Unit 5 – Reflection

Finally, its here.  I have been looking forward to tackling this unit since I began this course. Writing javascript code, and exploring what javascript can actually do, has been a curiosity of mine since I decided to step into the web development world.

At first, I explored by manipulating other’s code, and through trial and error slightly expanding my understanding of how javascript works. I felt like I was stumbling in the dark almost every time, and I knew that at least some education was necessary to truly understand what was going on.

Through following this trial and error method, I eventually achieved a basic understanding of how javascript works, and how the DOM was called to by variables, functions, loops etc. I learned a little more by changing classes and id’s within plugins in order to more or less apply javascript and jQuery libraries to both static HTML and WordPress websites.

Although this is a great way to learn, its not exactly the best way to really understand how JavaScript actually works. The only way, is to actually apply raw and hand written code, to different but fairly simple things, along with many in-depth tutorials that teach you how things actually work.

For example, by following the wc3 tutorials, studying and understanding each example and exercise, then applying operations in the exercises, one is able to learn immensely. I am now able to take javascript that previously made little sense to me, and apply it to pretty much anything.

Of course, while there is still much to learn, I feel much more comfortable with JavaScript now, and at least the fundamentals are very clear to me now. In a sense, I learned web programming backwards, as php and mysql were much more familiar to me than JavaScript.

Through the practice achieved via this course, and careful analyzation of the recommended wc3 tutorials, my knowledge has expanded, and been further fine tuned, which was my ultimate goal for this course.

That being said, in terms of actually ‘writing’ code, I find jQuery to be much simpler, and easier to use for front end developers. Making anything happen is much easier in jQuery than in JavaScript, although I understand the importance of understanding vanilla JavaScript in order to apply this knowledge to numerous js libraries.

I believe each one of my chosen scripts fits the personas and scenarios chosen in Unit 1 because each refines the user’s experience.

For starters, a contact form is necessary on any website, no matter how you look at it. I went a step further, by adding several validation functions, which can later be applied to any other javascript form. I had to deal with an ‘unexpected end of input’ error, due to the fact I wrote a duplicate if statement by mistake. I am cleaning and adding an email php file to the form if I have time.

I also created a timed-delayed and manually controlled slider, which I applied to the testimonials on the footer. This can also be applied to any type of content slider, including image sliders, video sliders, etc. I found this one particularly challenging, since I had to work with ‘hidden’ containers. Getting the correct dimensions to center in the middle of the footer took a bit of troubleshooting.

Lastly, the pre-loader was the easiest to implement to my site, as it was written in jQuery. I have explored a bit about how jQuery works in the past, and I have encountered it through my ventures with various different WordPress plugins. Needless to say, with my previously rudimentary knowledge of JavaScript and jQuery, the two made very little sense to me.

Now, I am able to understand most of how jQuery and javascript work in unison, although as I move forward I will find myself referring to wc3 tutorials in order to create iteratively better applications.

I would love to have more time to spend exploring different JavaScript and jQuery applications, and their usage. Unfortunately, I am running out of time to complete this unit, but in the future I want to go through all the JavaScript tutorials in the wc3 schools with plenty of time, then continue to the jQuery tutorials.

I wish more feedback was provided, specially at this point in the unit since I have received little to no direction since the beginning of the unit. I have only been ‘approved’ on each unit, but no actual feedback on any of the work has been provided thus far, so my grade and what I need to do to improve it has never been clear.

Here is the last iteration of unit 5 for your consideration:

Citations:

Peter Tichy (2014/06/30). Custom Preloading Screen [jQuery plugin]. ihatetomatoes

[Custom Preloading Screen] (2016/03/20). Retrieved from https://ihatetomatoes.net/create-custom-preloading-screen/

“I used the Custom Preloading Screen to complete Unit 5 of the Computer Science 266 : Introduction to Web Programming course offered through the Athabasca University."

Kirupa Chinnathambi (2015/09/21). Creating a Sweet Content Slider [javascript tutorial]. Kirupa.com

[Content Slider] (2016/03/25). Retrieved from https://www.kirupa.com/html5/creating_a_sweet_content_slider.htm

“I used this tutorial to create a Content Slider to complete Unit 5 of the Computer Science 266 : Introduction to Web Programming course offered through the Athabasca University." 

W3resource (2016/03/01). Creating a Sweet Content Slider [javascript tutorial]. W3recource.com

[Form Validation tutorials] (2016/03/25). Retrieved from http://www.w3resource.com/javascript/form/non-empty-field.php and other tutorials.

“I used this tutorial to create a Form with several Validation Fields to complete Unit 5 of the Computer Science 266 : Introduction to Web Programming course offered through the Athabasca University."

On to jQuery…