Front-end Web Development/Notes: Difference between revisions

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=== Series 2 ===
=== Series 2 ===
=== 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 ====
==== Class for 2012-05-21: File transfer ====

Revision as of 18:57, 5 June 2012

Notes from previous Frontend Web Development classes.

Series 2

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 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 FileZilla and signed up for a 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 this mockup and the annotated version. Assets were found here.

We took all of this and turned it into 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 examples (inspect the page). We then took a mockup and 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. 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 this site, which added complex selectors and margin rules.

Class for 2012-04-09: the basics

We created this simple site to demonstrate HTML and CSS basics.

Series 1

Class for 2012-03-26

Download the 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 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 HTML5 Boilerplate

Class for 2012-03-05

Download the CSS3 examples I created in-class.

Other great resources:

Class for 2012-02-27

We worked on this blog and turned it into a 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 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 site from last class and added a sign-up form with validation to it.

Class for 2012-02-06

We added to the site from last class and added modals/submenus to it.

Class for 2012-01-30

We worked off of this mockup and the annotated version. Assets were found here.

We took all of this and turned it into this site.

Class for 2012-01-23

I made accounts on my web hosting, but I suggested students get web hosting space at 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 source for the previous class's Twitter client, and a PHP file to respond to AJAX requests.

Class for 2012-01-16

Highly-commented source for the slideshow and Twitter client we worked on.

Class for 2011-12-19

We modified this document to become an interactive web application: download the full web application here.

Class for 2011-12-12

Consider downloading FileZilla for a head start.

Here's a simpler mockup we used for the 7:30 recap:

Frontend Web Mockup 2.png

Class for 2011-12-05

We turned a mockup into HTML and CSS. This is the mockup we used:

Frontend Web Mockup 1.png

Please consider downloading the 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.

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: