JavaScript Crash Course

A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming

by Nick Morgan

January 2024, 376 pp.

ISBN-13:

9781718502260

Download Chapter 3: Compound Data Types

Look Inside!

Learn JavaScript—Fast!

JavaScript Crash Course is a fun-filled, fast-paced introduction to programming with JavaScript. Dive right in and you’ll be writing code, solving problems, and building working web applications and games in no time.

You’ll start by learning fundamental programming concepts, such as variables, arrays, objects, functions, conditionals, loops, classes, and more. Aided by engaging examples and hands-on exercises, you’ll build on this foundation and combine JavaScript with HTML and CSS to create interactive web applications that you can run right away.

Then you’ll put your new skills into play with three substantial projects: a Pong-style game with a virtual opponent, an app that generates electronic music, and a platform for visualizing data fetched from an API.

Along the way, you’ll learn how to:

Update web pages in real time by manipulating the Document Object Model
Trigger functions in response to events like key presses and mouse clicks
Generate graphics and animations with JavaScript and HTML’s Canvas element
Visualize data with the D3.js library and scalable vector graphics (SVG)
Make electronic music with Tone.js and the Web Audio API

If you’ve been thinking about digging into programming, JavaScript Crash Course will get you writing real programs fast. Why wait any longer? Jump on your magic carpet and ride!

Author Bio

Nick Morgan is a software engineer at Twitter. He started on the web team, writing JavaScript to help to build the main twitter.com website. He now writes Scala for the backend Tweets service, working on projects such as the change from 140 to 280 character Tweets and the Limit Replies feature. Nick grew up in the UK, and has a degree in Music and Sound Recording from the University of Surrey. He now lives in Colorado with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and one dog.

Table of contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: The Language
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Chapter 2: The Basics
Chapter 3: Compound Data Types
Chapter 4: Conditionals and Loops
Chapter 5: Functions
Chapter 6: Classes
Part II: Interactive Javascript
Chapter 7: HTML, the DOM, and CSS
Chapter 8: Event-Based Programming
Chapter 9: The Canvas Element
Part III: Projects
Chapter 10: Pong
Chapter 11: Object-Oriented Pong
Chapter 12: Generating Sounds
Chapter 13: Writing A Song
Chapter 14: Introducing The D3 Library
Chapter 15: Visualizing Data From The Github Search Api
Afterword: Next Steps
Index

View the detailed Table of Contents
View the Index

Reviews

"The perfect no-nonsense guide for folks who just want to roll their sleeves up and pick up the basics from scratch. It skips the distractions that often complicate a mastery of web programming, like UI frameworks, build tools, and server tech, using real projects to give aspiring web engineers a solid foundation."
—Jed Schmidt, founder of BrooklynJS

“A fun, practical, hands-on introduction that I wish I had when I was learning JavaScript. Readers can learn from the very basics all the way through making real games and applications that are relevant to ‘real-world’ development practices.”
—Cassidy Williams, @cassidoo, startup advisor and CTO at Contenda

“JavaScript Crash Course offers practical, pragmatic, and project-based education on how to think about and work with JavaScript. . . . By the time you complete the crash course, you'll be ready to start your own projects. Nick is providing a wonderful service with his hands-on teaching, both here and in JavaScript for Kids. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.”
—Scott Hanselman, @shanselman, VP Developer Community at Microsoft

"Nick has managed to condense the foundational concepts of JavaScript into concise, approachable descriptions that are easily accessible to beginners. Throw in some fun lessons in graphics and sound to create a game, and you've got an excellent and engaging JavaScript book that’s well worth your time."
—Nicholas C. Zakas, @slicknet, creator of ESLint and veteran JavaScript book author

"When learning an instrument, the best results come from balancing theory with playing real music. JavaScript Crash Course provides a similar balance for learning to program. You get to see JavaScript's workings as a language and fundamental part of the Web, while also sinking your teeth into some practical projects. This book will help you build up your JavaScript 'repertoire' and develop a good mindset for progressing further."
—Peter Cooper, Editor of JavaScript Weekly

"Ideal for high school and college students, self-study, and public library collections, Javascript Crash Course is a "must-have" for anyone who needs to learn Javascript fast for school, business, or just plain fun. Highly recommended!"
—Midwest Book Review