Website Design Resources
Scripting Resources
Currently, my scripting experience is limited to javascript but I am attempting to teach myself ASP and PHP but I feel that I will need to take "proper" courses in those to get a better understanding of them.
Javascript Tutorials
For the most part, I tend to limit the use of javascript to rollovers and other non-essential functions so I am not an expert on its use. Furthermore, because there are so many free scripts on the web to download and incorporate into your site, it does not make much sense to try to develop similar scripts by myself.
However, in my early days with javascript, I was looking for a tutorial on how to use it. Despite the fact that I don't do much scripting myself, knowing something about javascript helps to understand the scripts and how to apply or modify it. I have found that the javascript tutorial at WebMonkey.com is a very good one for beginners.
Javascript Resources
- For most scripts, I tend to go to Hotscripts.com as a starting place.
- One of my favourite scripts is the Overlib script which is available for free. I have used it on the CUAC site here and the Active Mines project here. My only disappointment with it is that it doesn't work with my favourite browser, Opera.
Javascript Books
- I first purchased Joe Burn's Javascript Goodies book to try to learn javascript. While the Javascript Goodies book got me started, I do not find it to be very good. It has a lot of examples from simple ones to more complex ones but is very weak at preparing the user to go beyond the book other than adapting an example to fit a new situation (such as modifying image names to use for your site).
- The other book I purchased is Javascript: A Definitive Guide. It is an excellent book but quite technical and dry. An excellent reference for someone who is taking a course.