Programming Atlas

Programming Atlas
| 2006-10-08 00:00:00 | | 0 | ASP.NET


Learn how to deliver richer, more interactive web experiences to your users using ASP.NET Atlas, Microsoft's new framework for building Ajax-savvy web sites. Web developers of all persuasions have embraced the Ajax suite of technologies (JavaScript, HTTP, XML and more) as a way to implement pages that are faster, livelier and more desktop-like in their behavior. Now Atlas brings the power of Ajax to ASP.NET 2.0 developers with controls, script libraries and server support that delivers engaging results without the pain that writing complex JavaScript can entail. Better yet, Atlas web pages are standards based and even run cross-browser.

`Programming Atlas` is not just another `drag and drop` ASP.NET 2.0 book, but dives into the technologies that make it work. You'll begin with a tour of the technologies most often associated with Ajax, from JavaScript and XMLHttpRequest to JSON and the DOM. With the fundamentals in place, author JavaScript expert Christian Wenz unpacks the Atlas framework and shows you how to put its tools to work. You'll learn to:

Understand the architecture of Atlas and the role played by server conrols, such as ScriptManager and UpdatePanel Use core Atlas controls and extenders to build more interactive pages with text fields that autocomplete, user input that is validated, controls that can be dragged and dropped, and much more Bind, display, and update data without causing the entire page to refresh and use the Atlas web services bridge to consume third-party services beyond the domain of your application Incorporate Microsoft Virtual Earth into an application, use Atlas with Web Parts, and create a Windows Live Gadget Use Atlas with PHP and explore othernon-Microsoft Ajax tools for ASP.NET

User review
Good But Outdated
This book is outdated. Being fair it is 3 years old, covering a technology that seems to change significantly almost every 3 months. The author has an updated book on the subject -`Programming ASP.NET AJAX: Build rich, Web 2.0-style UI with ASP.NET AJAX`


Microsoft doesn't even use the term Atlas anymore, preferring Ajax like the rest of the industry. The book is so far out of date it has a major chapter on installing the Ajax toolkit with Visual Studio 2005. We now have Visual Studio 2008 and Ajax toolkit comes install with the program.


The parts of the book that explains AJAX, its background are still useful and reading this book would still impart information that would be relevant today. Still, forgo this book and get the updated book - `Programming ASP.NET AJAX: Build rich, Web 2.0-style UI with ASP.NET AJAX`



User review
OK, but could have had more info on UpdatePanel
I found this book to be OK as an introduction, but not very deep on the UpdatePanel, which is one of the core components for Microsoft's AJAX solution. Also, the book is based on the earlier Atlas CTPs, and the newer [,,.] Betas have drastically changed some things. Worthwhile, but I'm not finding it a reference that I have by my side all the time. Probably should be updated when GA comes out.

User review
With these basics in hand programmers will find Atlas a snap to master - thanks to PROGRAMMING ATLAS.
If you're not already using Microsoft's new framework for building Ajax-savvy web sites, you should be - and PROGRAMMING ATLAS is the perfect vehicle to take you there. It may look like a 'cookbook' of recipes, but it's not - it's a survey of the underlying technology concepts that make Ajax work, from those most often associated with Ajax to understanding its design and tool intentions. With these basics in hand programmers will find Atlas a snap to master - thanks to PROGRAMMING ATLAS.


Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch

User review
Ajax programming with Atlas
Programming Atlas, by Christian Wenz, is a good treatment of the upcoming ASP.NET Ajax release. Microsoft decided to change the name of the product from Atlas to ASP.NET 2.0 Ajax after more than two years in development. Even though the name may be out of date, the material in this book is not.


Wenz does a great job explaning how Ajax works and the role of JavaScript in it. He quickly covers basic JavaScript syntax and moves quickly into client side programming using Atlas. His methods of presenting segmented and documented code examples followed by the complete example is very reinforcing.


The topics covered are broad, including:


Client Side Ajax

Server Side Programming for Ajax

Atlas Controls

Databinding with Atlas

Creating custom components

XML-Script

Ajax.NET


I was confused when I saw the chapter on Ajax.NET. I wouldn't expect to see a chapter on Castle if I bought a book on Spring.NET, or IBatis.NET in a book on NHibernate. It seems the space could have been used for a deeper treatment of other topics.


The book is well written, with very few errors. I would recommend this for anyone who has some development skill, works in .NET 2.0, and does web-client development.



User review
Good background but already outdated
This book rovides a good background for understanding what Atlas is, however, since the release of Web Extentions (formerly Atlas) Beta 1.0 it is severly outdated. Most examples no longer work and some discribed features have been eliminated.


Recommendation is to pass on this title and wait for a release version.