Getting started in JavaScript, AJAX, and jQuery, Part 1
The rise of Ajax, or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, has brought with it a movement towards more interactive Internet sites and the use of "web applications", without a need to install proprietary plug-ins. As nearly all personal computers and "smart" mobile devices now contain web browsers capable of showing JavaScript, those interested in making interactive sites and applications for a variety of platforms would do well to learn to use it, at least to the point where they can use the more advanced libraries that reduce the necessary workload.
In this article, I'll go over how to set up a working environment for programming in JavaScript. If you already have an understanding of these topics, Part 2 will start to go more in-depth with using Ajax and explaining how it works. It is recommended that you already have an understanding of HTML and CSS so that you sites will not only be interactive, but also appeal to users aesthetically.
When doing any kind of software development, the best thing to do first is to find a development environment that works best for you. Personally, for web development on Windows my personal favorite is Notepad++. It's got some great features, such as syntax highlighting and support for dozens of programming languages. However, if you don't feel like downloading Notepad++, you can always use good old-fashioned Notepad that comes installed on all Windows computers. However, when you need to save, you'll need to do three things. First, click Save As. Secondly, "Save as type:" should be set to "All Files". Finally, the file name should also include the file type. For example, in the following picture, I am saving a JavaScript file:
Fortunately for Mac users, despite not having any programs to recommend I can say that the included Notepad program should work just as well as the included one for Windows. If any readers have one to recommend, please put it in the comments.
Now that you've got an environment to work in, let's get started with a basic script. Open your editor of choice and enter the following:
<html>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write("Nothing to see here, just programming in JavaScript!");
</script>
</body>
</html>
Now, save this as an HTML file (put .html at the end). Find where you saved the file (I like to save small projects like this to the desktop, at least temporarily), and right click the file. Navigate to "Open With..." and select your web browser of choice. If you did everything correctly, this should appear in you browser:
And you're done! I'm sorry if this was a little trivial for some of you, but we have to get the beginners on track too!