JSMag had a chance to catch up with W Jason Gilmore, author of “Effective Google Maps Marker Management” from the July 2009 issue of JSMag.

JSMag: When did you first get in to web development? How long have you been using JavaScript?

Gilmore: I’ve been a professional Web developer for more than a decade, having started using PHP way back in 1998 while living overseas when I found myself  doing some work for an Italian ISP. Since then I’ve built Web applications for a variety of clientele, and have spent a great deal of time advising small businesses on a variety of technology-related matters. Over the years I’ve dabbled with other technologies, including ASP.NET and Rails, however there’s just something about PHP that keeps me interested.

As far as when I started using JavaScript, like most Web developers it almost immediately played some small role early on in my career. Back in the late 90’s though it really seemed like a necessary evil more than anything else. In fact, around 2004 I really started to feel like the Web had stagnated a bit, kind of like we were in a weird funk where sure, things were happening but truly interesting progress wasn’t being made. However it wasn’t too long before Ajax paradigm really started to capture the attention of Web developers, and with truly fantastic technologies such as the Google Maps API rising shortly thereafter my attention was once again kindled and I haven’t looked back since.

JSMag: Working with Google Maps, what was harder than you initially expected?  What was easier?

Gilmore: It was unquestionably easier, a sentiment which I think is shared by countless other developers given the proliferation of countless Google Maps-driven websites created since the initial API release back in 2006. The API team seems to have an uncanny ability to meet developer expectations while somehow managing to avoid falling into the common trap of feature creep due to the misinterpretation of future expectations. The result is an API which can do exactly what you believe it should do, and no more.

JSMag: What prompted the Google Maps Marker article for  JSMag?

Gilmore: While the Google Maps API documentation is great, and fantastic online tutorials for beginners are numerous, there seems to be little attention paid to what a developer should be thinking about after his Google Maps API-driven website begins to grow in size and popularity. How can you effectively display 200 markers on a map? For that matter, how can you effectively display 1,000 markers on a map? How can you customize marker icons to improve usability? These are the questions I try to answer in this article.

JSMag: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get started in web development these days?

Gilmore: As the saying goes, “If I had a dollar every time somebody asked me this question…”. As the author of several books, I’d love to tell this individual that reading tutorials or a book is going to suddenly turn him into an expert developer, but the reality is, you will only become proficient by constantly reading, writing and revising code. Use tutorials and books for ideas, and then attempt to implement and even improve upon what you’ve just learned. In this business, those who are able to absorb information like a sponge thrive, so be ready to devote the time necessary to learn as much as you possibly can. After 10 years, not a day goes by where I begin to wonder whether I’ve learned anything at all in this business, and that’s not a bad feeling to have.

JSMag: What are some web development resources you’d recommend?  What resources do you use on a regular basis?

Gilmore: We’re clearly experiencing a phenomenon where bite-sized information is all the rage, and I do think the ability to “sip from the waterhose” is an advantage in our field, however in the end there’s nothing like immersing oneself in a particular topic. When I feel compelled to learn something new, I’ll buy two and often three of the most respected books on the topic, and pick-and-choose from the best parts of each. Chances are I’ll never read through any of the books, however the density of information clearly provides the greatest ROI. Beyond that, I tend to concentrate on the technology’s documentation, in addition to video tutorials, reference cards, and anything else which can help me absorb information as quickly as possible.

JSMag: What are you working on these days?

Gilmore: I’d like to think my background as a developer, book author, and Apress’ open source editorial director has provided me with some rather unique insight into the future of IT publishing. I made the difficult decision to leave Apress in December, 2007, and after some time off decided to see if my intuitions were correct. My first effort is a book titled “Easy PHP Websites with the Zend Framework”, which is available in both print and DRM-free PDF format via www.easyphpwebsites.com. Every purchase includes almost five hours of access to online video supplements, regular updates to the book, and access to a restricted reader forum. The response has been tremendous, and in fact the book’s second edition is due out imminently, with a book on jQuery and the Google Maps API due out in the near future.

I’ve also recently begun my part in organizing CodeMash 2010 (http://www.codemash.org), a conference several of us came together to found back in 2007. The response has been phenomenal since the first event, with each year somehow seeming to outdo the previous. Of course, holding the event in the nation’s largest indoor waterpark might play some small role in the event’s popularity. I hope to see you there!

JSMag: We’ll be there – it’s one of my favorite tech conferences of the year!