Dear Tim,

I have had my own graphic design studio since 1975 and have done reasonably well. Two years ago, I decided that it was the time to learn the basics of Web site development. In the process, I came across the O'Reilly library/catalog and have purchased several books from you that have indeed been a considerable help in learning the tricks of the trade.

I'm not a programmer--no background in it or anything related at all. The closest I have come is learning the basics of HTML tagging. But increasingly, I wish I understood something about the fundamentals of how programming works and, in particular, how the kinds of programming that are used in Web site development and e-commerce software work: CGI, JavaScript, etc. It isn't that I will ever be required to write an entire program from scratch, but I certainly may need to make adjustments to scripts, write little bits of script to accomplish certain simple tasks, things like that.

When I look at references to bits of programs that do certain things, I often get the drift of what's going on, but I always have the feeling that I don't quite get it. It's like knowing words, sentences, and phrases in a foreign language: I can get around a little (pretty well in some cases), but I don't understand the underlying structure of the language so I'm always just paddling around on the surface.

Can you recommend any resources from your library that would help me accomplish this task? I already have:

• HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition
• Web Design in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition
• Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide
• Learning the Unix Operating System, 5th Edition

I would appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks,
Steve Howse

Hi Steve,

There's an absolutely fantastic introduction to programming for non-programmers in ActionScript: The Definitive Guide. Colin Moock did such a good job on the subject that I wonder if we shouldn't take out the chapter, generalize it to a more widely used language (or make versions for multiple languages), and either sell it or make it into a nice promotional giveaway. But given your interest in design, and the wide use of Flash in today's Web design, I'd just recommend that you buy the book. It's terrific.

--Tim

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