agentscript
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AgentScript Model in Model/View architecture
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<!-- # JavaScript -->
AgentScript runs in the browser using the JavaScript language which has a fascinating
history, having been introduced for the Netscape server in the mid 1990's.
Here's a [JavaScript TimeLine](https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_history.asp)
There are _LOTS_ of resources for learning JavaScript. You can find several
books, too many to list here, but we'll show one on-line book below.
And there are several tutorials and videos to use, just google _javascript tutorial_ for them.
## JavaScript in 14 Minutes
One of the best tutorials for the absolute beginner is [JavaScript in 14 Minutes](https://jgthms.com/javascript-in-14-minutes). It uses the browser's developer console. It will detect your OS and default browser. I use Chrome but it supports them all.
Clicking on "get started" results in:
Click on "Copy to clipboard" above, then open a new tab, and typing the keys suggested above, "option+command+J" for me, gives:
Finally, paste the clipboard into the console, next to the ">". This results in:
Try typing simple JavaScript values like "1 + 2" and "Math.PI" in the console.
## Eloquent Javascript
[Eloquent Javascript](https://eloquentjavascript.net/) is a much loved free online book which has a [javascript sandbox](https://eloquentjavascript.net/code/) for running every example in the book.
Here is an [example for chapter 2](https://eloquentjavascript.net/code/#2.1). To see their solution, click "look at the solution" then "run code" buttons.
## Modern Javascript
Also there is a complete, easy to use reference, ["Modern JavaScript"](https://javascript.info/). Rather than simply defining each primitive, it gives complete examples of them.
Here is an [example for Strings](https://javascript.info/string). Rather than a dry definition of what a string is, it has a nice set of examples of the three string formats, along with methods strings supply.
## MDN
Finally there's the Mozilla Developer Network [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/)
It is _the reference_ for all things browser: HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The [JavaScript section](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript) is quite good, and you can search for any JavaScript primitive easily.
## Writing simple JavaScript
With all these resources, you might ask: how do I actually write JavaScript? The easiest way is simple: use the browser's Developer Tools.
Lets try it. Open a new Browser tab. Then open the Developer Console. For Chrome, use "View > Developer > JavaScript Console" Menu, or the "Cmd-Option-J" keyboard shortcut. For others, use the help menu, typing "dev" should find it. (See the Browser tutorial for more)
You can click-drag the console menu bar to make it larger.
Now you can write simple JavaScript tests.
