How to learn Ember

My presentation at EmberNYC Meetup on How to learn Ember - Getting Started, State & Debugging

1. How to learn Ember by @EmberSherpa
2. About me • Real name Taras Mankovski • @EmberSherpa on Twitter • Full-time Ember Developer from August 2013 • Previous experience - PHP & Python
3. About you • bunch of server side • maybe native • enough JavaScript
4. The Goal Build ambitious apps with Ember.js
5. What’s next? • Read Ember Guides • Built sample app Now what?
6. This Presentation • Not a tutorial • Context • Resources
7. Integration into existing project Video: Integrating Ember.js into Existing Applications by James Croft • Ember app as separate project • Compile assets • Install like a jQuery plugin
8. Will it work with my backend? Is your API jQuery.ajax compatible? • Ember works purely via API • Unaffected by what’s underneath • jsonapi.com +1
9. Project Layout Starter Kit Ember CLI Resolver Namespace File Based Dependencies Included Bower Asset Compiler None Broccoli.js Testing qUnit qUnit with Testem runner ECMAScript 6 modules ✗ ✓ Server ✗ ✓ Continuous Integration ✗ ✓
10. Getting Started with Ember CLI npm install -g ember-cli ember new my-app
11. The Router • Manages transitions between states • URL === serialized state • Converts url into state
12. What the hell is State? State is collection of active objects in memory.
13. How is state created? When you say, Ember Assumes • SearchRoute & SearchController • SearchIndexRoute & SearchIndexController • ApplicationRoute & ApplicationController • SearchErrorRoute & SearchErrorController • SearchLoadingRoute & SearchLoadingController Router.map(function() { this.resource(‘search’); }); Objects are created based on conventions
14. Objects generated from container Videos • Containers and Dependency Injection in Ember by Matthew Beale • How to Call A From B in Ember by Ben Donaldson App = Ember.Application.create({ LOG_ACTIVE_GENERATION: true });
15. Back to the Router Router.map(function() { this.resource(‘search’); }); • map urls to routes • tells what objects to initialize for the url
16. State in Ember Applications Route Controller View model • fetch data from api setupController • setup state prepare state State • binds state to template • converts DOM events into state actions present state
17. Route App.SearchRoute = Ember.Route.extend({ model: function() { /* models for state */ }, setupController: function(controller, models) { controller.set(‘content’, models); // other initial state }, renderTemplate: function() { this.render(); } });
18. Rendered, now what? • Objects live in memory • Just sitting there • Until an event triggers an action
19. State Actions <button {{action ’search’}}>Search</button> 1. View converts DOM event into action 2. Action bubbles up state hierarchy 3. Stops when handler is found
20. Ember State Hierarchy Video: Understanding Events & Actions by Luke Melia
21. jQuery Way $(‘button.submit’).click(function() { $(‘form’).validate({ submitHandler: function(form) { form.submit(); } }); });
22. Ember Way App.SearchController = Ember.Controller.extend({ actions: { search: function() { if (this.get(‘isValid’)) { this.transitionToRoute(‘search.index’, keyword’); } } }, isValid: function() { return !Em.isEmpty(this.get(‘keyword’)); }.property(‘keyword’) });
23. Computed Properties • functions that look like values • recalculates when read & invalidated • invalidated when dependent property changes
24. DOM vs State centric thinking DOM Centric State Centric 1. that happens 2. check this, do that mechanics handled by your code value driven 1. when this value is 2. that value should be action driven mechanics handled by Ember Bindings
25. Bonus Simpler code, better user experience <button {{action=’search’}} {{bind-attr disabled=isNotValid}}>Search</button> App.SearchController = Ember.Controller.extend({ ... isNotValid: Em.computed.not(‘isValid’) }); API Docs: Ember Computed Macros
26. CPs are fast but not synchronous Ember aggregates property changes <button {{action 'search'}} {{bind-attr disabled=isNotValid}}>Search</button> In Template In Controller Method this.set(‘keyword’, ‘ember’); this.set(‘keyword’, ‘is’); this.set(keyword, ‘great’);
27. The Run Loop Guide: The Run Loop Video: The Ember Run Loop by Jason Madsen Built in Queues • sync • actions • routeTransitions • render • afterRender • destroy Useful Functions • Em.run • Em.run.later • Em.run.scheduleOnce • Em.run.debounce • Em.run.throttle
28. Promises Value will be returned later App.SearchIndexRoute = Ember.Route.extend({ model: function(params) { return ic.ajax(‘/search/’+params.keyword) .then(function(posts){}, function(error){}); }}); ic-ajax: https://github.com/instructure/ic-ajax by Ryan Florence Guide: Loading / Error Substates Video: The Promise Land by Stefan Penner
29. RSVP.js Library: https://github.com/tildeio/rsvp.js/ Em.RSVP.all() Em.RSVP.hash() Microlib that powers Ember’s Promises model: function() { var p1 = ic.ajax(‘posts/1’), p2 = ic.ajax(‘posts/10’); return Em.RSVP.all([ p1, p2 ]); } model: function() { return Em.RSVP.hash({ post: ic.ajax(‘posts/1’), comments: ic.ajax(‘posts/1/comments’) }); }
30. Promise gatcha Video: The Promise Land by Stefan Penner
31. Getting unstuck
32. The Plan 1. Identify the problem 2. Isolate the problem 3. Make it better
33. Identify the problem 1. Console 2. Purple button 3. debugger; 4. Ember Inspector
34. Console Activate Debugging flags var App = Ember.Application.extend({ LOG_ACTIVE_GENERATION: true, // log generated controllers & routes LOG_TRANSITIONS: true, // Basic logging, e.g. "Transitioned into 'post'" LOG_TRANSITIONS_INTERNAL: true, // detailed logging LOG_VIEW_LOOKUPS: true // template and view being rendered });
35. The Purple Button
36. debugger;
37. Anonymous functions in Stacktrace • Most lines you won’t recognize • 99% of problems are in your code • Name your functions so you recognize them
38. Name your functions Bad Good var App.SearchResultsController = Em.ArrayController.extend({ authors: function() { var content = this.get(‘content’); var authors = content.map(function(post){ return post.get(‘author’); }); }.property(‘content’) }); var App.SearchResultsController = Em.ArrayController.extend({ authors: function() { var content = this.get(‘content’); var authors = content.map(getAuthor); function getAuthor(post){ return post.get(‘author’); } }.property(‘content’) });
39. Ember Inspector Download: Chrome Extension or Firefox Addon Video: Introduction to Ember Inspector by Stefan Penner
40. Routes, Conventions & Paths
41. Inspect Properties
42. Components & Views
43. Promises
44. Isolate the problem 1. Identify simples model of the problem 2. Create emberjs.jsbin.com 3. Ask on Stackoverflow or discuss.emberjs.com
45. Make friends • Fastest way to learn is from others • Attend Hacker Hours • Help each other
46. Questions? @EmberSherpa