Press releases

Eloquent JavaScript: A Beginner's Introduction to Programming with JavaScript--New from No Starch Press

Press release: January 13, 2011

Eloquent JavaScript

Request Review copy

San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2011—JavaScript is the language of choice for web developers who want to create powerful applications that are accessible from any platform. When it comes to learning JavaScript, though, there are few resources for the true beginner. Most books are either dry technical manuals or collections of scripts, neither of which help new users grasp the fundamentals of programming.

With a focus on good programming techniques rather than cut-and-paste effects, Eloquent JavaScript (No Starch Press, January 2011, 224 pp., 9781593272821) teaches readers how to leverage the grace and precision of JavaScript to write complete browser-based applications. The book begins with the fundamentals—variables, control structures, functions, and data structures—then moves on to more complex topics, such as higher-order functions, closures, and object-oriented programming.

"Though it's simple for beginners to pick up and play with, JavaScript is a flexible and complex language, capable of much more than the simple scripting it was originally used for," says author Marijn Haverbeke. "Eloquent JavaScript is a consummate introduction to programming with JavaScript, not just a technical manual or a collection of scripts. It goes beyond the cut-and-paste code of recipe books and teaches you to write programs that are elegant and effective."

With clear examples and an emphasis on elegance, Eloquent JavaScript teaches readers how to:

  • Master basic programming techniques and concepts
  • Harness the power of functional and object-oriented programming
  • Use regular expressions to quickly parse and manipulate strings
  • Gracefully deal with errors and browser incompatibilities
  • Handle browser events and alter the DOM structure

For experienced and novice programmers alike, Eloquent JavaScript is the essential guide to learning this dynamic and flexible language.

For more information or to request a review copy of Eloquent JavaScript, contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x100), or visit www.nostarch.com.

About the Author

Marijn Haverbeke is a programming language enthusiast and polyglot. He's worked his way from trivial BASIC games on the Commodore, through a C++ phase, to the present, where he mostly hacks on database systems and web APIs in dynamic languages. He created and maintains several popular open source projects, including CodeMirror (http://codemirror.net), the technology that powers Google's Code Playground.

Additional Resources
Chapter 2: "Functions" (PDF)
Interactive Code Sandbox
Table of Contents
Detailed Table of Contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
Catalog Page

Eloquent JavaScript Eloquent JavaScript
Publisher: No Starch Press
By Marijn Haverbeke
ISBN 9781593272821, $29.95 USD
January 2011, 224 pp.
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

Request Review copy

Available in fine bookstores everywhere, from http://www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or directly from No Starch Press (http://www.nostarch.com, orders@nostarch.com, 1-800-420-7240).

About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent computer book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO, science, and math. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. Visit http://www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog.

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

Email a link to this press release