Book Review – Google Maps JavaScript API Cookbook – An excellent Cookbook with Great Recipes

In the last 3 weeks I have read the Google Maps JavaScript API Cookbook and I was quite satisfied with the experience.

8825OT_Google Maps API Cookbook

Click on the book to go to its site in packtpub.com

So, what this book has to offer to a reader who has almost NO experience with Java Script (like me, for example)? Actually, pretty much EVERYTHING you need to know. It starts with the ABC of Java Script and Google API, giving you one really simple example, how to build a map. In the next examples, everything build upon this first example is explained in huge details. Sometimes, I think that the authors go to much into details, but this is probably a good thing! 🙂

What I liked – the book is really a “CookBook” – you do not need to read it page by page, chapter by chapter, but you can simply read the first chapter and the introduction and then you may go to any page, to any recipe and use it as a pro 🙂 This is really a big plus for beginners, who do not have full 3 days to read it properly and test the code in it.

What you should do after buying the book – the examples are quite well built, but they will not function on your pc immediately – that is because the google api code, which has some limitations. Thus you should go and make your own account at code.google.com and change the code from the book at that place. Fortunately, the procedure is well described.

What is inside? Pretty much anything a beginner in Google API & Java Script would dream about. The table of contents is really well composed for beginners:

Chapter 1: Google Maps JavaScript API Basics
Chapter 2: Adding Raster Layers
Chapter 3: Adding Vector Layers
Chapter 4: Working with Controls
Chapter 5: Understanding Google Maps JavaScript API Events
Chapter 6: Google Maps JavaScript Libraries
Chapter 7: Working with Services
Chapter 8: Mastering the Google Maps JavaScript API through Advanced Recipes

So, my last word is the following – if you are a beginner in either Java Script or Google API – go for the book, it is suited for you! No specific pre-knowledge is required, indeed (probably, just some really basic knowledge in programming)! If you are wondering whether this book is for you, you may go to the book’s website and browse the examples, which are generously provided there – at the site of the book, go to the support tab and click “Download Now”. Then the code is fully at your disposal!

samples

Last, but not least, if you want to check how the pieces of code work you may take a look at the following articles written by me:

Article Result (maps are clickable):

1. Java Script – Picking up coordinates of point in Google Maps

coordinates

2. Java Script – Animation of a line in Google Maps

Shot

3. Java Script – Synchronization of three maps 

3Maps

Thank you for reading the review! I hope you have enjoyed it!

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