I'm trying to learn some Jquery Mobile basic to state if this language would be appropriate to build inhouse mobile application prototypes.
I'm using the 1.4.2 version and the associated documentation looks very strange for me.
For example, a lot of methods are declared deprecated as of 1.5 version , but corresponding replacement examples are never given.
Perhaps have I serious problems to understand but reading this jqmData() documentation page for example, Quick reading this article I understand :
1°) that the jqmData() method doesn't accept arguments (green highlighted section)
.jqmData()
This method does not accept any arguments.
2) and few lines bellow :
you should use $("div:jqmData(role='page')")
This is just an isolated example but a lot of posts give advice that are cons for others with no serious reasons as if everybody was always searching for workarounds instead of using consistent and stated development policies.
is it just my own feeling or is it shared opinion ? It's really disturbing when you're learning not to be confident in such basic material.
In fact my feeling is that information is spread over a huge number of sources that don't state about version level issues and future compliance constraints. For example What's the right development strategy to adopt : using html 5 data-* attributes or jqm classes ? what's the advice ? A mix of both is really not a proper choice for code readability in team devellopment.
Would you have 1.4 jqm consitent documentation references ?
thanks in advance
I hope it's not to late, I will try to give you a honest answer.
On the first glance jQuery Mobile documentation looks like hell, chaotic bunch of ambiguous data.
Regarding your second question .jqmData() is a method while :jqmData( is a selector. But you are correct, method .jqmData( accepts parameters so it's a documentation mistake.
Regarding your third question, use of data-* attributes is a right development strategy but ultimately not the only one, you can use anything you like. Don't forget sometimes it is not easy to be HTML developer in HTML5 world.
If you are still not certain regarding jQuery Mobile then take a look at my article covering currently best known frameworks. These are oldest and best known frameworks, all of them are still in development and they are more then stable.
My advice would be these three frameworks:
Several newer frameworks like Famo.us advertise themselves like second coming so you can also look at them. Just be careful newer is far from better.
If you have more questions feel free to ask, I have more then enough experience with mobile world, specially with jQuery Mobile.