Field Guide to Web Apps

The demand for apps is strong, and it’s coming from everywhere! This comprehensive guide provides an introduction to many of the skills and best practices you need to build modern web apps. This field guide is designed to help you create great user experiences in your web apps. Whether you’re building your first web app, or are just looking for ways to improve existing experiences, there’s something here for you!


Best wishes and good luck in all your endeavors.
Appward, to the Future!


Bert
CHAPTER 1

Know Your Web Apps

Evolution of Web Apps • Properties of Web Apps • Identifying Web Apps

CHAPTER 2

Designing Web Applications

Design Fundamentals • Interact, Engage & Accomplish • Design Patterns

CHAPTER 3

Case Studies of Web Apps In The Wild

Shipshot • Wayfindit • Khan Academy • Picture Page

CHAPTER 4

Building Great Web Applications

Visual Design • User Experiences

CHAPTER 5

About Bert Appward

Bert Appward, Emeritus

Preface

New Day, New Possibilities

Greetings friends, developers, pioneers and dreamers to the 12th Edition of Bert Appward’s Field Guide to Web Applications. Whether your inclination is to dip a toe or to dive headfirst into creating great web applications, I hope you’ll find the information and exercises contained within these pages to be a useful guide on your journey.

Only now has the technology truly caught up with the passion for an immersive web app experience.

Why Now?

Previously the promise of web apps was hampered by technical limitations and fell short of the traditional desktop user expectations. But today, with modern browsers supporting features like HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and more, the horizon has been broadened. Robust, feature-rich web apps that offer feature parity to their native or desktop equivalents are are now not only possible but expected by users.

Right Now!

This field guide is designed to help you identify web applications, how to spot the great ones, but most importantly, how you can build a great one of your own. The demand for apps is strong, and it’s coming from everywhere, don’t miss out on this important revolution.

Figure 1.1 - Excitement and opportunity with every new day of Web App development!

Figure 1.1 - Excitement and opportunity with every new day of Web App development!