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TT281 The client-side of Application development
TT281 is my second course in the Web Applications Development series, and a lot seems to have changed in the way the courses are presented since I did the pilot of TT280 in 2002. This course looks well organised, there's a lot to do right from the start, and the weekly study guides are more comprehensive. I approached TT280 with some knowledge of html and web design, but I have very little experience of JavaScript apart from 'borrowing' preset scripts, so there's a lot more to learn from scratch on this course.
The set book supplied with the course material is 'JavaScript for the World Wide Web', and seems quite comprehensive, although students on the last presentation also recommended: How to do everything with JavaScript, and 'Fun Web Pages with JavaScript' as additional reading. Also O'Reilly's 'JavaScript the definitive Guide' seems a useful reference source. As with TT280 there's a course website available to registered students, which contains the study guides, course calendar, etc.
TT281 October 2003 presentation
Week One - The Client and JavaScript in Context
Week one looks at client-server architectures, which are introduced in the study guide, and then examined using activities involving research on the Internet.
Activity 1.1 - Thick and Thin Clients
Thin Client
Advantages:
• cost saving
• time saving (installations)
• improved end user productivity
• simple software upgrades
• more reliable
• device security
• syncronisation
• Durable and accessible - can go where a PC can't
Disadvantages:
• static with low level of interactivity
• Slower (generally requires more clicks than thick client)
• designed to lowest common browser
• full control taken from user
Thick Client
Advantages:
• Rich functionality, high interactivity
• local processing and storage allows working 'offline'
• more secure
Disadvantages:
• expensive
• complex upgrades
• need client program to access system
Examples of thick and thin clients:
First class conferencing system - browser based is a thin client, FirstClass client software is a thick client.
Parcel couriers sometimes use a handheld terminal to enter parcel data - this is then uploaded to a main computer, an example of a thin client
Activity 1.2 - Introduction to Java Applets
This activity introduced Java applets - many people seem to confuse Java and JavaScript. Java is a powerful high level programming language, JavaScript is a simple client based programming language. Java Applets are self contained Java programs than can be embedded in web pages. With a suitable Java plugin, the client can then download and run the applet.
Applet example sites:
Sun Java site
Example applets
More free applets
Image map applet
Rubik's cube applet
Example of a classic Java Applet, the 'Lake'(click on the image for more details):
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Week Two - Basic Concepts of Scripting (1)
Week two was hands-on learning JavaScript by working through the course programming guide, the examples in the course book, and various online tutorials. I intend to incorporate several JavaScript features into this page. Although I've completed other OU programming courses such as T223, M206 and MT262, I still found it useful to spend time getting used to JavaScript syntax, and trying out the examples. All the scripts in the course book can be downloaded from the book's website.
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Week Three - Basic Concepts of Scripting (2)
Week three continued with scripting principles - going through tutorials and learning JavaScript. The first CMA is due soon, and as with TT280, there have been some ambiguities in the questions. Four questions have now been zero weighted as they cover material not covered until after the cma cut off.
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Week Four - Images, Page Styles and Accessibility
Example of JavaScript image rollover:
Week four covered images and animations, CSS, and accessibility, some of which was revision from TT280. The ECA has now been made available and gives us something to focus on and work towards.
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Week Five - Browser Frames & Windows
Week Six - Forms and Data Validation
Week Seven - Dynamic Content and Event Handling
Week Eight - Cookies, Privacy and Security
Week Nine - Dynamic HTML and Documents Objects
Week Ten - User Interface Design
Week Eleven - Applied JavaScript and Tools
Week Twelve - End of course assignment
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URL of this page: http://www.larnach.info/TT281/index.htm
TT281 links
Course description
Certificate description
Web Applications Certificate
Course book companion site
Week one
thick and thin clients
'n' tier architecture (.pdf doc)
Applets
Sun Java site
Example applets
More free applets
Image map applet
Rubik's cube applet
Week two
JavaScript Reference
Netscape Devedge
CompTech
Tutorials
W3Schools JAvaScript tutorial
Echo Echo JavaScript Tutorial
Web Monkey JavaScript Tutorial
JavaScript Tutorial
Libraries and examples
The JavaScript Source
Web Monkey code library
Dynamic drive
Dithered library
Week four
Accessiblity
Web Accessibility Initiative
WAI Faq's
Access-board
AccessIT
CSS
CSS2 Spec
CSS resources
Course Team
Nick
Michelle G.
Moderators
Michelle H.
Students
Miscellaneous
JavaScript Utility Suite
Coda editor/ debugger
Online Dictionary of Computing
Web Accessibility checklist
