Advanced ASP NET AJAX Server Controls For NET Framework 3 5 Microsoft Net Development Series
Posted by aspnetnerd on 07 Oct 2008 at 02:15 am | Tagged as: Book
Advanced ASP NET AJAX Server Controls For NET Framework 3 5 Microsoft Net Development Series
This is the eBook version of the printed book. If the print book includes a CD-ROM, this content is not included within the eBook version.
Microsoft .NET Development Series
ASP.NET AJAX server controls can encapsulate even the most powerful AJAX functionality, helping you build more elegant, maintainable, and scalable applications. This is the first comprehensive, code-rich guide to custom ASP.NET AJAX server controls for experienced ASP.NET developers. Unlike other books on ASP.NET AJAX, this book focuses solely on server control development and reflects the significant improvements in ASP.NET 3.5 AJAX and the latest Visual Studio 2008 features for streamlining AJAX development
Adam Calderon and Joel Rumerman first review the core Microsoft AJAX Library and JavaScript techniques needed to support a rich client-side experience. Next, they build upon these techniques showing how to create distributable AJAX-enabled controls that include rich browser-independent JavaScript client-side functionality. The authors thoroughly explain both the JavaScript and .NET aspects of control development and how these two distinct environments come together to provide a foundation for building a rich user experience using ASP.NET AJAX.
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Create object-oriented cross-browser JavaScript that supports .NET style classes, interfaces, inheritance, and method overloading
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Work with components, behaviors, and controls, and learn how they relate to DOM elements
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Learn Sys.Application and the part it plays in object creation, initialization, and events in the Microsoft AJAX Library
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Build Extender and Script controls that provide integrated script generation for their corresponding client-side counterparts
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Localize ASP.NET AJAX controls including client script
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Discover ASP.NET AJAX client and server communication architecture and the new support for Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
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Understand ASP.NET AJAX Application Services
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Create custom Application Services
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Design controls for a partial postback environment
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Understand the AJAX Control Toolkit architecture and the many features it provides
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Develop highly interactive controls using the AJAX Control Toolkit
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Understand AJAX Control Toolkit architecture and build controls that utilize the toolkit
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Not for the faint of heart 
I would classify this book as a hardcore, deeply technical look at JavaScript, AJAX, and the Atlas farmework (I am only a few chapters in )
The first few chapters I have read so far covered JavaScript more in depth then I think anyone human should ever go with JavaScript but there were some interesting nuances that I didn’t previously know about. I haven’t got into the meat of the AJAX stuff yet but if the first few chapters are any indication of the depth, this book will be on the “hardcore” level.
3 Stars Details, Details, Details, … , Details, Details
This book has a lot of details. It’s hard to just get on with it while reading thru the chapters because the authors seem to think they should try and combine reference material with learning material. Don’t get me wrong, I like details, when I need them. However, it is really hard to just do any example in this book without getting bogged down in why rather than how. I think chapter 10 actually starts in on “How”, but that’s TEN chapters and 500 pages into the book!?!
My other complaint is the vocabulary in this book can sometimes be a complete put off. Instead of saying things like “server side” they say “server-centric” which I guess means the same thing, but why change what everyone is used to saying?
But, the book does have a lot of details and it does belong on your shelf if you want to learn serious ASP.NET AJAX and have a good reference for it. I just don’t think it’s the book you should read from cover to cover, especially as an intro. Dino Esposito’s book is probably a better start.
5 Stars Excellent book!
This book covers literally everything you would ever need to know about using AJAX on the ASP.NET platform. It is full of useful examples. I find my self referring to it quite often.
5 Stars Great stuff!!! This Book Rocks!!!!!
I started programming on the internet with Internet Explorer 2.0 on a Mac Performa using notepad, and then using Claris Home Page. I was using the AJAX technologies well before 2000. It is interesting to see how engrained into our browser development they have become. A few years later I started developing Windows Form applications, which move into the Smart Client context, and now RIA using WPF and Silverlight. I have gotten my hands dirty with browser applications a few times since 2002, but I try to avoid them like the plague.
I am a firm believer that the browser is being abused, would love to develop every day without it, but have found that is still not possible today when targeting home users and environments you do not control. That is not the case with our project, we should be using WPF, but those in charge do not care.
Why all the useless blather? Because I want you to know I have absolutely zero interest in ASP.NET AJAX, but I have to get up to speed on it because it is being forced on our team.
That said, this book sucks, because it is written so well I cannot put it down. These guys zero in on ASP.NET AJAX Server Controls, but they take the time to go in-depth on all the technologies that ASP.NET AJAX Server Controls interact with. Including JavaScript, JSON, HTTP Handlers, the ASP.NET AJAX Extensions, the ASP.NET AJAX Toolkit, REST, and WCF.
This book has given me a new perspective on the present day browser environment that will make this next project enjoyable.
If you are getting started with ASP.NET AJAX I highly recommend this book. It digs into the guts of ASP.NET AJAX and will give the inside story on how the ASP.NET AJAX Controls are working and how to build high quality controls yourself.
I would suggest being proficient in ASP.NET, have a good understand of JavaScript, and have played around with the ASP.NET AJAX Extension and the ASP.NET AJAX Toolkit.
The examples in the book are great, and the downloadable code is well organized and very usable.
4 Stars Great for the developer who wants to know more.
This is an excellent book for developers looking to lean more than just the basics of ASP.NET AJAX, to truly understand how ASP.NET AJAX works. This book contains some fairly advanced subjects that are probably too much for a beginner, but great for the experienced developer.
