At long last, the 5th edition of JavaScript: The Definitive Guide is complete! Amazon is accepting pre-orders, and O'Reilly should be releasing a sample chapter soon.
I'm pleased with how this edition came out. In Part I, which covers the core language, the material on functions, closures, and classes has been strengthened, and there are new chapters on namespaces and on embedding JavaScript in Java 6 programs.
The biggest changes are in Part II of the book, which covers client-side JavaScript. Two new chapters on scripted HTTP and XML processing cover Ajax. Another new chapter on scripted client-side graphics covers the <canvas> tag, SVG, and alternatives. The chapter on cookies has been extended to discuss other client-side persistance mechanisms. And the chapter on scripting Java applets has been extended to also cover scripting Flash movies.
All these changes should bring the book up-to-date for "Web 2.0"
Congratulations! I shall look forward to picking up a copy.
I was just using my copy of the 4th edition last night and thinking "wow, this is enourmously helpful and complete". It really is a book with all the answers, and I'm very glad to see it being kept up to date.
Congrats! I hope my contributions, late as they were, were of use.
Mazel Tov.
Any idea when the print and/or Safari Online versions will be available?
You have no idea how important the first edition of this book was to my career; as sycophantic as it sounds, I would go so far as to say it was my "bible".
Aristotle: yes, your comments were helpful. You're mentioned in the preface, and O'Reilly should send you a copy of the book when it comes out.
Joe: Amazon lists August 1st as the availability date. I'm hoping it might be a bit earlier than that, but I doubt it would be much earlier. Good question about Safari. I don't know when they release new books online.
Hi David,
Great news!
Actually, I was anticipating a Rough Cuts phase, which would have been interesting and seems wouldn't have delayed the publication beyond the first of August.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to get my hands on it!