Winnipeg Web Design

3 Screencasts For Building Your Own jQuery Plugin

Recently I have been intrigued with jQuery and all that it can offer. I began by starting to learn the simple utility functions and the core features of the library. As I began to develop more and more in jQuery I realized that I would like to re-use code between different projects. This is when I decided to take a look at designing my own plugins.

It also seemed around this time that I found 3 great screencasts that each have a varying degree of difficulty. Below I list all 3 and give you a bit of a description about each:

You Still Can’t Create a jQuery Plugin? – Beginner

This screencast was done by a developer named Jeffery Way. He has long been a developer I have followed as he has an uncanny way of describing things in a simple manner.

This screencast shows you how to build a super basic tooltip plugin that uses a links title attribute. It shows you how to set defaults, pass user-specific settings, and create a new div to hold the tooltip.

View ToolTip Plugin Screencast

Building the imgPreview jQuery Plugin – Intermediate

This screencast was done by none other than James Padolsey. He is a JavaScript guru, so who better to teach us how to build a jQuery plugin.

In this particular screencast, James goes more in depth into the workings of a plugin. He deals with creating custom expressions, preloading images, and even creating callback methods.

View imgPreview Plugin Screencast

Build an Advanced “Poll” jQuery Plugin – Advanced

This screencast is done by a well known jQuery expert, Dan Wellman. He has written a book on the jQuery UI library and has a wealth of knowledge in this area.

This screencast is unlike the others as it incorporates AJAX and PHP/MySQL. It has shows you how to create a JavaScript poll widget that can be included on your site. It creates dynamic radio buttons that post back to a PHP page without a refresh, and updates the MySQL database.

The full tutorial can only be viewed if you have subscribed to TUTS+. TUTS+ is a subscription you can get for for $9/mo or $22 for 3 months. It gives you access to bonus tutorials, and source files from all tuts websites (NETTUTS, PSDTUTS, VECTORTUTS).

Personally I would highly recommend any web developers to sign up for this service as you will get in-depth screencasts / tutorials from the biggest names in the industry. For only $9/mo!!!

View Advanced “Poll” Plugin Screencast

Related posts:

1. Creating a Simple Tooltip jQuery Plugin
2. Working with the jCrop Plugin
3. Validate your forms with ease using jQuery!
4. Validate your Forms with Ease using jQuery
5. Screencast Ideas

Written by Brenley Dueck