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Books, Podcasts, and More for Front-End Developers

Here’s a short list of some resources that front-end developers might be interested in checking out. A few interesting podcasts here along with some books and a weekly newsletter.

Comment if you know of or have authored any other sources, and I’ll consider them for future posts.

Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS by Jonathan Snook

Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS

Jonathan Snook’s SMACCS “is an attempt to document a consistent approach to site development when using CSS.” In this guide, Snook expands on the topic of OOCSS, explaining “how to structure your CSS to allow for flexibility and maintainability as your project and your team grows.” Definitely a must-read for anyone writing CSS in a large team.

Mobilizing Web Sites by Kristofer Layon

Mobilizing Web Sites

This book was published in December of 2011, but has mostly flown under the radar in development circles. The foreword is written by Mobile expert Luke Wroblewski, giving it a credible endorsement from the outset. Chapter topics include embracing responsive design incrementally, layout, navigation, images, and content strategy.

The JavaScript Show (Podcast)

The JavaScript Show

The Javascript Show is a JavaScript podcast hosted by Peter Cooper and Jason Seifer. The show features news and discussion on frameworks, development techniques, quick scripts, and more. It usually runs about 15-20 minutes and a new show is posted once a week.

Shop Talk Show (Podcast)

Shop Talk Show

Shop Talk Show is a (usually) weekly podcast hosted by Chris Coyier and Dave Rupert. The show usually features a guest to be interviewed, and each episode includes audience Q&A with the questions sent in beforehand. Great topics and questions for all levels of developers. Past guests have included Paul Irish, Nicole Sullivan, and Ethan Marcotte.

JavaScript Bibliography by Developers from DevZone

JavaScript Bibliography

Here’s something different — a free e-book that’s a bibliography of JavaScript books. As described in the product details: “We have chosen a selection of the most useful books for JavaScript development in this bibliography. You can learn how to start programming with JavaScript and you can dig into most advanced topics such as performance, design patterns and best practices.”

CSS Weekly by Zoran Jambor

CSS Weekly

Lately there’s been an explosion of weekly design and development related email newsletters, and this is one of them, curated by front-end developer Zoran Jambor. This once per week newsletter is just a simple and relatively brief newsletter of new CSS articles, tutorials, and news.

JavaScript Jabber (Podcast)

JavaScript Jabber

This is another podcast that seems to run once per week, this one focusing primarily on JavaScript. This podcast is probably not for beginners, but I’m sure there’s lots in here for various levels of JavaScript developers. Each episode features a panel of two or more developers, and shows run for just under an hour.

Appliness (Digital Magazine)

Appliness

Appliness, launched in April 2012, claims to be “the first digital magazine for web app developers.” It’s available for iPad and Android tablets and each issue contains articles “written by passionate web developers and bloggers”. Amazingly, it’s offered for free with no advertising, and they promise to never charge for an issue. It’ll probably have a lot of hidden promos and such, but certainly worth a look, even in spite of the corny name.

2 Responses

  1. This is a useful collection of blogs, thanks. I have already signed up to both the css newsletter and the Shop Talk podcast as these sounds very interesting. You have listed a few JavaScript blogs, ebooks and newsletters etc but they would all be way out of my league. I would be interested in any beginners blogs if anyone knows of any?

  2. Will says:

    Great list. There’s also Laura Carlson’s little weekly wonder: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/training/online/webdesign/webdev_listserv.html

    It collects and sends a digest of new stuff here: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/support/Training/Online/webdesign/ don’t let the old style fool you, it’s good stuff about CSS, UX, accessibility, JS and web standards.

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