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


==== Class for 2013-08-26: RTFM and STFW, Garrett Smith ====
==== Class for 2016-05-23: Working from professional mockups ====
Unschooling and autodidacticism; An Intro to [http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#rtfm RTFM], RTFFAQ, and SFTW.
We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the box model, positioning, media queries and CSS3, and work off of a mockup to make a site that could pass as a professional design.


===== Summary =====
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/noiseco Mockups and assets can be found here].
Understanding defines the difference between the followers, who resort to mystical incantations or convoluted DOM libraries to do the work for them, and those who can implement project requirements, as specified, with [http://vimeo.com/12643301 clean code (Vimeo)]. Not downloading free scripts off dynamic drive or [http://blog.ponyfoo.com/search/tagged/jquery jQuery], copying, or programming by observation.


When misunderstandings or debates arise, and that happens fairly often, it is important how to find the answer using STFW and RTFM,
This class will require the use of [https://harpjs.com/ Harp], as we'd like to make this as realistic of a project as possible. As a bonus, we'll learn how to use preprocessors like [http://sass-lang.com/ Sass] to help us with our code.
and when that fails, how (and where (CIWAS, JSMentors, c.l.js, ciwah) to ask a [http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html smart question].  


===== Lesson: CSS ClassName Swap =====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyaTa7pMhY Lecture video]<br>
For Styles, replace a loop that applies styles to descendants by adding a class token to the nearest common ancestor ([http://jibbering.com/faq/notes/code-guidelines/descendant-sel.html example], [http://jibbering.com/faq/notes/code-guidelines/#design explanation]).
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class18 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2016-05-16: Modern CSS ====
We'll talk about a number of topics concerning modern CSS development: CSS3, browser support, and responsive design (for mobile devices).


===== Calculating Selector's Specificity ([http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/cascade.html#specificity CSS 2.1]). =====
We'll start on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series6/class17/blog.zip this page] and make it mobile.
CSS Selector specificity is determined four numbers, a-b-c-d, in a number system with a large base.
<blockquote cite="http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/cascade.html#specificity">
    count 1 if the declaration is from is a 'style' attribute rather than a rule with a selector, 0 otherwise (= a) (In HTML, values of an element's "style" attribute are style sheet rules. These rules have no selectors, so a=1, b=0, c=0, and d=0.)
    count the number of ID attributes in the selector (= b)
    count the number of other attributes and pseudo-classes in the selector (= c)
    count the number of element names and pseudo-elements in the selector (= d)
</blockquote>


===== JavaScript Review =====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA73S1iaCVc Lecture video]<br>
====== Functions ======
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class17 Lecture materials]
* [http://kangax.github.io/nfe/ FunctionExpression vs FunctionDeclaration], [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/comp.lang.javascript/tjVn1NjGDN8/QgOuxtAymqoJ MemberExpression], [http://www.ecma-international.org/ecma-262/5.1/#sec-11.2.1 PropertyAccessor] and [http://jibbering.com/faq/notes/square-brackets/ Square Brackets].


====== Specifications ======
==== Class for 2016-05-08: CSS floats & flexbox ====
* [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-262-arch.htm ECMAScript 1.3] and [http://www.ecma-international.org/ecma-262/5.1/ ECMAScript 5.1]
Floating and flexbox are two methods behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's stacked horizontally. We'll learn about them by taking a look at some examples, discuss the pros and cons of each, then take a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class4/mockup.png mockup] and create a site from it.


Other versions of ECMAScript, including E4X and Compact are out of scope for this class.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45crnboPpsg Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class16 Lecture materials]


====== FAQ ======
==== Class for 2016-04-25: CSS positioning ====
[http://jibbering.com/faq/ FAQ], also hosted on [http://www.fortybelow.ca/hosted/comp-lang-javascript/faq/ Matt's site].
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 2013-08-12: More useful jQuery plugins ====
If have been daunted by the complexity of JavaScript programming, this should be a much simpler, straightforward class.
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://getbootstrap.com/javascript/#scrollspy Scrollspy (Bootstrap)] - change navs to highlight where you are scrolled on a page
* [http://jquery.malsup.com/cycle2/ Cycle] - make easy slideshows
* [http://harvesthq.github.io/chosen/ Chosen] - style dropdowns


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRs9HOD0aMo Lecture video]'''<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqT6IBMPglo Lecture video]<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class15/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class15 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2013-08-05: Sign-up forms ====
==== Class for 2016-04-18: React and Redux ====
We continued working on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class13/lecture.zip our site] and added a sign-up form, with validation, inside the modal. We used the [http://jqueryvalidation.org/ jQuery Validation plugin]. Validation 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 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.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGJPBfWJWRc Lecture video]'''<br>
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.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class14/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-07-29: Modals and menus ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iydma-sfKwA Lecture video]<br>
We went back to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class6/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 user controls easier to create. We also added some dropdown functionality to our menus using pure CSS, but explained that jQuery UI can help out with the subtle nuances of menus.
[https://github.com/labzero/lunch Lecture materials]


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge2ZECyRRf8 Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-04-11: directives, routing and AJAX with AngularJS ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class13/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
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.


==== Class for 2013-07-22: AJAX ====
We'll build off the [https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class12/noisetwitter work from last week.]
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/series4/class11/lecture.zip our app we've been building on]. We used this [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class12/tweet.php.zip PHP file] to test it out.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1arhXXQsw Lecture video]'''<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKdKHcJ4eRw Lecture video]<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class12/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class13 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2013-07-15: jQuery, cont'd ====
==== Class for 2016-04-04: intro to AngularJS ====
We continued learning about jQuery by focusing on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class10/lecture.zip the example we saw last week]. We added functionality to it that made it seem more like the real thing.
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.


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Bublxub3w Lecture video]'''<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2Oz4DiviU Lecture video]<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class11/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class12 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2013-07-08: jQuery ====
==== Class for 2016-03-28: Forms ====
We introduced 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.
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.


To learn what jQuery can do, we added some scripting to [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class10/assets.zip this sample web app].
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwMGFVeXI0A Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class11 Lecture materials]


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3MgfcStxg Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-03-21: Ajax ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class10/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
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.


==== Class for 2013-07-01: JavaScript, cont'd ====
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 continued discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Q5DhW8jpA Lecture video]'''<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajhVV5wTJ1I Lecture video]<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class9/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class10 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2013-06-24: JavaScript ====
==== Class for 2016-03-14: HTTP, SFTP, and Git-based web hosting ====
We talked about JavaScript: making web pages 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. This and next week's class can be treated as a general introduction to programming.
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.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfd78FpYPuI Lecture video]'''<br>
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).
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class8/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-06-17: HTTP & SFTP ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8oIC5Jyx1k Lecture video]<br>
We talked 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.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class9 Lecture materials]


We set up free web hosting accounts at [https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net NearlyFreeSpeech.NET], and uploaded to them using [http://filezilla-project.org the FileZilla client].
==== 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 [https://harpjs.com/ Harp] and [http://getbootstrap.com/ Bootstrap], two tools that will greatly help us with the setup of a new site.


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfJxBeNzbvQ Lecture video]'''
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4sSCT-9GE Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class8 Lecture materials]


==== Class for 2013-06-03: Working from professional mockups, cont'd ====
==== Class for 2016-02-29: jQuery, cont'd ====
We continued putting our professional-looking site together from [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class5/lecture.zip where we left off]. We focused on some fancy CSS3 techniques, and we saw how to make an interactive dropdown menu with no JavaScript.
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 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/series4/class6/lecture.zip lecture materials]).
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iaBQOgY4qo Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class7/noisetwitter Lecture materials]


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMeTFrR1rtA Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-02-22: jQuery ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class6/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
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.


==== Class for 2013-05-20: Working from professional mockups ====
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].
We took the knowledge we gained from looking at the CSS box model, floats, and positioning, and worked off of something given to us by a designer (me).


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=cY2oRWIYhK0 Lecture video]<br>
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class6/noisetwitter Lecture materials]


'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y6MxRAPfLs Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-02-08: JavaScript, cont'd ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class5/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
We'll continue discussing JavaScript basics: arrays, objects, creating functions, and scopes.


==== Class for 2013-05-13: CSS positioning ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFnDmrLXqf0 Lecture video]<br>
In the last few classes, we focused on element measurements and floats. This time, we focused 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.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class5 Lecture materials]


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxROKEWIjB8 Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-02-01: JavaScript ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class4/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 2013-05-06: CSS floats ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAxEb3JViWk Lecture video]<br>
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.
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class4 Lecture materials]


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j6oA4sS99U Lecture video]'''<br>
==== Class for 2016-01-25: version control (Git) and the command line ====
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class3/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
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.


==== Class for 2013-04-22: CSS selectors and the box model ====
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.
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.


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqQph1vry7A Lecture video]'''<br>
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.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class2/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2013-04-15: the basics ====
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt4IW_TVTUc Lecture video]<br>
We covered the very basics:
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/shakespeare9 Lecture materials]
* Explaining "frontend" vs. "backend"
 
==== 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
* Discussing tools of the trade
* Explaining the separation between structure, presentation, and behavior
* Describing 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
* 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!


'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmDCjhCuNtU Lecture video]'''<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Uf_mlpqns Lecture video]<br>
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class1/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''
[https://github.com/JeffreyATW/fwd/tree/master/series9/class1 Lecture materials]


----
----


[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Notes archive]]
[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Class notes from previous series]]

Revision as of 21:47, 25 May 2016

Notes from previous Front-end Web Development classes.

Class for 2016-05-23: Working from professional mockups

We'll take the knowledge we gained from looking at the box model, positioning, media queries and CSS3, and work off of a mockup to make a site that could pass as a professional design.

Mockups and assets can be found here.

This class will require the use of Harp, as we'd like to make this as realistic of a project as possible. As a bonus, we'll learn how to use preprocessors like Sass to help us with our code.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-05-16: Modern CSS

We'll talk about a number of topics concerning modern CSS development: CSS3, browser support, and responsive design (for mobile devices).

We'll start on this page and make it mobile.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2016-05-08: CSS floats & flexbox

Floating and flexbox are two methods behind creating websites with multiple columns, navigation menus, and basically any block element that's stacked horizontally. We'll learn about them by taking a look at some examples, discuss the pros and cons of each, then take a mockup and create a site from it.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

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