The poor quality of writing in IT books

An example of a page from a IT book

The WebSocket API and protocol is defined in RFC 6455. WebSocket gives you a bidirectional, full-duplex communications channel that operates over HTTP through a single socket. Existing hacks that run over HTTP (like long polling) send requests at intervals, regardless of whether messages are available, without any knowledge of the state of the server or client. The WebSocket API, however, is different—the server and client have an open connection from which they can send messages back and forth. For the security minded, WebSocket also operates over Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and is the preferred method, as you will see in Chapter 6. This book will help you understand the WebSocket API, the protocol, and how to use it in your web applications today. In this book, JavaScript is used for all code examples. Node.js is used for all server code, and for occasional client code or tests when a browser is extraneous to getting a sense of functionality. To understand the examples, you’ll need some level of profi‐ ciency with JavaScript. If you’d like to study up on JavaScript, I recommend Douglas Crockford’s JavaScript: The Good Parts (O’Reilly). Node.js has been so prevalant in the past several years that the barriers to entry for the examples in this book are remarkably low. If you’ve done any development for the Web, chances are good that you’ve developed in JavaScript or at least understand it. The use of Node.js and JavaScript throughout, then, is meant only to simplify the teaching process, and should not be construed as a requirement for a WebSocket project. Libraries and servers are available that support WebSocket in nearly every possible configuration. Chapter 5 covers several options for deploying a WebSocket-capable server, including fallback methods for clients that don’t offer support for this technology yet.

My review

The WebSocket API and protocol is defined in RFC 6455.

4/5 Informative but not newbie friendly

WebSocket gives you a bidirectional, full-duplex communications channel that operates over HTTP through a single socket.

5/5 The first bit of useful information about the topic

Existing hacks that run over HTTP (like long polling) send requests at intervals, regardless of whether messages are available, without any knowledge of the state of the server or client.

1/5 Why do I care about how outdated hack solutions worked?

The WebSocket API, however, is different—the server and client have an open connection from which they can send messages back and forth.

3/5 Ok, but you just mentioned that in the second sentence, now you're saying that in simpler language

For the security minded, WebSocket also operates over Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and is the preferred method, as you will see in Chapter 6.

3/5 Can't wait!

This book will help you understand the WebSocket API, the protocol, and how to use it in your web applications today.

1/5 Why would I use "websockets" in anything but web applications?

In this book, JavaScript is used for all code examples. Node.js is used for all server code, and for occasional client code or tests when a browser is extraneous to getting a sense of functionality.

3/5 Okay

To understand the examples, you’ll need some level of proficiency with JavaScript.

2/5 Ok?

If you’d like to study up on JavaScript, I recommend Douglas Crockford’s JavaScript: The Good Parts (O’Reilly).

0/5 Nice try shill

Node.js has been so prevalant in the past several years that the barriers to entry for the examples in this book are remarkably low.

1/5 I get it you like Node, get on with it already...

If you’ve done any development for the Web, chances are good that you’ve developed in JavaScript or at least understand it.

0/5 Dawg I bought a book about websockets I know how 2 code, else I would be reading a book about javascript

The use of Node.js and JavaScript throughout, then, is meant only to simplify the teaching process, and should not be construed as a requirement for a WebSocket project.

0/5 How much time are you going to spend talking about node?

Libraries and servers are available that support WebSocket in nearly every possible configuration.

2/5 Nice bit a trivia

Chapter 5 covers several options for deploying a WebSocket-capable server, including fallback methods for clients that don’t offer support for this technology yet

3/5 Wow we're finally back on track.

Actual information

The WebSocket API and protocol is defined in RFC 6455. WebSocket gives you a bidirectional, full-duplex communications channel that operates over HTTP through a single socket. For the security minded, WebSocket also operates over Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and is the preferred method, as you will see in Chapter 6. Libraries and servers are available that support WebSocket in nearly every possible configuration. Chapter 5 covers several options for deploying a WebSocket-capable server, including fallback methods for clients that don’t offer support for this technology yet