app I'm working on using [https://facebook.github.io/react/ React] and [http://redux.js.org/ Redux]. We'll see how it compares to our jQuery and Angular apps, and how React's unidirectional flow, along with Redux's state management, allows us to build an efficient, powerful application.


==== Class for 2012-04-23: CSS positioning ====
Because of the complexity of this subject, we'll only be skimming the surface with this pre-written app. React generally requires a good knowledge of the intricacies of JavaScript, so consider this a light introduction.
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://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class3/lecture.zip Lecture materials can be downloaded here.]


==== Class for 2012-04-16: CSS selectors and the box model ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iydma-sfKwA Lecture video]<br>
We expanded on last week's site to make [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class2/lecture.zip this site], which added complex selectors and margin rules.
[https://github.com/labzero/lunch Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-04-09: the basics ====
==== Class for 2016-04-11: directives, routing and AJAX with AngularJS ====
We created [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class1/lecture.zip this simple site] to demonstrate HTML and CSS basics.
We'll continue learning the basics of [https://angularjs.org/ AngularJS] by learning how to encapsulate behavior into reusable elements, load data from the back-end, and create a site that acts as if it has multiple pages while remaining a single-page app.


=== Series 1 ===
We'll build off the [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class12/noisetwitter work from last week.]


==== Class for 2012-03-26 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKdKHcJ4eRw Lecture video]<br>
Download the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class18/class18.zip site we walked through]. It's a responsive site with slight jQuery magic and a bunch of semantic HTML and CSS trickery. A good rollup of all the stuff we've learned in the class.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class13 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-03-12 ====
==== Class for 2016-04-04: intro to AngularJS ====
Verbatim notes for my personal use:
We'll learn about the basics of [https://angularjs.org/ AngularJS] (version 1), a popular client-side MVC application framework. Frameworks such as these make it easier to manage data-rich views by keeping everything in sync with each other, and with data in the back-end. To understand how libraries like AngularJS differ from [http://jquery.com jQuery], we'll be taking our [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class10/noisetwitter NoiseTwitter] app and converting it from one that uses jQuery into one that uses AngularJS instead.


What to do:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2Oz4DiviU Lecture video]<br>
* Always start with HTML
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class12 Lecture materials]
* Add presentation and behavior next
* Assume nothing about your audience
* Be as semantic as possible
* Use [http://www.html5please.com www.html5please.com]


What not to do:
==== Class for 2016-03-28: Forms ====
* Use inline style tags
We'll create a Bootstrap-based landing page with a sign-up form. 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.
* Implement security on the frontend
* Expect links to work only with JS - modals, AJAX, etc.
* Tell users to upgrade
* Start with a rich site and then work backward


Benefits:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwMGFVeXI0A Lecture video]<br>
* Starting with the basics makes cross-browser testing easier
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class11 Lecture materials]
* Makes your site more modular - can switch stylesheets or remove behavior on-the-fly
* Makes development in teams easier


Drawbacks:
==== Class for 2016-03-21: Ajax ====
* App- or game-like sites might be hard to support
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 easy. We'll add Ajax functionality to [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class7 the Twitter app]. We'll use this [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/blob/master/series8/class10/noisetwitter/source/tweet.php PHP file] to test it out.
* Supporting all browsers off-the-bat might slow down productivity
* Can't use cool new CSS3/HTML5 stuff in production yet


Schedule:
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].
* Create a simple site with an HTML5 sectioning elements
* Add CSS
* Add JS
* Show site without CSS and JS added on
* Show site in IE6
* Install ChromeVox and read through site
* Explain browser "hacks"
* Explain JS feature testing (modernizr)
* Show what not to do
* Show [http://html5boilerplate.com/ HTML5 Boilerplate]


==== Class for 2012-03-05 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajhVV5wTJ1I Lecture video]<br>
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class15/examples.zip Download the CSS3 examples I created in-class.]
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class10 Lecture materials]


Other great resources:
==== Class for 2016-03-14: HTTP, SFTP, and Git-based web hosting ====
* [http://simurai.com/tagged/lab Simurai's lab]
We'll talk about file transfer: HTTP, which is the method of getting and sending information in the web browser; SFTP, which is a method of securely uploading files to a web host; and how to use Git to host a site.
* [http://css3please.com/ CSS3 Please!]
* [http://caniuse.com/ When can I use...]
* [http://jeffreyatw.com/portfolio Jeffrey's portfolio - see Menorah and Draggy under HTML5 Toys]


==== Class for 2012-02-27 ====
We'll set up free web hosting accounts at [https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net NearlyFreeSpeech.NET] (which you should sign up for now), and upload to them using [http://filezilla-project.org the FileZilla client] (which you should install now).
We worked on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class14/blog.zip this blog] and turned it into a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class14/answersheet.zip mobile-accessible website]. We also talked about user agent strings, frameworks like jQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch, and talked about the future of HTML5/CSS3 in mobile website development.


==== Class for 2012-02-20 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8oIC5Jyx1k Lecture video]<br>
We took a look at a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class13/html5_elements.zip page containing every currently valid HTML element]. Many of them are considered "HTML5", but that's just because they're new.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class9 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-02-13 ====
==== Class for 2016-03-07: starting a new project ====
We added to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class11/answersheet.zip site from last class] and [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class12/answersheet.zip added a sign-up form with validation to it].
A text editor and web browser are all that's required to start a project - but how about getting a head start? We'll talk about [https://harpjs.com/ Harp] and [http://getbootstrap.com/ Bootstrap], two tools that will greatly help us with the setup of a new site.


==== Class for 2012-02-06 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4sSCT-9GE Lecture video]<br>
We added to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/answersheet.zip site from last class] and [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class11/answersheet.zip added modals/submenus to it].
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class8 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-01-30 ====
==== Class for 2016-02-29: jQuery, cont'd ====
We worked off of [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/mockup.png this mockup] and the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/mockup_annotations.png annotated version]. [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/assets.zip Assets were found here].
We'll continue learning about jQuery by focusing on [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class6/noisetwitter the example we worked on last class]. We'll add functionality to it that will make it seem more like the real thing.


We took all of this and turned it into [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/answersheet.zip this site].
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iaBQOgY4qo Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class7/noisetwitter Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2012-01-23 ====
==== Class for 2016-02-22: jQuery ====
I made accounts on my web hosting, but I suggested students get web hosting space at [https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net/ NearlyFreeSpeech.Net], which will set you up with a pay-as-you-go site. It's free until you start getting a significant amount of traffic.
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.


Here is the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class8/jQuery.zip source for the previous class's Twitter client], and [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class9/tweet.php.zip a PHP file to respond to AJAX requests].
To learn what jQuery can do, we'll add some scripting to [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class6/start this sample web app].


==== Class for 2012-01-16 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY2oRWIYhK0 Lecture video]<br>
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class8/jQuery.zip Highly-commented source for the slideshow and Twitter client we worked on.]
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class6/noisetwitter Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2011-12-19 ====
==== Class for 2016-02-08: JavaScript, cont'd ====
We modified [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class5/noisetwitter.zip this document] to become an interactive web application: [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class5/answer%20sheet.zip download the full web application here].
We'll continue discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.


==== Class for 2011-12-12 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFnDmrLXqf0 Lecture video]<br>
Consider downloading [http://filezilla-project.org/ FileZilla] for a head start.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class5 Lecture materials]


Here's a simpler mockup we used for the 7:30 recap:
==== Class for 2016-02-01: JavaScript ====
[[File:Frontend_Web_Mockup_2.png|thumb|none]]
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 2011-12-05 ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAxEb3JViWk Lecture video]<br>
We turned a mockup into HTML and CSS. This is the mockup we used:
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class4 Lecture materials]
[[File:Frontend_Web_Mockup_1.png|thumb|none]]


Please consider downloading the [http://www.gimp.org/ GNU Image Manipulation Tool (GIMP)], as we might be opening it up to work with this mockup. Photoshop or Fireworks will work swimmingly if you have them, though.
==== Class for 2016-01-25: version control (Git) and the command line ====
This class is a general overview on version control and the command line. Most developers 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.


[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/Frontend%20Mockup%20class%20December%202011.zip Here is the "answer sheet" for the above mockup.]
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.


==== Class for 2011-11-22 ====
During the half-hour before the class, we'll help people set up Git on their computers. On OS X, type <code>git</code> in a Terminal to get started. On Windows you should install [http://msysgit.github.io/ Git for Windows]. Also, please sign up for a [https://github.com GitHub] account.
Two articles worth reading for a thorough understanding of CSS positioning:
 
* http://www.alistapart.com/articles/css-positioning-101/
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt4IW_TVTUc Lecture video]<br>
* http://www.alistapart.com/articles/css-floats-101/
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/shakespeare9 Lecture materials]
 
==== Class for 2016-01-11: 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.''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcKvWkhVezA Here's last series's video.] (audio doesn't work until 33:10)<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class2 Lecture materials]
 
==== Class for 2016-01-04: the basics ====
<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"
* Explaining web apps vs. web sites
* Discussing tools of the trade
* Describing the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
* Writing a basic HTML page
* Styling the page with basic CSS
* Adding a small amount of JS
* Explaining the role of front-end development as a job and career
 
No recap session for this class. Please show up before 8pm, as physical space is limited. Bring a laptop!
 
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Uf_mlpqns Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class1 Lecture materials]
 
----
 
[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Class notes from previous series]]

Revision as of 19:55, 26 April 2016

Notes from previous Front-end Web Development classes.

Class for 2016-04-25: CSS positioning

We're going to let JavaScript take a backseat for the rest of the series, and we'll begin to focus on CSS concepts. This time, we'll focus on positioning of elements: using absolute, relative, or fixed positioning to put the elements anywhere we want on the whole page. We'll use this mockup along with these assets to put together a page that demonstrates positioning.

If have been daunted by the complexity of JavaScript programming, this should be a much simpler, straightforward class.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-04-18: React and Redux

We'll take a look at Lunch, an app I'm working on using React and Redux. We'll see how it compares to our jQuery and Angular apps, and how React's unidirectional flow, along with Redux's state management, allows us to build an efficient, powerful application.

Because of the complexity of this subject, we'll only be skimming the surface with this pre-written app. React generally requires a good knowledge of the intricacies of JavaScript, so consider this a light introduction.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-04-11: directives, routing and AJAX with AngularJS

We'll continue learning the basics of AngularJS by learning how to encapsulate behavior into reusable elements, load data from the back-end, and create a site that acts as if it has multiple pages while remaining a single-page app.

We'll build off the work from last week.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-04-04: intro to AngularJS

We'll learn about the basics of AngularJS (version 1), a popular client-side MVC application framework. Frameworks such as these make it easier to manage data-rich views by keeping everything in sync with each other, and with data in the back-end. To understand how libraries like AngularJS differ from jQuery, we'll be taking our NoiseTwitter app and converting it from one that uses jQuery into one that uses AngularJS instead.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-03-28: Forms

We'll create a Bootstrap-based landing page with a sign-up form. 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 2016-03-21: 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 easy. We'll add Ajax functionality to the Twitter app. 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 2016-03-14: HTTP, SFTP, and Git-based web hosting

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

We'll set up free web hosting accounts at NearlyFreeSpeech.NET (which you should sign up for now), and upload to them using the FileZilla client (which you should install now).

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-03-07: starting a new project

A text editor and web browser are all that's required to start a project - but how about getting a head start? We'll talk about Harp and Bootstrap, two tools that will greatly help us with the setup of a new site.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-02-29: jQuery, cont'd

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

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-02-22: 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 2016-02-08: JavaScript, cont'd

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

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-02-01: 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 2016-01-25: version control (Git) and the command line

This class is a general overview on version control and the command line. Most developers 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.

During the half-hour before the class, we'll help people set up Git on their computers. On OS X, type git in a Terminal to get started. On Windows you should install Git for Windows. Also, please sign up for a GitHub account.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-01-11: 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. Here's last series's video. (audio doesn't work until 33:10)
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-01-04: 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"
  • Explaining web apps vs. web sites
  • Discussing tools of the trade
  • Describing the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
  • Writing a basic HTML page
  • Styling the page with basic CSS
  • Adding a small amount of JS
  • Explaining the role of front-end development as a job and career

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

Lecture video
Lecture materials


Class notes from previous series