[(Building Web and Mobile ArcGIS Server Applications with JavaScript * * )] [Author: Eric Pimpler] [Feb-2014]

by Eric Pimpler

In Detail ArcGIS Server is the leading software for developing both web and mobile GIS applications. There are a number of programming languages that you can use to develop applications with ArcGIS Server including JavaScript, Flex, and Silverlight. However, the ArcGIS API for JavaScript is the preferred way of developing your custom applications for ArcGIS Server since it can be used for both web and mobile application development. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require the use of a browser plugin.This tutorial-based guide provides you with hands-on experience in developing custom web and mobile ArcGIS Server applications with step-by-step style exercises. Along with introducing you to the HTML/CSS/JavaScript technology stack, you will learn to add intuitive geographic layers of information to your map, interactive query and display of spatial data, add user interface widgets, access geoprocessing tasks, and many more in your own web and mobile GIS applications.With this practical, hands-on guide, you will be able to develop fully-functional online GIS applications with ArcGIS Server using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. After creating your own map, you will explore how to add geographic layers from a variety of sources including tiled and dynamic map services, add graphics to the map, and stream geographic features to the browser using a FeatureLayer.Most applications include the specific functionalities implemented by ArcGIS Server as tasks. You’ll learn how to use the various tasks provided by ArcGIS Server including spatial and attribute queries, identification of features, finding features by attribute, and more. Geocoding and geoprocessing tasks are covered in-depth to help you accomplish your task in GIS. Finally, you’ll learn just how easy it is to integrate ArcGIS.com content into your custom developed applications.This comprehensive guide quickly advances through probing programmatic techniques for building web and mobile GIS applications which will make application development a lot easier!Approach An easy to follow tutorial, this book uses a step-by-step approach with exercises designed to give you hands-on experience with this technology.Who this book is for If you are a web or mobile application developer, who wants to create GIS applications in your respective platform, this book is ideal for you. You will need Java Script programming experience to get the most out of this book. Although designed as an introductory to intermediate level book, it will also be useful for more advanced developers who are new to the topic of developing applications with ArcGIS Server.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nidal Arabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beauty of this book stems from the fact the writer does not put any assumptions on your previous knowledge and start with the reader from the basic yet only the needed part to get you up and running. Even a person with no previous knowledge about the topic is able to follow easily the simple and straight forward steps described in the book. In short, this book provide a very good starting point for beginner and provide medium contents for all readers.

[Rami · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the tagline states, this book really allows you to master the ArcGIS API for JavaScript. Reading this book leaves you equipped with the knowledge and tools to build some good web and mobile GIS applications with the ArcGIS Server. The ArcGIS space is a vast one in terms of implementation and this book does cater for the essentials topics needed.
The book is a must read for anyone interested in working with ArcGIS in the JavaScript world. The book presents several examples that allow the reader to reason about the usefulness of ArcGIS. The author leverages the visuals in a very good way that enhances the level of understanding for the readers.
The book contains a thorough description and details about the API and the classes it offers amplified with examples for using those classes.
One thing that caught my attention was the section about the comments in the code, which I personally think is a must when writing large chunks of code.
In general the book's approach of step-by-step instructions and examples allows the reader to quickly learn and deeply understand the key features and design.
Nevertheless, I had mixed feelings regarding the first chapter Introduction to HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Well I skipped it and any developer would do. It is targeted for those who are very new to this topic. I would assume that people interested in this book would be knowledgeable in those concepts. Needless to say, the chapter is great for new comers to the HTML and JS world.
The cherry on top was the last chapter which covers support for mobile platforms provided by the ArcGIS Server API for JavaScript provides through the compact build.