A lot of people have been indulging in Sleeper54's Lean-n-Mean III write off, but I am usually far too verbose to do it. However, when I started to review the CSS Pocket Reference by Eric Meyer, I thought it was a perfect match - a mini-review for a pocket guide.
[• css - what is it GOOD FOR? •]
This book is a companion to Meyer's Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition, and covers CSS2.1. While the Definitive Guide provides in-depth coverage of CSS and how to use it effectively, CSS Pocket Reference is designed to give those already familiar with CSS development a handy quick reference to look up specific selectors or properties and how to use them.
The first 32 pages cover the basics of CSS development including sections on rule structure and style precedence. It offers up quick references on how CSS works and how you can use it effectively. While lacking in the numerous examples that exist in the full-sized tome, it nevertheless gives the reader a refresher that should trigger memories of how things should work. A beginner won't learn how to program CSS from this book, because it only touches on each of the subjects for a definition, quick blurb or single paragraph that quickly explains the premise.
The rest of the book takes major sections of CSS design (for example, Selectors, Property Reference, Tables or Visual Styles) and gives an alphabetical reference of those selectors/properties. Each section offers up the selection or property, and then describes its type, what functionality/effect it creates, a short description and usually an example or two. The organization makes this an easy book to quickly thumb through to find that quick information that one invariably needs in the middle of programming.
Keep in mind that these are BRIEF references - if you need thorough descriptions of these, you'll have to go to the full book. For example, on page 38:
:after
type: pseudo-element
generates: A pseudo element containing content placed after the content in the element
description: This allows the author to insert generated content at the end of an element's content. By default, the pseudo-element is inline, but this can be changed using the property display.
examples: a.external:after {content: " " url(/icons/globe.gif);}
p:after {content: " | ";}
-- from CSS Pocket Reference, 2nd Edition by Eric Meyer
For those trying to remember how to use the after: pseudo-selector, this probably provides enough material to do what they need; a new programmer, though, will look to more thoroughly understand the concepts here by reading the full volume. Therefore, this is NOT a stand-alone book, but a handy item to have on your desk.
[• final THOUGHTS •]
I bought this after finishing Meyer's full book, because I wanted something that refreshed my memory or helped me figure out how to put in the right values for rarely used elements. Is it "line-through" or "strikethrough" for a text-decoration? What elements can I use the letter-spacing property on? In that context, this book is fantastic - a quick reference that neatly dovetails into CSS: Definitive Guide perfectly, particularly if you are already familiar with the former. I use it all the time - not that the larger book isn't also nearby, but more because I can get what I need in seconds rather than looking through several pages. It's a handy - perhaps essential - little book to have around for any CSS designer.
[• related REVIEWS •]
• CSS Cookbook by Christopher Schmitt
A decent quick hit reference to help you develop CSS
• Defensive Design for the Web byt he 37Signals guys
A decent look at designing to make the most of your site.
• Mozilla Firefox 0.9 Beta
The best browser on the market.
• WestCiv Style Master 3.5
A good editing tool for helping create CSS and web-compliant pages.
• Developing a CSS Profile Page
How you can incorporate CSS into your profile page.
Total Words: 666
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