The document discusses reasons why JavaScript does not suck, including that it is the most widely used functional programming language, supports lambda functions, objects, metaprogramming, and duck typing. It provides examples of the module pattern for encapsulation and prototype inheritance for object-oriented programming in JavaScript.

1. Why Javascript Doesn’t Suck
or javascript outside the DOM

2. ..sometimes it can suck
• Cross Browser DOM incompatibilities (and surprisingly its not all IE’s fault)
• Ugly looking code (compared to some other languages *cough* ruby *cough*)
• Poorly written code
• Global Namespace
• Lives inside the browser (it doesn’t have to)

3. but..
• Most widely used functional programming language ever (eat your heart out
LISP)
• lambda’s FTW
• Objects!!! (and JSON)
• Metaprogramming goodness (think ruby)
• Duck typed
• Light and easy (pretty much the opposite of Java)

4. you too can make it suck less
Module Pattern
var Positioning = function(){
//private members
var _x = 0;
var _y = 0;
return {
//priviledged functions, have access to private members/functions
setPosition: function(x,y){
_x = x;
_y = y;
},
getPosition: function(){
return new Array(_x, _y);
}
}
}();
Positioning.setPosition(50, 100);
Positioning.getPosition(); // [50, 100]

5. metaprogramming
var barCamp = {
“send”
sayHello: function(){
alert quot;Helloquot;;
}
}
barCamp.sayHello // alerted quot;Helloquot;
barCamp['sayHello'] // alerted quot;Helloquot;
barCamp.hasOwnProperty('sayHello') // true
//define_method in 3 lines of code
Function.prototype.define_method = function(name, func){
this.prototype[name] = func;
return this;
}
Positioning.define_method('deletePositions', function(){...})

6. prototype this
prototype inheritance
function Bar(){
this.member = initializer;
return this;
}
Bar.prototype.sayHello = function(){ alert quot;Hello I am Barquot;; }
var barObject = new Bar();
barObject.prototype == Bar.prototype
barObject.constructor == Bar()
barObject.sayHello() // alerts quot;Hello I am Barquot;
function Foo(){
this.member = initializer;
return this;
}
Foo.prototype = new Bar();
Foo.prototype.sayHello = function(){ alert quot;Hello I am Fooquot;; }
var fooObject = new Foo();
fooObject.sayHello() //alerts quot;Hello I am Fooquot;

7. no more new
function object(parentObject){
//create a dummy constructor function for our new object
function F(){};
// the dummy function's prototype member is now the parentObject
F.prototype = parentObject;
// return an object with the dummy function's prototype member
return new F();
}
var bar = {
sayHello: function(){...}
};
var foo = object(bar);
foo.sayHello() // alerts “Hello I am Bar”

8. hold your arguments to later please
Bar.prototype.setFavoriteDrinks = function(person) {
var drinks = Array.prototype.slice.apply(arguments, [1]);
alert(person + quot;'s favorite drinks are: quot; + drinks.join(', '));
}
var barCamp = new Bar()
// hint ill accept any of these as a thank you later tonight
barCamp.setFavoriteDrinks(quot;the dudequot;, quot;White Russionquot;, quot;Red Bull and Vodkaquot;,
quot;Irish Car Bombquot;, quot;Guinessquot;);
//alert quot;the dude's favorite drinks are White Russion, Red Bull and Vodka, Irish
Car Bomb, Guinessquot;

9. bye bye browser
//model
TrimPath junction
Contact = function() {}
with (modelFor('Contact')) {
validatesPresenceOf('first_name');
validatesPresenceOf('last_name');
}
//controller
ContactController = function() {}
scaffold(ContactController, 'Contact');
//view
<h1>Contacts</h1>
<%= linkToLocal('Create A New Contact', 'contact', 'newInstance') %>
<ul>
<% for (var i = 0; i < contacts.length; i++) { %>
<li><%= linkToLocal(contacts[i].last_name + ', ' + contacts[i].first_name,
'contact', 'show', contacts[i].id) %></li>
<% } %>
</ul>

10. thanks to...
Doug Crockford Advanced Javascript 1 + 2:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=cccd4aa02a3993ab06e56af731346f78.1027823
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=cccd4aa02a3993ab06e56af731346f78.1027832
Dustin Diaz Javascript site: www.dustindiaz.com
Douglas Crockford quot;Javascript - The Goodquot;
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=630959
http://yuiblog.com/blog/2007/06/12/module-pattern/

11. and of course
http://www.amazon.com/JavaScript-Definitive-Guide-David-Flanagan/dp/1565923928

12. Eric Allam - last100meters.com
payperpost.com