Programming Atlas, O'Reilly
Microsoft .NET Framework, ASP.NET, Visual C# (CSharp, C Sharp, C-Sharp) Developer Training, Visual Studio
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C# Online.NET Book Review
Microsoft Atlas is a free "Web client framework" designed to make the job of building Ajax-style applications simpler—primarily—for ASP.NET developers. Atlas comprises downloadable pieces of JavaScript code. It offers developers a more structured environment for building Web applications, providing an object model and services such as debugging. Atlas works with all Web browsers that support Ajax technology; because, Atlas is Microsoft's proprietary, tightly integrated take on Ajax. Atlas software can be used in Visual Studio 2005 with ASP.NET 2.0.
The book attempts to cover all of the topics which Atlas might potenitally impact including "Using Atlas with Other Server Technologies" and PHP. But, Atlas is only fully effective when used with Internet Information Services (IIS) and ASP.NET using Visual Studio. So, if you plan to use some server besides a Microsoft server, Ajax is your best bet for Web 2.0 enhancements. However, the majority of the book is aimed squarely at the Microsoft developer as it should be; since, Atlas is aimed at Microsoft-only shops.
The book does a good job describing the new Atlas client-side controls, declarative data binding, database connection, extender controls, graphical effects using Atlas—e.g. automatic positioning of page elements, opacity animations—, and XML Web services. At the time of writing, the official Atlas release had not been made. This means that the book may be contradicted by subsequent developments.
The author's style is direct and practical; and, he is knowledgeable with this new technology.
The ideal reader for the book will know Javascript, C#, and ASP.NET.
All of the source code examples are in the Javascript and C# languages and, of course, ASP.NET.
Bottom line
Programming Atlas is a useful introduction to Microsoft Atlas.
Publisher's description
Programming Atlas is not just another "drag and drop" ASP.NET 2.0 book, but dives into the technologies that make it work. You'll begin with a tour of the technologies most often associated with Ajax, from JavaScript and XMLHttpRequest to JSON and the DOM. With the fundamentals in place, author JavaScript expert Christian Wenz unpacks the Atlas framework and shows you how to put its tools to work.
From the back cover
Learn how to deliver richer, more interactive web experiences to your users using ASP.NET Atlas, Microsoft's new framework for building Ajax-savvy web sites. Web developers of all persuasions have embraced the Ajax suite of technologies (JavaScript, HTTP, XML and more) as a way to implement pages that are faster, livelier and more desktop-like in their behavior. Now Atlas brings the power of Ajax to ASP.NET 2.0 developers with controls, script libraries and server support that delivers engaging results without the pain that writing complex JavaScript can entail. Better yet, Atlas web pages are standards based and even run cross-browser.
Programming Atlas is not just another "drag and drop" ASP.NET 2.0 book, but dives into the technologies that make it work. You'll begin with a tour of the technologies most often associated with Ajax, from JavaScript and XMLHttpRequest to JSON and the DOM. With the fundamentals in place, author JavaScript expert Christian Wenz unpacks the Atlas framework and shows you how to put its tools to work. You'll learn to:
- Understand the architecture of Atlas and the role played by server conrols, such as ScriptManager and UpdatePanel
- Use core Atlas controls and extenders to build more interactive pages with text fields that autocomplete, user input that is validated, controls that can be dragged and dropped, and much more
- Bind, display, and update data without causing the entire page to refresh and use the Atlas web services bridge to consume third-party services beyond the domain of your application
- Incorporate Microsoft Virtual Earth into an application, use Atlas with Web Parts, and create a Windows Live Gadget
- Use Atlas with PHP and explore other non-Microsoft Ajax tools for ASP.NET
About the author(s)
Christian Wenz is an author, trainer, and consultant. His main focus of working and writing is on web technologies and security. Christian has written or co-written over 50 books for various publishers. He works with both open source and closed source web technologies. This leads to the unusual situation that he has both been awarded a Microsoft MVP for ASP/ASP.NET and is listed in Zend's Who is Who of PHP. He is also listed in Mozilla's credits (about:credits) and is considered an expert in browser-agnostic JavaScript.
Apart from writing and working on web projects, Christian also frequently speaks at developer conferences around the globe that cover web technologies. Among them are 2005's Microsoft Tech Ed Europe conference (BOF session) and the 2005 Zend Conference.
Table of Contents (abbreviated)
1. Atlas, Ajax, and ASP.NET
2. JavaScript
3. Ajax
4. Controls
5. Data Binding and Validation
6. Components and Behaviors
7. Animations
8. Client Script Library
9. Using Server Data
10. Web Services
11. Extending Controls
12. Virtual Earth
13. Web Parts and Gadgets
14. Atlas Control Toolkit
15. Using Atlas with Other Server Technologies
16. Other Ajax Tools
A. XMLHttpRequest Reference
B. DOM Reference
C. Atlas Reference
D. ScriptManager and UpdatePanel Declarative Reference
Categories: CSharp-Online.NET Reviews | CSharp-Online.NET Book Reviews | Javascript (Web 2.0) Book Reviews
