# appendix C

# Online JavaScript Resources

CONTENTS

- JavaScript
  - Newsgroups and Mailing lists
  - Web Sites
- HTML and the Web in General
  - HTML Information
  - Browser Manufacturers
  - Other Sites
- Java
  - Sun's Java Site
  - Gamelan
  - The Java Man
  - JavaWorld
- Plug-Ins
  - Netscape's Plug-In Guide
  - Plug-In Plaza
  - Shockwave
  - Adobe's Acrobat
  - QuickTime
  - Live3d
  - ncompass
- CGI and SSI
  - ncSA's CGI Documentation
  - CGI FAQ
  - Tools for Aspiring Web Weavers
  - Perl Information
  - Newsgroups
- MSIE, ActiveX, and VBScript
  - Microsoft's Pages
  - JScript
  - The ActiveX Arena
- Miscellaneous Resources
  - VRML
  - GIF Animations
  - Web Security

This appendix lists some useful resources for learning more about JavaScript-Web sites, newsgroups, and mailing lists. I have also included pointers to learn more about the other languages you encountered in this book-HTML, Java, Plug-ins, CGI, ActiveX, and VBScript.

A complete index of related Web sites could fill a book this size-in a recent Web search, I found nearly 75,000 Web pages containing the word "JavaScript." Rather than try to list everything, I've listed a few of the most useful sites for each topic-those I enjoy using myself. You can find additional sites by following links from the ones I've provided or by using your favorite search engine. If you don't have a favorite, I recommend Digital's Alta Vista:

>     http://altavista.digital.com/

Due to the constantly changing nature of the Web, a few of the sites on this list may have changed by the time you read this, and better ones may have sprung up. For an updated list of links, consult this book's Web site:

>     http://www.starlingtech.com/books/javascript/

## JavaScript

This section presents some useful resources for JavaScript-newsgroups, mailing lists, and Web sites. You can use these to learn more about JavaScript, see many working examples, and help others with problems.

### Newsgroups and Mailing lists

The following Usenet newsgroups are available for discussion of JavaScript topics:

- `comp.lang.javascript` was created for JavaScript discussions. If you have a question, it's a great place to ask it-many JavaScript experts frequent the group.
- `news://news.livesoftware.com/livesoftware.javascript.developer` is a JavaScript newsgroup maintained by Live Software. See the next list for its Web site.

There are also a few mailing lists for JavaScript:

- The JavaScript mailing list at `Inquiry.com`-one of the earliest JavaScript discussion groups. It gets a lot of traffic, but you'll find much useful information. Sign up by following the instructions on the Web page:
  `http://www.inquiry.com/techtips/js_pro/maillist.html`
- `NETural.com` maintains another JavaScript mailing list. To sign up, see its Web page at this URL:
  `http://www.NETural.com/javascript/`
- The JavaScript Talk mailing list was created for calm discussions about JavaScript, without the arguments found in the other lists. It also has a Web page with more information:
  `http://www.farhorizons.com/jstalk/jstalk.html`

### Web Sites

Hundreds of Web sites about JavaScript have sprung up since JavaScript became a popular Web language. I've listed some of the best ones (in my opinion) in the next sections. You'll also find links to many more sites.

#### Netscape's JavaScript Authoring Guide

The "user's manual" for JavaScript, this site explains everything in technical detail. You'll find information about the latest changes and updates to JavaScript here, along with a handy reference.

>     http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/3.0/handbook/javascript/

#### Netscape 3.0 Features

Another useful page from Netscape is the list of features for Netscape 3.0. It includes links to information about each of the features, and it is also updated as new features are added:

>     http://home.netscape.com/comprod/products/navigator/version_3.0/index.html

#### The JavaScript Index

This was one of the first sites about JavaScript. Its maintainer, Andrew Wooldridge, has assembled a comprehensive directory of JavaScript-related sites and other resources, and he includes some useful examples of his own. Here's the address:

>     http://www.c2.org/~andreww/javascript/

#### JavaScript 411

This site is home to the original JavaScript FAQ (frequently asked questions) file. You'll also find some examples of JavaScript in use, and links to other sites here:

>     http://www.freqgrafx.com/411/

#### The JavaScript Resource Center

This site is maintained by Paul Colton of Live Software, author of `Java Unleashed,` also from Sams.net. It includes the JavaScript examples from that book, other examples, links to other sites, and newsgroups and chat areas:

>     http://jrc.livesoftware.com/

#### Yahoo! JavaScript Listings

Yahoo! is, of course, one of the most popular Web directories. You can use this URL to go directly to its listing of JavaScript resources:

>     http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Languages/JavaScript/

#### The JavaScript Workshop

Last but not least, don't forget this book's own Web site. Here, you'll find updated versions of the examples in the book, other new examples, news about JavaScript and browsers, and updates to this book's text. You can also submit comments and questions about the book:

>     http://www.starlingtech.com/books/javascript/

## HTML and the Web in General

Here are a few pointers to information about HTML, browsers, and the Web in general.

### HTML Information

HTML is constantly being updated. To find the latest information about the HTML standard, see the W3C's pages at this address:

>     http://www.w3.org/

Currently the latest version is HTML 3.2. You can see a summary of the changes in HTML 3.2 at this page:

>     http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/MarkUp/Wilbur/

Of course, not all tags you use in JavaScript pages are standard HTML. Consult Netscape's pages (listed below) for information about the extensions Netscape has made to HTML.

#### `webreference.com`

This is a useful reference for everything to do with the Web and HTML. One particularly useful feature is a comparison between Netscape's extensions and the HTML standard, which can be helpful when deciding which features to implement in your pages:

>     http://webreference.com/index.html

#### Validation Services

Of course, if you're interested in HTML standards, you'll want to make sure your pages follow them. Several validation services on the Web enable you to enter your URL and check it based on the HTML standard of your choice-or even Netscape's extended HTML. One of the most popular is the WebTechs Validation Service:

>     http://www.webtechs.com/html-val-svc/

You might find the results from most HTML validation services a bit confusing. If so, you should definitely check out an alternative, the "kinder, gentler validator" maintained by Gerald Oskoboiny. It's the one I use on my pages:

>     http://ugweb.cs.ualberta.ca/~gerald/validate/

### Browser Manufacturers

To keep up with JavaScript, you'll want to stay informed about the latest new browser versions. Here are the addresses for the two browsers that currently support JavaScript:

- Netscape Navigator: `http://www.netscape.com/`
- Microsoft Internet Explorer: `http://www.microsoft.com/ie/`

### Other Sites

Here are some other sites you should visit to stay tuned to the latest about HTML, browsers, and the Web:

- BrowserWatch-a great site with up-to-the-minute news about browser versions, plug-ins, and other Web technologies. This is usually the first place you'll hear about a new browser:
  `http://browserwatch.iworld.com/`
- The Web Developers' Virtual Library: A comprehensive listing of sites that relate to HTML and the Web and tools you can use to develop Web pages:
  `http://www.stars.com/Vlib/`
- BrowserCaps is a service that collects information by survey to find out just which HTML features each browser supports. You'll find information about nearly every existing browser here:
  `http://www.pragmaticainc.com/bc/`
- The HTML Writers Guild is an international organization of HTML authors and other Internet professionals; you can find information on joining at its site:
  `http://www.hwg.org/`

## Java

We covered a bit of Java in Chapter 16, "Integrating JavaScript with Java." If you want to learn more, you can start with the online resources listed in the next sections.

### Sun's Java Site

This is the original site for information about Java. You can find documentation and information about Java here, as well as example applets and the Java Developers Kit:

>     http://java.sun.com/

### Gamelan

Gamelan is a huge directory of Java-related Web pages and publicly available applets. Currently, it includes links to over 3,000 resources. It also includes a section with links to JavaScript resources:

>     http://www.gamelan.com/

### The Java Man

This site includes listings of Java job openings, a reference for the language, and a list of books and other references for Java:

>     http://www.javaman.com/

### JavaWorld

JavaWorld is a monthly Web-based magazine about Java development. It also includes a monthly column on JavaScript:

>     http://www.javaworld.com/

## Plug-Ins

Here are some useful resources for learning about plug-ins, which are introduced in Chapter 13, "Working with Multimedia and Plug-Ins."

### Netscape's Plug-In Guide

This is Netscape's official site for information about plug-ins. You'll find information about the plug-in specification here, as well as information about using plug-ins with JavaScript and links to plug-in manufacturers:

>     http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/3.0/handbook/plugins/pguide.htm

### Plug-In Plaza

Part of BrowserWatch, mentioned above, this is a huge listing of available plug-ins with descriptions. It includes charts detailing which platforms each plug-in is available for:

>     http://browserwatch.iworld.com/plug-in.shtml

### Shockwave

One of the most popular plug-ins is Macromedia's Shockwave, which enables users to view presentations, animations, and movies created with Macromedia Director on the Web. In addition, the latest version supports real-time CD-quality audio. See Macromedia's site for information and to download the plug-in:

>     http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/

### Adobe's Acrobat

One of the first available plug-ins was Adobe's Acrobat, which enables you to display PDF (Portable Document Format) documents on the Web. These documents can include graphics, fonts, and other features for great-looking presentation. See Adobe's site for information and to download the plug-in:

>     http://www.adobe.com/Amber/

### QuickTime

QuickTime, developed by Apple, was one of the first standards for full-motion video on computers. The QuickTime plug-in enables you to view movies inline in Web pages. See Apple's site for information and downloads:

>     http://quicktime.apple.com/

### Live3d

Live3d is one of the more popular VRML plug-ins for Netscape. It was developed by Netscape corporation, and it is bundled with the latest version (3.0). See its site for information:

>     http://home.netscape.com/comprod/products/navigator/live3d/download_live3d.html

### ncompass

The ncompass plug-in by Excite has received a lot of attention lately, because it enables Netscape to support ActiveX-something Netscape doesn't plan to do anytime soon. See its site for information and downloads:

>     http://www.ncompasslabs.com/

## CGI and SSI

You looked at CGI and SSI in Chapter 17, "Combining JavaScript, CGI, and SSI." Here are a few pointers to additional information.

### ncSA's CGI Documentation

This is the official CGI documentation from the source-the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, where the Mosaic Web browser originated. The exact specifications are given, along with a tutorial:

>     http://hoohoo.ncsa.uiuc.edu/cgi/

### CGI FAQ

This is a useful site with answers to frequently asked questions about CGI. It also includes links to other sites with further information:

>     http://www.best.com/~hedlund/cgi-faq/

### Tools for Aspiring Web Weavers

This site includes a large collection of useful information about the WWW and HTML and many links to related sites. In addition, it includes a comprehensive section on CGI programming:

>     http://www.nas.nasa.gov/NAS/WebWeavers/weavers.html

### Perl Information

Perl is the most popular language for CGI and SSI programming. You can learn more about it from Tom Christiansen's Perl page, which includes information about Perl, links to other sites, and an online version of the Perl manual:

>     http://www.perl.com/

Another useful site is the Perl 5 WWW Page, which includes information about the latest features of the Perl language, along with an archive of scripts and libraries:

>     http://www.metronet.com/perlinfo/perl5.html

### Newsgroups

Here are a few Usenet newsgroups for discussions of CGI, SSI, and Perl:

- `comp.infosystems.www.authoring.cgi` is devoted to all aspects of CGI, in any language.
- `comp.lang.perl.misc` is a general newsgroup for information about the Perl language.

## MSIE, ActiveX, and VBScript

Chapter 18, "Using ActiveX and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0," talks about ActiveX and VBScript, the new Web developments from Microsoft. You can find out more about both of these at the sites listed in the next sections.

### Microsoft's Pages

You can find information direct from Microsoft at the Microsoft Developers' Workshop Web page, which includes specifications and tutorials for ActiveX, VBScript, and HTML. Here's the URL:

>     http://www.microsoft.com/intdev/default.htm

You can also learn about Microsoft Internet Explorer and its capabilities at this page:

>     http://www.microsoft.com/ie/

### JScript

Microsoft recently announced JScript. Now, before you worry about learning another scripting language, don't panic-JScript is actually an implementation of JavaScript. Using the JScript implementation, you can use JavaScript to script just about any application; Microsoft will even license the source code, so you can expect it to be ported to other platforms. See this URL for information:

>     http://www.microsoft.com/jscript/

### The ActiveX Arena

Yet another part of BrowserWatch, mentioned previously, is devoted to ActiveX controls. You'll find a comprehensive list of controls there, as well as news about the latest in ActiveX:

>     http://www.browserwatch.com/activex/

## Miscellaneous Resources

In this section, you'll find pointers to Web sites with further information about some of the topics that were mentioned but not covered in this book.

### VRML

VRML-the Virtual Reality Modeling Language-has been a buzzword for the past year as 3D environments have started to appear on the Web. Although VRML hasn't quite taken over the Web yet, it's worth learning about. Here's the URL for the VRML specification:

>     http://webspace.sgi.com/moving-worlds/spec/

Another reason to learn about VRML is that JavaScript is now its official scripting language. Using a different set of browser objects, you can use JavaScript in a 3D environment on VRML browsers. See this URL for information:

>     http://webspace.sgi.com/moving-worlds/spec/part1/javascript.html

### GIF Animations

GIF animations are a good alternative to JavaScript animation, and they are fully supported by Netscape and MSIE. You can find out more about GIF animations at this site:

>     http://members.aol.com/royalef/gifanim.htm

### Web Security

Because security has been an important issue on the Web recently, I conclude with some pointers to security information related to JavaScript, Java, and the Web in general:

- The US Department of Energy maintains the Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC). The CIAC site includes up-to-the-minute information about computer viruses and security problems with software. Most of the security problems in JavaScript have been reported here:
  `http://ciac.llnl.gov/`
- The World Wide Web Security Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list is maintained by Lincoln D. Stein. Here, you'll find information on what's secure and what isn't, and on how security is affecting the Web:
  `http://www.genome.wi.mit.edu/WWW/faqs/www-security-faq.html`
- Yahoo! includes a listing for Web security-related links. You'll find many more sites listed there:
  `http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Security/`