Lamp Training

Up to the minute training
in emerging web technologies

Ajax and JavaScript

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There is nothing that distinguishes next generation Web applications as clearly as Ajax. Our Ajax courses are designed to allow you to design and implement state of the art web interfaces with a minimum of fuss. We cover the basic Javascript language, browser-interoperability, server-side implications, and how to develop with a range of different third party Javascript libraries.

For developers who haven't programmed with Javascript before (or who's experience is limited to copying and modifying simple scripts), our three day program is perfect. We cover Javascript from first principles as a serious application development language: with copious examples of robust and maintainable idiomatic code, coverage of cross-browser testing and modularity for large-application development. The final day of the three day program covers use of Javascript libraries to speed up development. We can cover either one library in reasonable depth, or provide exposure to all three.

Ajax Course Options

We can also offer four day programs for Prototype/Scriptaculous and MochiKit (we offer a dedicated jQuery programs, as well as a four-day program combined with core Javascript). Because of its larger size and feature-set, covering Dojo in reasonable depth takes an extra day: allow a five day course. Each of these programs starts with covering the Javascript needed to understand and work successfully with each library. Just as in our Introduction to Javascript and Ajax program, our material focuses on robust development practice.

NEW! We are starting to offer a new course in Future-Proof Javascript: covering both the current and future state of the technology. In this one-week program we cover the new syntax, class and type system in Javascript 2.0, and the excellent new E4X technology for handling XML. Javascript 2.0 has been billed as the 'next big language': as well as its Ajax use, it is found in the guise of ActionScript 3.0 at the heart of Adobe's Flash, Flex and AIR technologies.

Javascript Libraries

We offer additional in-depth modules on various third party Javascript libraries that can dramatically speed up Ajax development. While it is important to understand the Javascript, productivity is far higher using one of these technologies.

Our basic Introduction to Ajax course includes discussion of one of these toolkits (at your choice), or we can provide a basic exposure to all of them.

jQuery jQuery has recently had a surge of adoption announcements, bringing it to the front of the pack among toolkits. We provide a dedicated jQuery program, but can also cover the toolkit as part of a general Javascript course.

Dojo Gaining industry momentum and code contribution from a range of major players, Dojo provides the widest range of skinnable UI components, along with a very useful package system that dramatically simplifies deployment of large Javascript applications.

Prototype and Scriptaculous Prototype is the Javascript framework that comes with Rails, onto which Scriptaculous builds a set of easy to use effects and widgets.

MochiKit Where other Javascript frameworks concentrate on providing great effects and UI components, MochiKit provides rock-solid foundations that make building large, complex and enterprise-ready web applications much simpler.

Our Training

Our courses are intensive and practical, focussing on timely web-technology issues for professionals who need to get stuff done.

Course Materials

Our training philosophy can be expressed in 4 simple principles:

1. Doing is better than just hearing. Our courses are structured in a bite-sized way, with concept presentations, followed by guided student work on exercises and well-written, robust example code.

2. Training is a long-term process. We continue to provide support for your participants for three months after the course is over, answering syllabus-related questions as they arise. We don't leave our course participants in the lurch when they come to apply their learning to real world problems.

3. Not all experts can teach. Not all teachers are experts. Minimum qualifications for our instructors are expert-level skills in their subject with a great ability to communicate their knowledge and mentor skill-development.

4. It's your course. Everyone has different needs of their training program. We work hard to understand the demands your work will put on your technical skills, and tailor programs to help you. We are happy to include your real-world problems as examples and exercises.

The supporting materials provided were also invaluable .... the training handbook was a constant companion until long after the end of the course, and a trusted starting-point for numerous forays into new territory.

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