WORKSHOP

make  Games  Puzzles   Apps     Art   and more with CODE

Workshops for the modern, simplified world of coding!

  • Make a Browser or Mobile Puzzle, Game, etc. with just one page of text
  • New HTML Canvas for Wondrous Free-form Interactive Features
  • Code the Canvas with ZIM using the Popular and Powerful JavaScript
  • ZIM designed for all ~ Absolute Beginner to Absolute Professional
  • Tutorials, Workshops and Lessons prepared by ZIM Founder, Dan Zen
  • Canadian New Media Awards Programmer and Educator of the Year


ZIM is a free JavaScript framework for making Interactive Media on the HTML Canvas with easy shapes, drag and drop, hit tests, components like buttons, sliders, dials and more powered by the robust CreateJS.
  • The Canvas is an HTML tag introduced in HTML 5
  • The Canvas is a picture (bitmap) that we can change with code (computer programming)
  • JavaScript gives us basic commands to draw on and update the Canvas
  • The CreateJS Library gives us the EaselJS module for working on Canvas
  • In HTML and JavaScript we have a Document Object Model (DOM) to access tags within tags
  • Similarly, EaselJS gives us a Bitmap Object Model (BOM) with a stage to view things on the Canvas
  • The BOM allows us to nest containers and make shapes, images and text, etc.
  • EaselJS also gives us events to capture interaction
  • ZIM works with CreateJS to bring us even more functionality often with one line of code
  • circle.drag(), circle.animate(), circle.hitTestRect(rectangle), etc.
  • ZIM also provides a set of components for features you make
  • zim.Button(), zim.Label(), zim.Slider(), zim.Dial(), etc.
  • ZIM also sets up a framework in which we can work - ZIM makes the Canvas and Stage
MORE BACKGROUND

Learn the basics of coding with JavaScript and the Canvas.

JavaScript is the popular and powerful programming language of the Web and Apps. We will learn the basics of coding such as variables, conditionals, functions, random numbers, loops, arrays, objects, events and more as time permits. These techniques are common across many languages giving you transferable skills.
You will need a computer of any sort like a PC or Mac. A text editor preferably with syntax coloring (Atom, NotePad++, Sublime, Brackets, DreamWeaver, etc.). And any modern browser such as Firefox, Chrome, IE, Edge or Safari. Requirements have never been so freely available!
GOAL
The goal of the workshop is to teach the core elements of the topic, including:

  • Script Tags in HTML
  • Programming Syntax
  • Expressions, Operators and Statements
  • Variables and Concatenation
  • Objects, Properties and Methods
  • Random Numbers
  • Conditionals and Loops
  • Arrays and Object Literals
  • Classes and Parameters
  • Functions and Scope
  • Timeouts and Intervals
  • Events (mouse and keys)
  • Tickers, Animation and HitTests
STEPS
Here are a few TIPS when taking the workshop:
  1. Keep your font big so you can see punctuation better.
  2. Nest your code properly - indent any block of code between { }
  3. Get things working before building the next bit of code.
  4. Ask your instructor if there are problems - others have them too!
  1. Download the workshop ZIP FILE. The file contains:
    • A coding folder to put your code
    • A resources/docs folder with ZIM Docs (here are online DOCS)
    • A resources/libraries folder with ZIM and CreateJS
    • A resources/site folder with images for the steps page
    • A resources/zim folder with templates - matches ZIM ZIP from ZIM site
    • This steps.html page to get you set up for this workshop
    • NOTE: see the ZIM Site for up to date ZIM versions and templates
  2. Find the coding1.html page in your coding folder
  3. Open the page in a text editor like Atom, NotePad++, Brackets, Sublime, etc.
  4. To open, right click and chose open with... or open the file through the editor.
  5. Open the file in a browser and use F12 to open the message console (CMD+OPT+J Mac Chrome).
  6. Go back to the code (keep editor and browser open).
  7. Follow the teacher as they go through the workshop with you to learn:
    1. JAVASCRIPT LIBRARIES
    2. SCRIPT TAG
    3. COMMENTS
    4. CONSOLE
    5. SYNTAX AND ERRORS
    6. VARIABLES, DECLARATION AND ASSIGNMENT
    7. EXPRESSIONS, OPERATORS AND STATEMENTS
    8. OBJECTS, NUMBERS AND STRINGS
    9. CONCATENATION
    10. RANDOM NUMBERS
    11. CONDITIONALS AND COMPARISON
  8. For the next part we will code for the Canvas using a ZIM Template
  9. Copy (not move) the fit.html page from the zim folder to the coding folder.
  10. Rename the fit.html page to coding2.html - this is where we will work.
  11. Change the title of the page to "ZIM Coding Workshop".
  12. Note in the template where we say "// put your code here".
  13. The code underneath is a sample button - have a look.
  14. Open the file in a browser - and then go back and delete the button.
  15. Follow the teacher as they go through the workshop with you to learn:
    1. TEMPLATE FOR CANVAS
    2. CLASSES AND PARAMETERS
    3. METHODS AND PROPERTIES
    4. OBJECTS ON THE STAGE
    5. LOOPS
    6. ARRAYS
    7. OBJECT LITERALS
    8. FUNCTIONS
    9. SCOPE
    10. TIMEOUTS AND INTERVALS
    11. EVENTS AND HANDLERS
    12. TICKER AND ANIMATION
    13. HIT TESTS
  16. Have a look at the RESOURCES below to help you code after this workshop.
  17. Ask if there is a full or advanced example relating to the workshop.
RESOURCES