Developing Backbone.js Applications: Building Better JavaScript Applications

I like this book but I don't care much for the layout. It starts with an introduction, crams Backbone.js basics into a single chapter, presents two solid Backbone.js examples and then uses the rest of the book to cover Backbone.js extensions (e.g. Marionette, Thorax, Paginator) and other JavaScript libraries (e.g. RequireJS, jQuery Mobile, Jasmine, QUnit, SinonJS). It's unnerving that 60%+ of the book only has a tenuous connection to Backbone.js. The author probably wrote this book to show how he develops single-page applications and the Backbone.js-focused title was bolted on to help with marketing.I've been working my way through the code samples. As expected, there are a few places where the code has editing/syntax errors, there are a few places were the code works but it does not do much to improve understanding (and could be improved to make it crystal clear) and there are a few places where Backbone.js has since changed since the book was published. The Backbone.js basics chapter is long but, in several cases, glosses over important topics, especially the Backbone.js REST support. Through trial-and-error and continued reading, I have gotten to understand them but I would have preferred the book to explain them thoroughly and in one place. The Backbone.js basics chapter is tough and tedious to work through and required several attempts. It is tough and tedious because I am actually typing and executing the code and, due to the errors, lack of clarity and Backbone.js changes, I need to spend 1/2 hour to enhance and experiment with the code every 1/3 of a page.The two Backbone.js chapters with sample applications (a To Do list and a Library) are significantly easier and a bit better than the Backbone.js basics chapter and the Library sample goes into more detail about Backbone.js REST support. Still, the book would have been better if it had done a line-by-line explanation instead of just summarizing and glossing over details. It's a missed opportunity: rather than dissect Backbone.js for all to see and nail down the details once and for all, the book settles for drive-by explanations.The Marionette and Thorax chapter is written with co-authors. They read like blog posts and are completely disconnected from the previous chapters. The Marionette part is difficult and full of unexplained code but almost understandable. The Thorax part is only 6.5 pages and largely incoherent. This chapter is filler.I'm not done with the book; I'll try to remember to update my view when and if I finish.Despite what I've said, I recommend the book because it is helping me to learn Backbone.js.

This is one of the few books that are written on the subject of Backbone.js, framework that I think is very powerful. The author is very familiar with the subject and has wast knowledge about the other surrounding plugins/add on's that can be used/combined with Backbone.js.In my opinion this book is for intermediate and advanced users of Backbone.js and is not attended for beginners. There are a lot of subjects that are covered inside: building desktop application, building mobile application, testing with Backbone.js and many others. The examples that the author is using are great and there is additional source code for the ToDo application.In my opinion it is 4/5 stars because there is not enough explanation about the code examples, I think that the explanation should be more deep and explaining new functions. And some how for me the flow of the book is discontinued.But all and all this is a great book that is worth having.

This book provides a good overview of developing a Backbone.js application. Unfortunately, once you go back and try to implement a Backbone app based upon the examples you'll begin to find omissions and things glossed over. One example is the book never mentions the different ways to associate a view with a model and the pros and cons of each approach. You have to examine the example code to infer how it is done.Also, the examples are not representative of what most developers will be writing. I am currently looking for another Backbone text which is more concise. So far, I have not seen anything to get excited about. Junk from Packt mostly.

I'm just learning JavaScript and Backbone and I'm currently working through the library example and I can't get it to work. I typed it all out my self and then went and copied an pasted it, but I still can't get it to work. I get and error when ever I try and use the underscore library and I've tried several different version of it, but still get the same error.I worked through the Todo app and the links were broken for the css and bg.pgn pictures so that was a pain the ass to track down too. I agree that there could be much more of an expatiation to what he's doing each time.

I have yet to find a backbone and marionette programming book that gives an easy to follow instruction on how to implement the tech. from start to finished. I purchase the book in hopes on getting familiar with Marionette. i have some understanding on how the individual functionality works but i'm having difficulty putting it all together.If you're new to backbone JS and marrionette , I advice you to not purchase this book. It will just leave you frustrated. I decided to refund my kindle book have spending 10mins reading and skimming through it. what little example the book have came from the actual github of marionette and backbone. (i seen those github example and they aren't useful to begin with).The best way to learn Backbone is to go to youtube and look at videos from a user name "BackboneRails".Pros1. It introduce some add on backbone tools like marionette. it also introduce you to other unit testing tools.Cons2. Very few examples.3. the information is a regurgitationof github documentation

Like all O'Reilly media books, it's thorough, informative, and helpful, it's just that Backbone.js is a very very different way of thinking about writing code. There's no substitute for practice, practice, practice of the code in there, but this book helps.

I've watched the development of this book over the last year. It's a clear and accessible introduction to Backbone.js. I finally purchased it in order to express my thanks to Mr. Osmani. Nice work!

This is one book you go back to time and time again. I highly recommend this if your begging with backbone or just looking to brush up on it.

lightweight. Not enough information to really help much - as libraries like backbone keep changing with each update, a lot of the examples here won't work and it's hard to figure out why initially. Maybe good as a bit of pre-reading before you go and find an online learning resource which is up-to-date.

I'd started tinkering with backbone prior to buying this book. I found the book to be well written and clear. It's also helped a lot with my understanding of Node.js, especially when I started to shoehorn a standalone SPA backbone app into a bigger Node.js application.I liked it a lot

Very nice book. Addy is a good writer.

good book well written. good as backbone 101 .If you want to start coding using backbone framework this is a good place to start

A good dispatcher. The book was brand new and arrived the next day