October 24, 2000:

Sure you talk a good game about interface innovation and how today's web sites all look the same (with that damn inverted-L navigation system), but you don't know how to code so all's you can do is dream of the gestural-ambient-hyperbolic-tree-encrusted future. Well maybe it's time you learned JavaScript. It ain't Java, but it's enough to start experimenting with, and if you learn JavaScript then you'll be able to program Flash so you can show all those "Flash sucks" types that after all it's just a tool (wow, I sound like the NRA) and you can win design awards and maybe, just maybe, you'll come up with something really cool that works outside a design competition or academic proof-of-concept and we'll all use it and thank you for months to come.



The first thing you need to do if you want to learn is to go and buy thau!'s new Book of JavaScript. I've read it all (if you find any technical mistakes, it's my fault because I technical-edited the book) and I can tell you honestly that I wish I had this book when I was teaching myself JavaScript; thau!'s an excellent teacher. Enjoy!