Smashing Node.JS book is out.

by Rauchg • 14 years ago

103 50 14 years ago

terinjokes• 14 years ago

I've always been a bit weary of purchasing technical books for the Kindle: the few I've done that way are largely unreadable. What's the case here?

As for the content itself, I'm pretty good with JavaScript, both for the web and for node. Does this add anything new?

farslan• 14 years ago

I think Kindle DX users will benefit from the kindle edition. Technical books is a pleasure to read on a Kindle DX.

barking• 14 years ago

DX's a bit expensive, my compromise is to read in landscape format on my standard size kindle.

SirPalmerston3• 14 years ago

Yeah, I couldn't afford a DX. I end up reading the "content" on my Kindle and when there are long code snippets, I read it on my Mac.

mgkimsal2• 14 years ago

And I've been wary about publishing them :)

Shameless plug: I put out jsmag in PDF, and regularly get people asking for Kindle version, but have not yet been able to make something look decent. Revisiting this again next month. Suggestions/guidance on this topic welcome.

tikhonj• 14 years ago

I had good luck with formatting things for my Kindle with LaTeX. I just set the page size to be proportionate to the Kindle screen and compiled a PDF. The result was far better looking than using the normal Kindle format and I didn't have the normal issues with PDFs because mine actually fit on the screen.

This wasn't the most space efficient system, but it was probably the best one aesthetically. Also, since I just created a custom .sty file to automate this, I can have my single source document output both normal-sized and Kindle-sized PDFs.

kika3• 14 years ago

I read almost all of my technical books (I've stopped buying technical paperbacks a couple of years ago) on iPad. For whatever reason (natural born cyborg?) my eyes appreciate glowing screen. If only I can make iPad lighter...

tjholowaychuk• 14 years ago

boom!

jonny_eh• 14 years ago

Any DRM free epub versions available for purchase?

michaelsbradley• 14 years ago

I would immediately purchase a DRM free PDF edition of this book, if such were available. I find that's the best format for easily moving between study sessions on my iPad and experimentation on my laptop (e.g. copying code snippets into a REPL or editor).

I've been using node.js since early 2010, but I find it helpful to read books written by a platform's expert developers, as they tend to provide insights and demonstrate helpful patterns of which I was previously unaware.

I'm not interested in buying (and won't buy) a printed copy or a DRM'd digital edition.

SirPalmerston3• 14 years ago

Just buy a copy from Amazon and then strip the DRM in < 30 seconds with a Calibre plug - http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/how-to-strip-drm-from...

atdt• 14 years ago

Having to creep around copy protections like a thief takes the joy and pride of ownership right out.

mcantelon• 14 years ago

Congrats Guillermo!

state• 14 years ago

This looks good. It seems like just the right time for this, and I like the collection of topics.

kmfrk• 14 years ago

I guess I'll be that guy: is there a downloadable sample available somewhere?

demetris• 14 years ago

The Wiley page has some:

http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1119962595...

SirPalmerston3• 14 years ago

And if you want to get it via Amazon for your Kindle, Amazon offers a sample of every book.

naww• 14 years ago

What about that book he is selling? Is that any good? Have some of you even read it yet?

cirotix3• 14 years ago

I have only read the first two chapters (setup and Javascript an overview).

The content do not look bad (but I have not read node.js specific parts yet so I can't really tell). The bad part is that it would need some serious proof-reading... Some sentences are missing words or are hardly understandable and there are some mistakes in the code.

kyebosh• 14 years ago

Reiterating the sentiment. Seems great so far, but there are some errors that could create confusion. The good news is the author left his email address, so I dare say he's well aware by now :)

cjstewart88• 14 years ago

Just got back into node.js this past week and I think its a great change up from RoR(day job). I'm using the socket.io module and seeing as this guy's responsible for that... I figured I'd support him and order a copy, plus I like reading other perspectives on programming topics. Thanks!

goronbjorn2• 14 years ago

Is this in any way affiliated with Smashing Magazine (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/)? The name and color scheme would lead one to believe so…

dustincoates• 14 years ago

It doesn't seem so. Otherwise you'd have to imagine they'd be more transparent about it.

patorjk• 14 years ago

It appears so. At this link which someone posted below:

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111996259...

There's the Smashing Magazine logo on the upper left hand side of the book.

goronbjorn2• 14 years ago

Hm, but it doesn't appear in Smashing's ebook store: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/ebooks/

zemo• 14 years ago

surprisingly enough, I actually saw this book on shelf in person at Barnes and Nobles, just an hour after I saw this post. (the union square location in NYC has it)

DigitalSea2• 14 years ago

I would buy this if there were a PDF version available. Am I able to purchase the Kindle copy and download some kind of Kindle app to read it? I really want this book.

cirotix3• 14 years ago

Sure, you have other options to read Kindle books without a Kindle device:

* On the web or on your iPhone/iPad https://read.amazon.com/

* On Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.kin...

kika3• 14 years ago

Also on Mac and Windows desktops. The great thing about Kindle is that it's almost as ubiquitous as PDF. Almost.

DigitalSea2• 14 years ago

Wow, thanks. I did not actually know that Kindle books could be read without actually owning a Kindle capable device. I'm buying this right now.

m-i• 14 years ago

I would also buy if there were a PDF version. Since my entire library is pdf, I won't install a software and register an account just to read this book.

breathesalt• 14 years ago

Shameless plug: you can always buy the print version and have it digitized.

jasonkostempski• 14 years ago

I was ready to buy a PDF. I'm not maintaining a Kindle account and app for 1 book.

SeanDav• 14 years ago

anything with DRM = no sale

alvaromuir• 14 years ago

Not to be a hater but this book got MAD programming errors. I guess since its not for beginners, there's no read to technically edit?

I mean, you can infer what he meant but man it would suck if you didn't know JS that well.

I still applaud this man for his contributions though.

ftwinnovations2• 14 years ago

You made an account just to bash this book?

kurrent• 14 years ago

Unfortunately, this seems to be about the norm for first editions of the Smashing library.

azat_co• 14 years ago

Thank you for a great book on NodeJS (my fav). And special thanks on making it available on Kindle/Amazon.com (my other fav) !!! :)

ftwinnovations2• 14 years ago

Purchased! Can't wait to start it. Keep up the great work Guillermo!

systems• 14 years ago

It will be available on safaribooksonline by the end of the month ... so if you already have a safari account you can just wait a little

adeptima• 14 years ago

great book. already sorted out a lot of questions for me.

kfrank• 14 years ago

can anyone tell me if they have found the code error in the tcp-chat in the book. I have run it and I get an error when one telnet session closes. So I assume the error in the conn.on('close') emmitter

Smashing Node.JS book is out.

Related Stories