lholmquist / understandinges6

Content for the ebook "Understanding ECMAScript 6"

Understanding ECMAScript 6

by Nicholas C. Zakas

ECMAScript 6 represents the biggest change to the core of JavaScript in the history of the language. Not only does the sixth edition add new object types, but also new syntax and exciting new capabilities. The result of years of study and debate, ECMAScript 6 reached feature complete status in 2014. While it will take a bit of time before all JavaScript environments support ECMAScript 6, it's still useful to understand what's coming and which features are available already.

This book is a guide for the transition between ECMAScript 5 and 6. It is not specific to any JavaScript environment, so it is equally useful to web developers as it is Node.js developers.

What you'll learn:

• All of the changes to the language since ECMAScript 5
• How the new class syntax relates to more familiar JavaScript concepts
• Why iterators and generators are useful
• How arrow functions differ from regular functions
• Additional options for storing data using sets, maps, and more
• The power of inheriting from native types
• Why people are so excited about promises for asynchronous programming
• How modules will change the way you organize code

Purchasing a copy

You can purchase a copy of this ebook through Leanpub.

Contributions

Even though this book is being developed in the open, the project works differently than open source software projects. Please read the following thoroughly before attempting to contribute.

Leanpub Markdown

Leanpub uses a specific flavor of Markdown for its source files. Please be sure to read their documentation about what is allowable and what is not.

Note: It may be frustrating, but Leanpub does not support GitHub-flavored Markdown.

Pull requests

Pull requests will be accepted only for correction of content and not for creation of content. Acceptable pull requests:

• Typo fixes
• Grammar/spelling errors
• Alternate descriptions
• Clarifying phrases

Pull requests that will not be considered:

• New sections of content
• New chapters

Basically, you can use pull requests to fix what is already in the repository but not to add what is not in the repository.

Note: An accepted pull request means that your name will be added to a list of contributors. You are still bound by the conditions of the license, meaning that you are not considered an author or owner of the content once it has been merged in. It is considered a donation of your effort to this work.

Issues

Issues can be used both to point out errors as well as to make suggestions. Use issues for:

• Asking questions about the content
• Pointing out an error or problem with the content
• Requesting more information about a section
• Suggesting a new topic for inclusion

Any issue that remains open will be addressed. Issues will be closed either when addressed or if the issue will not be addressed.

Issues should not be used for:

• Asking when a particular section or chapter will be complete
• Anything already marked as "TODO" in the files

These types of issues will simply be marked as invalid and closed without comment.

Copyright and License

Copyright 2014 Nicholas C. Zakas.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.