Steve's Hot Javascript Training - Introduction - Part 1
JavaScript is a scripting language. What this means is that it resides on your hard drive in the form of a JS file (i.e. myexample.js). If you noticed, what you saw in parenthesis was a filename and it ended in "js". This stands for JavaScript. All your JavaScript files will end in this extension.
It can reside on a server and in most cases will end up on a server. As opposed to HTML, CSS, or PHP, JavaScript is language on its' own. I recommend you learn HTML and CSS before you learn this scripting platform. The reason why I say this is that if I talk about things that are in HTML, or CSS, you may be lost or confused. At a later point, I may create a series for these languages as well. Your JS files will most likely reside in a directory on it's own. Most people put their JavaScript files in a "js", or "script" directory. I recommend the former one, since I believe it saves a bit of loading time with just two letters. Not to mention, it is easier for you to remember!
The great thing about this is language, amongst other things, is that as long as you have a web browser, JavaScript will work when you have it enabled. This depends on which one you use (e.g. whether Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc.). All of these have JavaScript enabled by default when you install them. The most popular of these at this time is Internet Explorer, however Firefox has better developer tools, in my opinion.
For Firefox: As you can tell, the version of Firefox I use right now is version 19.0.2. This should still apply if you have a slightly lower or new version.
To get to this dialog box, you need to navigate to your About menu and then pull-down to the Help menu and scroll down to About Firefox as shown here:
A good tip is that you should make sure you test all your JavaScript files on all your browsers just to make sure they work. This is especially true for games. It's possible I may make a series on games in JavaScript. Yes, you can make games in this programming language!
In the next article, I will discuss the other browsers and what version I use of those at the time, so that way we're all in sync when I teach you the amazing things JavaScript can do. Drop me some comments if you want to see how you can make some JavaScript games later in this training, or if you have any suggestions, feel free to add comments below. I'll see you around in the next part of the series!
UPDATE: Click here to go to the second part of the introduction to my Hot JavaScript Training series.
Recent Comments
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Use primarily Safari (Version 6.0.3 (7536.28.10) browser which is not your list, but in my security preferences it is enabled. When you cover Chrome I'll be ready, have it set as default. Looking forward to your next part.
If you are on Safari, it's possible you may be using a Mac. However, they also have a PC version of that, as well. I have it in my notes to include the link, as well in the next part. Also, thanks for indicating which version you use, as software features do change and deprecate through time. If I find any that do change, I will update them if someone indicates it doesn't work, or I simply update my articles. Thanks for sharing that! :)
This is an awesome post. I would actually suggest that you turn this into a training. You can then cut it up into pages, and get paid when people read, like, and comment on your training.
You can create a new training by going to the 'training' link in your left sidebar, or by clicking the feather dropdown menu on the top right, near you profile picture.
Thanks for taking the time to write this out. Tech is kind of over my head, but I'm trying to learn!
Thanks for the compliment and suggestion! I had another affiliate say the same thing. I was almost going to make YouTube videos, however I would like WA affiliates to be successful on their websites and encourage them to share my work if they are interested in learning JavaScript in a simple, easy way.
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I am and thank you very much for your response. Will follow your posts.