Greg Franko’s book, Instant Dependency Management with RequireJS How-to, from Packt Publishing, strives to cut through the clutter and introduce you to AMD through Require.js
Asynchronous Module Definition is a term that can be intimidating. Even worse, it can potentially discourage JavaScript programmers from learning about and implementing the AMD API. Fortunately, this book can be helpful.
The initial areas of discussion. are what you might expect: learning how to load Require.js both synchronously and asynchronously, as well as setting Require.js configuration values. But what becomes apparent is that implementing AMD patterns does not mean having to abandon the tools you use. Mr. Franko does a nice job of illustrating how jQuery can be exposed in your pages as an AMD module, as well as Jasmine unit tests and client-side JavaScript templating. All of this is accomplished by leveraging Require.js. A logical extension of this journey is a discussion of JavaScript libraries that do not expose themselves as AMD modules such as Backbone.js and jQueryUI Widget Factory. In these cases, a thorough explanation details how to work around this challenge, and keep tight control of your JavaScript resources. There is also helpful content here for mobile web developers.
Instant Dependency Management with RequireJS How-to may not be the definitive “go-to” resource for those who are completely new to the concept of AMD or Require.js. While key concepts are well served, this book’s strength is its ability to broaden one’s perspective with regards to what Require.js is capable of. By illustrating jQuery’s ability to be exposed as an AMD module, the power and flexibility of Require.js becomes increasingly apparent.
I would recommend this book for JavaScript developers who are already familiar with the concept of asynchronous module definition and understand in general how Require.js works. For this audience, Mr Franko’s direction will deliver a great deal of value with regards to the numerous architectural solutions that are detailed. In each case it is easy to see that Reqiure.js is more than simply a sophisticated script loader. This library exposes a number of properties and methods that help you to leverage AMD as broadly as possible, even when some of the libraries in use are not AMD compliant.
Instant Dependency Management with RequireJS How-to is available in paperback, or eBook format.
- Author: Greg Franko
- File Size: 100 KB
- Print Length: 42 pages
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- Publish Date: May 22, 2013
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00CXRTC1Q
