Creating Vista Gadgets: Using HTML, CSS and JavaScript with Examples in RSS, Ajax, ActiveX (COM) and Silverlight [Paperback]

Typically, technical books have a problem of being dry. They lack style, any sense of enjoyment (seriously - you don't read one to stay awake at night...) and are typically read because you either have a problem with the subject at hand, or you've been tossed under the bus by your boss - who promised you could be an expert in three days. And, he told you Monday was the deadline - and it's Friday afternoon.

Now and then, you come across a book that IS fun, and gives you the opportunity to learn something that can be expanded greatly. Such a book is Rajesh's book on Vista Gadgets. With the technology based in the use of JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Ajax, the skills that you can glean from this book can take you in many directions. The key, however, is learning. And learning something is much more enjoyable and fun when you can see the outcome - and it does something that is, well - cool.

Gadgets are designed to be little tools to do something useful. They are a way to automate a daily task. To keep an eye on specific processes. A way to while the time away playing Suduko when, of course, you really should be working. Plus, they can be very attractive and add another element to the theme of a given desktop, much as the wallpaper and the colors of the windows create the theme.

Plus, as mentioned - gadgets can be considered a beginners introduction to Web Parts - those pieces of code that do tasks on web servers and on client browsers - the up and coming Web 2.0. The technology is the same, the scope and the interfaces into the larger project are different.

It would have been a much more average book if Rajesh had taken a number of projects and walked you through the code on how to develop these - all with code samples, snips of pictures, graphic elements, etc. However, he goes the extra mile by not stopping at the 'Let's build an RSS feed gadget...' (Make no mistake - you only need one of those, and all in all - they're pretty simple...) Rajesh takes it the extra mile by spending time on Patterns, project thoughts, bringing together all of the disparate elements. Call it, if you will, Designing Gadgets. Creating a gadget is not overly hard. Designing one is a bit more of a challenge. Rajesh takes you on the thoughts that need to be sorted out as you go through that process. The upside? You don't stop when you get done with the book. You really DO have all the tools necessary to design and develop your own tools, widgets, automatons and sidebar 'bots'.

Remember, though - these are supposed to be fun! If you find yourself having too much fun, that C++ book is just to your left. Read it for a while. Come back to this book and you'll see that Rajesh's book is MUCH MORE exciting!

This is awesome book with in-depth analysis and great reading material. User friendly explanation that is even good for the starters. The book contains many topics that give detail orientation of learning and implementation. This book has very comprehensive details that explain everything and require no further explanation. 200% worth reading!!!

I am a professor teaching Computer Science courses at a University and have reviewed many books. This falls into top 1% of the books that I have reviewed over many years of my teaching. The book presents a great content and a easy to understand style even for starters in this area. I am generally into hard core Linux technologies and have basic understand of Windows systems. However, this book provides sufficient conceptual background to start programming rapidly. The code examples are great to understand the basics of Gadgets. With the book in hand the user can safely assume an easy learning curve. Its a power packed, programing and easy approach to learning Windows Gadgets, and to my understand is the best book it its class. Highly recommended.

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