Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news-out.internetmci.com!news.internetMCI.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!207.172.3.37!feed1.news.rcn.net!rcn!howland.erols.net!torn!rover.ucs.ualberta.ca!thompson
From: [email protected] (Christopher Thompson)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.javascript,comp.answers,news.answers
Subject: ***FAQ*** comp.lang.javascript meta FAQ - v1.3 - 98/07/13
Followup-To: comp.lang.javascript
Date: 8 Sep 1998 18:32:46 GMT
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Lines: 267
Approved: [email protected]
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: obed-le0.cs.ualberta.ca
Keywords: javascript faq
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.lang.javascript:98135 comp.answers:32971 news.answers:139460

Archive-Name: computer-lang/java/javascript
Last-modified: Jul 13, 1998
Version: 1.3
URL: http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~thompson/programming/javascript/meta-FAQ.html
Maintainer: Christopher Thompson <[email protected]>
Posting-Frequency: weekly (every Monday) to *.answers, daily (!) to comp.lang.javascript

                      comp.lang.javascript meta-FAQ
    _________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents

  Sections changed since the last version are now marked with a '*'.

    * 1 meta-FAQ meta-questions
    * 2 comp.lang.javascript tips
         + 2.1 Which newsgroup deals with JavaScript?
         + 2.2 What questions are off-topic for clj?
         + 2.3 Why did I get flamed when I posted to clj? What do I have
           to do before posting to clj?
         + 2.4 Why was my post not answered?
         + 2.5 How do I direct someone to this FAQ?
         + 2.6 What is JScript? ECMAScript?
         + 2.7 What is the document object model?
         + 2.8 I have a question that is not answered in here or in any
           of the resources mentioned here but I'm sure it has been
           answered in clj. Where are the clj archives located?
    * 3 JavaScript resources
         + 3.1 What books cover JavaScript?
         + * 3.2 What online resources are available?
    * 4 Contributors
    * 5 * Further expansion
    _________________________________________________________________

1.0 meta-FAQ meta-questions

  You are reading the comp.lang.javascript meta-FAQ, version 1.3.

  This is the official comp.lang.javascript (clj) FAQ. Or, more
  accurately, the meta-FAQ as it only provides URLs to further
  information about JavaScript and some hints and tips to make your stay
  in comp.lang.javascript more enjoyable. This document is not intended
  as a JavaScript tutorial or reference guide. There is already plenty
  of this sort of information on the web.

  This document was created to help reduce the high levels of noise on
  clj and to provide a resource for people new to JavaScript or who want
  to know locations of valuable JavaScript resources.

  If you have a question you feel should be answered in the meta-FAQ, a
  correction for information included in this document, or wish to note
  a URL not included herein, please email the meta-FAQ maintainer,
  Christopher Thompson, at [email protected].

  The meta-FAQ will be posted to clj, in text form, once a day until
  such a time as the regulars feel it can be posted less frequently. It
  is also available at
  http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~thompson/programming/javascript/meta-FAQ.
  html. Note that the HTML version is preferred. The conversion from
  HTML to plain-text strips out some formatting and is therefore harder
  to read.

2.0 comp.lang.javascript tips

2.1 Which newsgroup deals with JavaScript?

  comp.lang.javascript is the official Usenet newsgroup dealing with
  JavaScript. There are other newsgroups but many of them are not
  carried by most news feeds. clj is an unmoderated newsgroup.

2.2 What questions are off-topic for clj?

  clj deals primarily with client-side JavaScript, running under a
  browser. Server-side JavaScript questions are also welcome but you
  should note explicitly in your post that your question deals with
  server-side scripting.

  JavaScript and Java are two completely different languages. Java
  questions should be asked in one of the comp.lang.java.* newsgroups;
  they are not appropriate for clj.

  Questions dealing with other scripting languages, such as VBScript,
  PerlScript or CGI scripting are also off-topic, as are HTML-only
  questions.

2.3 Why did I get flamed when I posted to clj? What do I have to do before
posting to clj?

  Before posting to clj, you should thoroughly read this document. You
  should also thoroughly read the resources mentioned in section 3. And
  you should read all appropriate posts to the clj newsgroup for several
  days. Most questions come up at least once every other day and people
  get sick of answering them repeatedly.

  Please state your question as clearly and concisely as possible, as
  this will make it far easier for the other readers of the list to
  understand your problems and suggest possible solutions.

  Has the same question already been posted that day? It is okay to ask
  again with your particular information, but indicate that you have
  seen the previous question and tell how yours differs.

  Include the script you have been working on (or URL) - indicate the
  problem spots and/or previous attempts. Try to limit the length of
  your post by removing extraneous page elements, but avoid removing
  script unless you are sure it is not an issue.

  Post in plain-text only. Do not post using HTML. If you have to
  include your script, paste it in to your post in plain-text, do not
  uuencode it or attach it using mime.

  Don't ask, or at least expect, to be emailed individually. Some
  individuals run scams for the purpose of collecting active email
  addresses and many won't risk being victimized. If you have
  circumstances that won't allow you to read clj for the follow-up,
  explain what they are and ask to be CC'ed a copy. You also might try
  one of the sites listed in section 3 to read any follow-ups.

  Don't take flames too seriously. And don't start a thread complaining
  about rude or flippant responses, there is already enough noise in
  clj. Keep a sense of humour while posting and reading and everything
  will be a lot more enjoyable.

   2.4 Why was my post not answered?

  This could be for several reasons:

    * it was a variation of a frequently asked question and was
      therefore ignored by everyone
    * no one knows the answer
    * the person with the answer has not seen the post
    * it might not be possible to do what you want to do but perhaps
      readers of clj are reluctant to answer your post in the negative
      when they are not convinced that it cannot be done.

2.5 How do I direct someone to this FAQ?

  This document is posted to clj very frequently. There should be no
  reason to direct someone to it. However, if someone asks a question
  answered in this FAQ or in one of the resources listed herein, please
  let them know their question is answered in the FAQ and that the FAQ
  can be found at
  http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~thompson/programming/javascript/meta-FAQ.
  html

2.6 What is JScript? ECMAScript?

  JScript is Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript. ECMAScript is the
  international standard for JavaScript. The 4.x browsers are more or
  less ECMAScript compliant. Note that ECMAScript did not attempt to
  standardize the document object model.

2.7 What is the document object model?

  Strictly speaking the document object model (DOM) is not a part of
  JavaScript. This is the collection of objects provided by each browser
  that allows JavaScript to actually be a useful language. Basically,
  any object in the window hierarchy is part of the DOM. This means that
  document.writeln(), for example, is not a JavaScript method but is, in
  fact, a method provided by the DOM. Although there is an attempt in
  progress to standardize the DOM, this has not yet happened. Most
  cross-browser coding problems come from slightly different
  implementations of the DOM in the different browsers.

2.8 I have a question that is not answered in here or in any of the
resources mentioned here but I'm sure it has been answered in clj. Where are
the clj archives located?

  http://www.dejanews.com/ maintains a Usenet archive site. Tens of
  thousands of clj posts are archived there.
  http://www.altavista.digital.com also maintains a Usenet archive.

3.0 JavaScript resources

3.1 What books cover JavaScript?

  There are rather a lot of JavaScript books available. In general, clj
  regulars recommend Danny Goodman's JavaScript Bible, now in third
  edition (more information available at http://www.dannyg.com/) or
  O'Reilly's JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (more information
  available at http://www.oreilly.com/). Either book should answer
  almost all of your questions and is well worth the money. Make sure
  you buy the most recent edition.

3.2 What online resources are available?

    * http://www.irt.org/script/faq.htm This is an exhaustive JavaScript
      FAQ and is the reason this document is an meta-FAQ, not a FAQ.
      More than 90% of questions posted to clj are already answered in
      here. Don't post until you read this.
    * http://www.dannyg.com/. There is a much shorter JavaScript FAQ
      here which is also worth checking out.
    * http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/3.0/handbook/javascript/.
      Netscape's JavaScript handbook. If you are developing for NN2 or
      MSIE 3, ignore any features marked as implemented in NN3. This is
      a good online reference to JavaScript.
    *
      http://developer.netscape.com/library/documentation/communicator/js
      guide/js1_2.htm The JavaScript 1.2 reference guide, for NN4
      developers.
    * http://www.microsoft.com/scripting/. Microsoft's scripting site.
      Unfortunately, this only covers the most recent version JScript.
    * * http://www.webniche.com/jscript.html, Kathleen's Little Page of
      JavaScript Resources.
    * * http://www.ScriptBuilder.com/, an excellent forum for JavaScript
      (and many other) questions.
    * http://members.tripod.com/~housten/download. Archived
      documentation for MSIE 3.x.
    * http://www.ecma.ch/stand/ecma-262.htm, the official ECMAScript
      specification.
    * * http://www.mozilla.org/source.html, the source code to
      Netscape's browser.
    * http://home.worldcom.ch/~jmlugrin/fesi/index.html, a free
      implementation of ECMAScript in Java.
    * http://www.dejanews.com/ and http://www.altavista.digital.com/
      archive Usenet newsgroups.
    *
      http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~thompson/programming/javascript/protec
      t.html, frequently asked questions about source code obfuscation.
    * * http://www.15seconds.com/, a wonderful resource for Active
      Server Pages, something not covered in this meta-FAQ at all.

4.0 Contributors

  Thanks to the following contributors, in alphabetical order:

    * Kathleen Fetner ([email protected], http://www.webniche.com/) for
      her Small Page of JavaScript Resources
    * Heidi Housten ([email protected], http://www.public.se/heidi/)
      for maintaining the MSIE 3.x documentation.
    * Eric Lippert ([email protected]) for representing Microsoft in
      clj and for writing the frequently asked questions about source
      code obfuscation.
    * Jean-Marc Lugrin ([email protected],
      http://home.worldcom.ch/~jmlugrin/) for writing the ECMAScript
      interpretor in Java.
    * Jason Olmsted ([email protected],
      http://www.phat-media.com/olm/) for the prototype version of this
      document.
    * Mike Shaver ([email protected]) for unofficially representing
      Netscape in clj.
    * Catherine Skidmore ([email protected],
      http://www.suck-my-big.org/) for being the Queen of clj.
    * Christopher Thompson ([email protected],
      http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~thompson/) for maintaining this
      document.
    * Stuart Updegrave ([email protected]) for proof-reading this
      document.
    * Martin Webb (http://www.irt.org/) for maintaining the best
      JavaScript FAQ site I've seen and also for suggesting changes to
      this document.

    * Everyone else I haven't mentioned who has helped me grasp
      JavaScript.

5.0 Further Expansion

  * I may expand the meta-FAQ to provide quick answers to the most
  commonly asked clj questions. Essentially all the information will be
  available elsewhere but this will provide a sort of "crib-sheet" to
  get people started. I have absolutely no intention of replacing the
  excellent online FAQs and tutorials, however. Please email me your
  opinions of this.

You are viewing proxied material from ftp.icm.edu.pl. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.