Begin to Code: Building apps and games in the Cloud

This full-color book will inspire you to start solving problems and creating cloud-based applications and games fast, even if you've never done it before. Not just friendly and easy, it's the first cloud development beginner's guide that puts you in control of your own learning, and empowers you to build unique programs to solve problems you care about. Microsoft and author Rob Miles have reinvented the introductory programmer's tutorial, reflecting deep research into how today's newcomers learn, and why other books fall short.

This guide is packed with innovations, including its "Snaps" library of pre-built operations that are easy to combine your own unique programs, Cookie Cutter templates give you a flying start, and "Make Something Happen" projects help you build skills by creating your own programs. All example code is provided as a GitHub repository, and Miles's step by step instructions are replicated as screencast videos, hosted on YouTube and linked from the book's website. Author Rob Miles recognizes that learning to program is now just the first step in becoming a successful application developer.

The next step is gaining a solid understanding of how modern applications are deployed and used from the cloud. The best way to do this to set up a strong solution-focused context and discover how elements hosted in the cloud are fitted together to make a working system. Miles's approach helps you explore key cloud technologies as you learn to address key issues such as security, reliability, and scalability.

Here's just some of what you'll do: Explore where the cloud came from, what it does, and how to use it safely Build a web page, add JavaScript interactions to it, and host it in the cloud Integrate JavaScript with the cloud to make the most of both Establish efficient workflows for any application project Leverage cloud application services to easily extend your app's capabilities Start building solutions for the Internet of Things Get started with cloud game development Test and debug your code with "What can go wrong" sections Use practical, downloadable code samples to jumpstart your own projects