Creating Vista Gadgets: Using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with Examples in RSS, Ajax, ActiveX (COM), and Silverlight

Typically, technical books have a problem of being dry. They lack style, any sense of enjoyment (seriously - you don't read one to stay awake at night...) and are typically read because you either have a problem with the subject at hand, or you've been tossed under the bus by your boss - who promised you could be an expert in three days. And, he told you Monday was the deadline - and it's Friday afternoon. Now and then, you come across a book that IS fun, and gives you the opportunity to learn something that can be expanded greatly. Such a book is Rajesh's book on Vista Gadgets. With the technology based in the use of JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Ajax, the skills that you can glean from this book can take you in many directions. The key, however, is learning. And learning something is much more enjoyable and fun when you can see the outcome - and it does something that is, well - cool. Gadgets are designed to be little tools to do something useful. They are a way to automate a daily task. To keep an eye on specific processes. A way to while the time away playing Suduko when, of course, you really should be working. Plus, they can be very attractive and add another element to the theme of a given desktop, much as the wallpaper and the colors of the windows create the theme. Plus, as mentioned - gadgets can be considered a beginners introduction to Web Parts - those pieces of code that do tasks on web servers and on client browsers - the up and coming Web 2.0. The technology is the same, the scope and the interfaces into the larger project are different. It would have been a much more average book if Rajesh had taken a number of projects and walked you through the code on how to develop these - all with code samples, snips of pictures, graphic elements, etc. However, he goes the extra mile by not stopping at the 'Let's build an RSS feed gadget...' (Make no mistake - you only need one of those, and all in all - they're pretty simple...) Rajesh takes it the extra mile by spending time on Patterns, project thoughts, bringing together all of the disparate elements. Call it, if you will, Designing Gadgets. Creating a gadget is not overly hard. Designing one is a bit more of a challenge. Rajesh takes you on the thoughts that need to be sorted out as you go through that process. The upside? You don't stop when you get done with the book. You really DO have all the tools necessary to design and develop your own tools, widgets, automatons and sidebar 'bots'. Remember, though - these are supposed to be fun! If you find yourself having too much fun, that C++ book is just to your left. Read it for a while. Come back to this book and you'll see that Rajesh's book is MUCH MORE exciting!

If you are intending to develop a Vista Sidebar gadget, this is the only book you will ever need. The author goes beyond the JavaScript coding of a sidebar gadget and covers good design practices, architecture and deployment of gadgets. There is even a chapter on business model for sidebar gadgets. The writing style is simple and easy to follow. Another nice thing about the book are the examples. Not only do the examples illustrate different types of gadgets, but they also illustrate how different technologies such as ActiveX and SilverLight can be employed for gadget development.

If you're new to Vista gadget development or even experienced and need a little creativity boost, this is the book to get. Not only does it cover basic gadget development, it'll show you how to mix and match different technologies when creating your gadget. ActiveX, silverlight, .NET, Ajax. It has it all. Some of the gadgets included in the book are worth the price alone.

I've found this book occasionally, but after I've finished it I fall in love with gadgets and widgets. I've read it like a thriller. Thanks to author who guided me in exciting and interesting journey through the magic world of the gadgets. Great book, easy to read and understand, quite useful and it's gave me a lot of new ideas and professional tools. I would recommend this book to all my friends-web designers. Sofia I.