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The Responsive Web: The Web - Past, Present, Future
In a world of mobile devices, new browsers, and changing standards each page of a website can require an unmanageably-large number of separate designs. The emerging practice of responsive web design employs techniques that allow a single page to efficiently adapt to whatever device or platform loads it. This means shorter deployment times, more maintainable sites and applications, more consistent presentation, and happier users.
The Responsive Web is an easy-to-read introduction to responsive web design packed with instantly-useful tips and techniques and dozens of examples that show exactly how to benefit from this valuable approach. It covers innovative ways to use what readers already know along with design techniques using new HTML5 and CSS3 features. It also gives strategies to balance apps and websites, manage browser incompatibilities, and know when multiple versions are the best option.
Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.
The Responsive Web is an easy-to-read introduction to responsive web design packed with instantly-useful tips and techniques and dozens of examples that show exactly how to benefit from this valuable approach. It covers innovative ways to use what readers already know along with design techniques using new HTML5 and CSS3 features. It also gives strategies to balance apps and websites, manage browser incompatibilities, and know when multiple versions are the best option.
Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.
171 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 28, 2015
Responsive web pages are all the rage these days. I figured this book could help me make sense of it all.
In the end, I couldn't help but be disappointed. Carver, the author, tries to straddle the divide between designers and programmers but the book is too short to be helpful to either. The design insights are too few and too high-level. The technical insights are either too trivial or would require better exposition to highlight their internal structure and explain their tradeoffs.
For example, the section on design patterns was a missed opportunity to illustrate multiple related patterns and show how they resolve forces in different ways. The reader would have a better perspective of the solution space and of how to navigate it. Instead, we get two measly patterns and no clear discussion of why or when one might be more beneficial than the other. A footnote points to a website of responsive design patterns, but the site is not well suited to side-by-side comparison.
Carver uses an interesting device by having sidebars for designer-specific and developer-specific advice. In these sidebars, he can raise the level for these audiences. The unfortunate side effect is that the main text appears condescending to both.
There were some nuggets here and there. Modernizr and Foundation look like good tools to have under your belt. But it missed other opportunities to discuss emerging technologies like Bootstrap and Purecss under the excuse that frameworks can constrain and stiffle your creativity. Smells of Not Invented Here syndrome to me. Or maybe the editor didn't want to undermine potential of new titles on these technologies.
In the end, I couldn't help but be disappointed. Carver, the author, tries to straddle the divide between designers and programmers but the book is too short to be helpful to either. The design insights are too few and too high-level. The technical insights are either too trivial or would require better exposition to highlight their internal structure and explain their tradeoffs.
For example, the section on design patterns was a missed opportunity to illustrate multiple related patterns and show how they resolve forces in different ways. The reader would have a better perspective of the solution space and of how to navigate it. Instead, we get two measly patterns and no clear discussion of why or when one might be more beneficial than the other. A footnote points to a website of responsive design patterns, but the site is not well suited to side-by-side comparison.
Carver uses an interesting device by having sidebars for designer-specific and developer-specific advice. In these sidebars, he can raise the level for these audiences. The unfortunate side effect is that the main text appears condescending to both.
There were some nuggets here and there. Modernizr and Foundation look like good tools to have under your belt. But it missed other opportunities to discuss emerging technologies like Bootstrap and Purecss under the excuse that frameworks can constrain and stiffle your creativity. Smells of Not Invented Here syndrome to me. Or maybe the editor didn't want to undermine potential of new titles on these technologies.
May 21, 2015
Some good info and a lot of links and how to guides for third party libraries. Not enough practices or examples of DIY responsive design. Glad I got this half off and not af full price.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews