I am looking at the various options for building custom web applications, for a non-programmer. The javascript api looks interesting, but I cannot find good information for a beginner. I looked at the "Getting Started" guide, in the ESRI Resources for web applications, but even it is somewhat advanced (http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/javascript/arcgis/help/jshelp_start.htm).
Can anyone point me to other resources for absolute beginners in using the Javascript API?
bg, I would caution against starting with an "out-of-the-box" application from the Server Manager. I believe this creates a .NET or Java based application (depending on your installation), unless something has changed in 10.
You might be better off copying the code from the "ESRI JavaScript" viewer, as described in my step #3 above, or copying code from an ESRI sample in step #4, or I just recently posted a very very simple fullscreen viewer application here in the forums that has minimal code in it. It would be a great foundation for starting to add customizations. There are also several other JavaScript API templates available.
These services are free and do not require an ArcGIS Server license. They are a great asset for those who want to develop JavaScript API applications without the cost of an ArcGIS Server license, which is essentially a totally free development solution (something that Flex and Silverlight cannot boast). Of course you don't get the flexibility of publishing your own MXD map services and data.
So, would you basically add a new "FeatureLayer" to the HTML file (such as an ArcGIS Online template) to add a map service with Javascript?
And, if you reference the online Javascript API in the HTML file (i.e., <script type="text/javascript" src="http://serverapi.arcgisonline.com/jsapi/arcgis/?v=2.5">), would you need to install the Javascript API on the web server?
