Anyone read the book yet?
Ok. I’m dying to know. Who has read the MooTools book (or at least flipped through it)? I need some feedback here!
P.S. Anyone who writes a review on Amazon (positive or negative so long as it’s honest) gets top priority for the next change request they send in (sorry, that’s the best bribe I could come up with).
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September 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I have had a look at it. I haven’t read it but did look through it. The TOC does seem to indicate a pretty reasonable progression / layout of the right information. I have not had a chance to read it in its entirety, but will shortly. I am already enjoying the colorful examples (ninjas, etc). The font-size is suspiciously large, almost seems like its for old people or children, or is perhaps there to pad the page numbers. Not sure you had anything to do with that, just a a note.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Regarding the font size, I know. The format of the book was based on the “First Press” template and wasn’t something I had any control over. When I first got a copy of the book, I had the same reaction and have since heard the same comment from others. I’ve passed this on to the publisher, but who knows if they’ll update it for later editions…
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:33 am
I have.
ye, the font size is pretty large.
For the second edition, I think you will need to include reference style index at the back of the book, I think this is most lacking in this edition.
Also you must understand there are many novice who are reading this book, it will be better to start the book with something more interesting(than traditional javascript) such as the $(”) method to replace document.getElementByID(”), to get them started instead of the boring $type, $defined, etc
The book cover states “Official Mootools Reference” yet, the book lacks reference informations.
I really likes the transitions pictures at page 146, very helpful.
If you would like thicker book or smaller font, I think a short tutorial highlighting the most shining part of the mootools package: selectors, effects, AJAX etc
looking forward to second edition
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 am
Good feedback panzooka!
The index was also something I wanted, but the format of the book (the “firstPress” series) is that it’s an “early look” at an “emerging technology” and they don’t do an index for any of the firstPress series. I was a bit bummed when I found this out myself, but these books are also supposed to be shorter than mine (100-150 pages).
As for making the book more fun – starting out with the stuff you’ll use a lot, my objective was to teach people how to use the framework, not sell them on it. The demos online and the MooTorial should be sufficient to do that. People who are getting the book are looking for more detail than the docs, MooTorial, and the demos have to offer. I tried to organize the book in a manner that would build knowledge successively in each chapter so that by the end, when the Class tutorials are demonstrated, you would have all the knowledge needed to understand it.
I would like to include more illustrations. Frankly, I both ran out of time and out of space. The publisher was already a little antsy about the length of the book (again, the target length was max 150 pages) and it was already a bit late for the deadline…
I don’t know if the second edition will be significantly different. I’m hoping to just update what needs to change when MooTools 1.3 comes out rather than rewrite the whole thing. It was waaaaay more work than I thought it would be to write it the first time!
Thanks for the comments.
September 26th, 2008 at 3:10 am
The book is great!
I have had it for one day and read about 3/4 of it.
I have now a better understanding of the MooTools way, this was something I have been struggling with for about a year as I come from a PHP programming background.
I have no problem with the font size, I do like larger fonts.
The examples are first rate, especially the class example. I have now discovered I have been doing things rather a long winded and complicated way.
This book will help in simplifying my code and speed development up considerably.
Your book is simple and human readable.
Well done for this valuable contribution to the MooTools documentation
October 6th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I really enjoyed the book. The ninja references had me laughing out loud. I was hoping it would be a reference book but it’s not really that kind of read. A unique combination of informative and entertaining. Congrats!
Jacob
October 6th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Thanks Jacob. I’m glad that the book kept you both interested and entertained.