Front-end Web Development/Notes: Difference between revisions

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Notes from previous [[Frontend Web Development]] classes.
Notes from previous [[Frontend Web Development]] classes.


=== Series 2 ===
==== Class for 2013-04-22: CSS selectors and the box model ====
==== Class for 2012-07-16: Sign-up forms ====
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.
We going to continued working on [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class12/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.


==== Class for 2012-07-09: Modals and menus using Twitter Bootstrap ====
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqQph1vry7A Lecture video]'''<br>
We went back to the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/answersheet.zip "professional" site we'd put together a number of weeks ago] and added more functionality to it with some JavaScript. We first made a dialog box - or a "modal" - pop up when you click the sign up buttons. We did this by introducing [http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/ Bootstrap, a suite of code developed by Twitter] 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 Bootstrap as well.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class2/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


This class was not an exhaustive look at Bootstrap - there is a lot to cover. Look for a more comprehensive talk on Bootstrap later down the line.
==== Class for 2013-04-15: the basics ====
We covered the very basics:
* Explaining "frontend" vs. "backend"
* 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 frontend web development as a job and career


==== Class for 2012-07-02: Guest speaker - HTML5 ====
'''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmDCjhCuNtU Lecture video]'''<br>
John Freddy Vega of [http://www.cristalab.com/ Cristalab] and [http://mejorando.la/ Mejorando.la] delivered a presentation on the basics of HTML5, CSS3, and new JavaScript developments. It's a great talk for those starting out on new web technologies, or just wondering what the big difference is from HTML 4.01 and below.
'''[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series4/class1/lecture.zip Lecture materials]'''


==== Class for 2012-06-25: AJAX ====
----
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 [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class11/lecture.zip added AJAX functionality] to our app we've been building on and uploaded a [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class9/tweet.php.zip PHP file] to a web host to test it out.


==== Class for 2012-06-18: jQuery, cont'd ====
[[Frontend_Web_Development/Notes/Archive|Notes archive]]
We built upon the existing [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class5/answer%20sheet.zip Noisetwitter] app, using jQuery functions to add the UI for retweeting, favoriting, and replying, and [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class10/lecture.zip here was our result].
 
==== Class for 2012-06-11: jQuery ====
We included jQuery into a file and took a look at some of the functions that are available to us, as well as attempting to explain how an object can call a function with itself as the scope (this). We used the [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class5/answer%20sheet.zip Noisetwitter] client as an example of simple but powerful things you can do with jQuery.
 
==== Class for 2012-06-04: JavaScript ====
We talked about JavaScript: making webpages interactive through client-side code. We used the console to demonstrate the basics of the language, and we [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class8/lecture.zip created a file and include it on an existing HTML page, downloadable here].
 
==== Class for 2012-05-21: File transfer ====
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).
 
We downloaded and installed [http://filezilla-project.org FileZilla] and signed up for a [https://nearlyfreespeech.net NearlyFreeSpeech.NET] hosting account - some had to use my personal hosting due to timing reasons.
 
==== Class for 2012-05-14: Working from mockups (CSS3 edition) ====
We worked on last week's site, talking about inline versus block, and applied CSS3 features such as shadows, rounded corners, gradients, and semi-transparency. We didn't have time to talk about CSS3 more in-depth, so we'll have another class on it in the future.
 
==== Class for 2012-05-07: Working from mockups ====
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.
 
==== Class for 2012-04-30: 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 [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.
 
==== Class for 2012-04-23: 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://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 ====
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.
 
==== Class for 2012-04-09: the basics ====
We created [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/series2/class1/lecture.zip this simple site] to demonstrate HTML and CSS basics.
 
=== Series 1 ===
 
==== Class for 2012-03-26 ====
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.
 
==== Class for 2012-03-12 ====
Verbatim notes for my personal use:
 
What to do:
* Always start with HTML
* 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:
* Use inline style tags
* 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:
* Starting with the basics makes cross-browser testing easier
* Makes your site more modular - can switch stylesheets or remove behavior on-the-fly
* Makes development in teams easier
 
Drawbacks:
* App- or game-like sites might be hard to support
* Supporting all browsers off-the-bat might slow down productivity
* Can't use cool new CSS3/HTML5 stuff in production yet
 
Schedule:
* 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 ====
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class15/examples.zip Download the CSS3 examples I created in-class.]
 
Other great resources:
* [http://simurai.com/tagged/lab Simurai's lab]
* [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 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 ====
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.
 
==== Class for 2012-02-13 ====
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].
 
==== Class for 2012-02-06 ====
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].
 
==== Class for 2012-01-30 ====
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 took all of this and turned it into [http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class10/answersheet.zip this site].
 
==== Class for 2012-01-23 ====
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.
 
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].
 
==== Class for 2012-01-16 ====
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/class8/jQuery.zip Highly-commented source for the slideshow and Twitter client we worked on.]
 
==== Class for 2011-12-19 ====
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].
 
==== Class for 2011-12-12 ====
Consider downloading [http://filezilla-project.org/ FileZilla] for a head start.
 
Here's a simpler mockup we used for the 7:30 recap:
[[File:Frontend_Web_Mockup_2.png|thumb|none]]
 
==== Class for 2011-12-05 ====
We turned a mockup into HTML and CSS. This is the mockup we used:
[[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.
 
[http://jeffreyatw.com/static/frontend/Frontend%20Mockup%20class%20December%202011.zip Here is the "answer sheet" for the above mockup.]
 
==== Class for 2011-11-22 ====
Two articles worth reading for a thorough understanding of CSS positioning:
* http://www.alistapart.com/articles/css-positioning-101/
* http://www.alistapart.com/articles/css-floats-101/

Revision as of 12:27, 28 April 2013

Notes from previous Frontend Web Development classes.

Class for 2013-04-22: 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.

Lecture video
Lecture materials

Class for 2013-04-15: the basics

We covered the very basics:

  • Explaining "frontend" vs. "backend"
  • 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 frontend web development as a job and career

Lecture video
Lecture materials


Notes archive