Book Image

Learning Play! Framework 2

By : Andy Petrella
Book Image

Learning Play! Framework 2

By: Andy Petrella

Overview of this book

<p>The Learning Play! Framework 2 has been created for web developers that are building web applications. The core idea is to focus on the HTTP features and to enable them through a simplification lens. Building a web application no longer requires a configuration phase, an environment setup, or a long development lifecycle - it's integrated!<br /><br />Learning Play! Framework 2 will enable any web developers to create amazing web applications taking advantage of the coolest features. It's the fastest way to dive into Play!, focusing on the capabilities by using them in a sample application. Although essentially Java based code, a Scala version is presented as well – giving an opportunity to see some Scala in action.<br /><br />After setting up the machine and learning some Scala, you will construct an application which builds from static to dynamic, before introducing a database. <br /><br />Then we'll focus on how data can be consumed and rendered in several ways. This will enable some real time communication through WebSocket and Server-Sent Event – on both server and client sides.</p> <p>The book will end with testing and deployment, which completes any web development project.</p>
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
Learning Play! Framework 2
Credits
About the Author
Acknowledgement
About the Reviewers
www.packtpub.com
Preface
Materials
Index

Skinning with LESS pain


This small section's intent is to show you how well Play! 2 is integrated with the Web stack, especially the HTML styling.

Everyone who has worked with CSS knows that certain things are driving us crazy, such as the no-variable feature, the no-hierarchy feature, the vendor-specific boilerplates, duplication of code, and so on.

These problems are addressed by LESS, which is a richer way of defining styling rules through the use of the following:

  • Mixins: These are like a predefined set of properties that can be embedded in other rules. A mixin can also take arguments to change the value of these properties.

  • Variables, which are probably the worst lack in pure CSS.

  • Functions: These are JavaScript code and can be used to change how a rule or a value is defined. For example, using a dedicated function one could lighten a color or darken it, and much more.

  • Hierarchical definitions (avoiding "repeating yourself" in selectors): Rules can be embedded to mimic the hierarchy...