Orientation ITSE 1411 and ITSE 2402 Web Page Programming

Welcome students to

ITSE 1411 -- Beginning Web Programming
ITSE 2402 -- Intermediate Web Programming

Course Prerequisites for ITSE 1411

Please note that is a Programming Course. That means that you will be programming the web page. In the Beginning course, you will learn programming control structures including sequence, selection, and repetion. Additionally, you will learn to make things occur when you click a button, perform a mouseover, make choices on a form, etc. This is called web development. This is NOT designing a web page.
- If you want to design a web page, you want to enroll in ITSE 1401 Web Design Tools. That is called web design.

Course Prerequisites for ITSE 2402

ITSE 1411 or the equivalent course.
- This means that you have taken a course that includes learning to program using JavaScript. This course assumes that you have a beginning knowledge of JavaScript, understand sequence, selection, and repetition, can validate forms, are well versed in XHTML, and you have an exposure to CSS.
- This does not mean that because you are an experienced web designer, can create pages using DreamWeaver or Web Expression, but do not know how to program that you can skip the ITSE 1411 Beginning Web Programming course. You cannot. Neither you nor I have the time to teach you basic programming with all that you must learn in this course.

Software needs for course

Check out Software and Tutorials
In ITSE 1411
- Do NOT use Web Expression, DreamWeaver, or another drag and drop software. You need to learn the code!
In ITSE 2402
- If you use drag and drop software, it is likely that the generated code does not validate. It might take more time and knowledge than the actual hard coding of the page. Part of my refusal to bend on valid code is to make sure that you prove that you understand the code. I am fully aware that your page might render. Valid code is my minimum requirement.
- If you work from home, you must install a PHP localhost server WAMP (PC) or MAMP (Mac)or LAMP (Linux).
  - One of my students tried http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html and reports that it works on all operating systems and is easier to use. I have not had the opportunity to test it. I just thought you might enjoy trying it as your localhost server.
PC Users
- Browsers: Internet Explorer (recent) or Mozilla Firefox (preferred) or Safari
- Text editor: Less Than Slash Editor (If running Vista and IE8, you might have trouble downloading. Try Safari or Firefox for download.
- File Transfer Program: SSH Secure Shell
Mac users
- See Mac User suggestion link.
- Browser: Safari
- Text editor: Barebones (Text Wrangler)
- File Transfer Program: Fugu
- Mac OS X Lion does not recognize Fugu, try Filezilla

Writing valid code

The World Wide Web Consorition (W3C) sets standards for coding for the Internet. Their pages are invaluable. They offer a validation service W3C validator that helps you find your errors. The Less Than Slash Editor has a link to the validation service. You are required to submit valid code.

Class communication (required)

My homepage is linked to my Blackboard pages. You are responsible for making sure that you can access Blackboard.
You must prove to me that you have activated your ACC email account or I will not grade your work.

Your login and starting password is posted in Blackboard where you grades are posted. (Access to the server is not allowed until just before the semester starts. ) This login and password will be used to both access your pages using http and for uploading to your site.

Click and complete the orientation form.