Developing a Backbone.js Edge

by David Tonge, Tim Branyen, Phil Freo

Backbone is a JavaScript library designed to give structure to your web applications. It gives you a robust yet flexible framework to build your client-side JavaScript application.Backbone doesn't force you into a particular coding style or paradigm. There is no magic happening below the the source code is clear, readable and well commented. Backbone is also lightweight in the sense that it doesn't require a ton of buy-in to use. It can be easily integrated into an existing page, and you can choose to only use certain components of the library (Views without Models or Collections, for example). While there are many frameworks that seem to be faster to get started with, Backbone's lack of surprises, clear documentation, speed and flexibility make it a good fit for all types of apps.This book incorporates best practices and the techniques from the combined authors' experience of developing many Backbone applications. Some of the resources on the web advocate inefficient or inelegant solutions and there are few that cover the whole library. In this book we aim to provide a complete guide to Backbone and equip you to start using the library straight away.While writing this book the authors developed an example app, called Hubbub, to illustrate the various features of the library (Hubbub repo on Don't worry, it's not another "Todo App"--rather it's a GitHub issue organizer. The app is more complex than most example apps and uses a real API (Github's). You'll have a chance to build the application as you go through the book.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2013

Reviews

[Sebastian Gebski · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't really know who this book is for: its structure is so chaotic (starts with TDD, then describes events, without giving any kind of primer on models & views), that a beginner will be very confused.

On the other hand, there aren't many internals / advanced tricks for experienced developers. Examples are not bad, but too limited - they lack breadth & cover only basic scenarios. Testing approach is just briefly mentioned. There's barely anything about the supporting libraries - like Marionette. Book itself is very short & price to value coefficient is very unfavorable.

If you want to learn Backbone.js, this is not a book for you.
If you want to polish your Backbone.js skills, this book isn't your you either.
NOT recommended.

[caisah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good practices in this book but you have to know something about Backbone before reading it.