GuruStop.NET

If you downloaded Visual Studio 11 Beta, and tried to create a new ASP.NET MVC 4 empty project, looking at the “Scripts” folder, you’ll see this new file “_references.js”:

Which looks like the following:

/// <reference path="jquery-1.6.2.js" />
/// <reference path="jquery-ui-1.8.11.js" />
/// <reference path="jquery.validate.js" />
/// <reference path="knockout-2.0.0.debug.js" />
/// <reference path="modernizr-2.0.6-development-only.js" />

The VS <reference /> Syntax

As you probably know, the `// <reference path=”…” />` syntax was introduced in Visual Studio long time ago to make you able to have intellisense in any JavaScript file to include everything defined in the JavaScript located at this path.

In easier words, if you write the very first line in any JavaScript file, say “my-page.js”, and make sure the path points to the proper jQuery file, when you write code in “my-page.js”, you’ll get intellisense for everything in the jQuery file. The quality of the intellisense will vary based on the referenced jQuery file, whether it’s minified file (least intellisense info, only member names, sometimes), just standard source/debug file, or even one that VsDoc comments (best intellisense, might even have notes on what types you need to pass to methods, when defined in VsDoc comments).

Recently I started working on some interesting HTML 5, CSS 3 and JavaScript bits (involving jQuery and jQuery UI). I have worked with all of them before, but not as extensively. Most of my work is some reusable stuff that I can develop generic demos out of (from scratch, unrelated to the custom stuff required here), however, the size of each made me always lazy to take the opportunity to share some nice stuff with you via GuruStop.

I decided to encourage myself to stop laziness by sharing a very small part, then hopefully follow with the real interesting stuff.  Today we look at a simple String.Format() function, similar to the one available in .NET / C#, meaning it uses {0}, {1}, etc… as placeholders.

Look at the code, click the “HTML” tab for the sample HTML used for this one(just a div with an ID), and “Result” for trying it out yourself.  You can also click the “+” button at the right and edit it if you like to!

Note that this one is intended for simple scenarios only. If you need complex / flexible templates, use some templates library like JsRender or knouckOutJS templates.

SitePoint, a well-known publisher of nice easy-but-deep books in web design and web related stuff, has celebrated the end of the world cup (and the fact that Spain has won) by putting an ebook of one of their titles for FREE (“jQuery: Novice to Ninja”, 407 pages) – only for 24 hours (which I don’t know starting what hour, so, go quick!)

Get the book by putting your email here (you receive the PDF link by email):
http://sale.sitepoint.com/

Thanks Scott Hanselman (@SHanselman) for spreading on twitter, hence getting me to know about the book!

Have fun,

Just wanted to give you a quick update on our next gathering today.

We’ll have the meeting in the same time like last week.

Today, Friday, April 16, at 11:59 PM.

The gathering will have the same style as the last one:

- The first 30 minutes will be a session: Jquery for ASP.NET Developers, by me

- The following 30 minutes will be an open talk, mainly around: Visual Studio 2010 Enhancements

So far we agreed to have the gathering the same way like last week (Using WEBEX website).

We’ll send you the URL by the exact time or the gathering, via the newly created EgyGeeks twitter account.

@EgyGeeks

Also, follow this account for all upcoming gatherings’ news and announcements.

My first DotNetwork Cairo Code Camp in 2009 was a great experience, because it was one of the biggest events I’ve spoken at (in terms of audience count, similar to SilverKey Demo Day II). However, Cairo Code Camp `10 had a much different taste!

Not just that I met Scott Hanselman, one of the most popular Microsoft guys, and hold him down as you see in the picture (which I’ll never forget), the great person and popular guru…

Not just that I met so many great other speakers, many of them are my friends and some of my friends talking for the first time in such event or after long pause…

But also because we all (speakers and organizers – both volunteers) met so many great attendees. Some of them were interesting people I’ve followed on Twitter for some time and haven’t seen them yet. Some of them were old lovely faces that we meet very rarely (especially I no longer work  in Egypt). Some of them were totally new faces, bringing a lot of ideas and very useful discussions….