October: How to use JavaScript Templates

Event Details

7:00 – 9:00p.m. Tuesday, October 12th
Buffalo Billiards, 6th and Brazos

RSVP on Facebook (it’s not required, you’re always welcome)

How to use JavaScript Templates

Presented by Garann Means

If you work with JavaScript and aren’t already using templates, you should start! The syntax is simple and the organization and maintainability advantages are huge. If your application uses XHRs to update the page, if you write plugins, or if you’re trying to minimize the markup in your app that’s generated on both the client and server, templates can help there, too. This talk will cover the basic syntax of one engine, jQuery templates, and give some examples of templates in use.

February Meeting – A little something for both sides of your brain

7:00 p.m. February 10th
Buffalo Billiards, 6th and Brazos

Let’s change everything! Personalize your Design Process
Presented by Sara Summers

Use your life and experiences to draw in creativity and devise your own design process for making something great and making an impact.

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About jQuery but Were Afraid to Ask
Presented by Jon Loyens

jQuery is a lightweight, cross-browser, JavaScript library released by John Resig in 2006 at a BarCamp in NYC. Since it’s introduction, jQuery’s small footprint and elegant API has quickly made it a favorite among developers and designers alike. In this presentation we’ll cover:
- Why JavaScript libraries?
- Why jQuery?
- jQuery basics
- Selection
- Manipulation
- Effects
- Writing progressive JavaScript w/jQuery
- AJAX with jQuery

Presentation and Code: jQuery Presentation [PDF] & jQuery Code [ZIP]

Bonus! Books!
Plus, O’Reilly has provided us a few books that we’ll raffle off throughout the meeting.

View the event on upcoming.org or FaceBook

October Meeting

October 14th, 7:00 p.m.
Buffalo Billiards, 6th and Brazos

We’re really excited about the October meeting! Alex has lined up some fantastic presenters who will speak on the following topics:

Who are these people?! Bridging the gap between developers and communicators
Jenn and Hayes Davis

It often seems like developers and communicators (like designers, writers and marketers) are speaking two very different languages. It can be difficult to effectively communicate ideas and requirements across the gap between these two groups. This session aims to create some mutual understanding to help improve communication and narrow that gap. We want to facilitate a conversation that gets both sides talking about what they want to know about the other side, as well as what they’d like the other side to know about them.

Some of the questions we will address include:

  • Why do developers do things the way they do?
  • Why do designers, writers and other communicators think the way they do?
  • How can developers and designers communicate more effectively with each other?
  • Is there any common ground?
  • How can we better communicate technical topics to a nontechnical audience?

How to write JavaScript without losing your mind
Andrew Dupont

Andrew will talk about the tools he uses to debug JavaScript, including an in-depth look at Firebug and a discussion about how to diagnose and circumvent common frustrations and browser bugs.

Update: Andrew will also give out three copies of his book Practical Prototype and script.aculo.us.

View the event on Upcoming.org

After the meeting, head to the bar downstairs for their Tuesday specials: half-price appetizers, and dollar-off select drafts, well drinks, and house wines.

Refresh Roundup: Open Source Politics, Zuckerberg animosity(?), and Austin’s businesses coming together

That’s it for this week! If I’ve missed anything, post it in the comments.

Refresh Roundup: Future Proofing the Web

This week we saw a firestorm erupt out of the A List Apart articles on browser version targeting and future-proofing websites. If you’ve not had a chance to read them yet, check out Aaron Gustafson’s Beyond DOCTYPE: Web Standards, Forward Compatibility, and IE8 and Eric Meyer’s From Switches to Targets: A Standardista’s Journey.

Much has been written in the days following these articles, but I want to focus on Refresh Austin’s reactions as part of a new, weekly roundup.

  • Alex Jones liked the idea at first glance. Especially if “we can get Firefox, Safari and Opera to implement the same method as recommended in Aaron’s article, the Web development industry … would benefit”. However, Alex revised his thoughts after further consideration because it would allow websites to stick with an IE6 web application for years with no real incentive to upgrade their code.
  • Andrew Dupont gives the proposal a “tentative thumbs-up” after breaking down the issues and the flipsides, especially as they concern Javascript support.
  • On a lighter note, Alex shared this take on the matter via Twitter.

What are your thoughts?

May 2007 Meeting: Prototype/Script.aculo.us Crash Course

Presenter: Andrew Dupont, Prototype Core Team

View the Presentation

August 2006 Meeting: JavaScript Refresher

A refresher in javascript for the web designer/developer, with practical tips and best practices offered for happier coding.

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