JavaScript the Good Parts and JavaScript the Definitive Guide are 2 recommended books for those of us learning JS.
Learn JavaScript and conquer the world!
What’s up guys I’m back! Yes, it’s Carlton Stith from CeeJayS Media Media and I want to give you my take on the route to take when learning programming languages. I’m going to talk about JavaScript and the jQuery library in particular.
I listen to the ShopTalk Show podcast a lot. Chris Coyier and Dave Rupert are totally awesome and give some great advice. In a recent episode, the question of what’s the best programming language to learn first was asked. The listener was in the process of beefing up his coding skills and wanted to know if he should learn JavaScript or jQuery. Well I’m going to give you my take on the question and I want to know if you think I’m right or wrong for saying this.
What’s the best way to learn JavaScript? Write more JavaScript!
I think if you are interested in advancing your career and a programming language is what you are seeking to learn or teach yourself, then you should by all means stick with learning/teaching yourself Vanilla JavaScript and I’m going to tell you why.
I can hear a lot of designers right now saying “but why. Noooo! Jquery will let me see things immediately! And it’s the cool stuff that’s going to make my webpage much better.” I feel you guys. I feel the same way, kind of. And while this is true, I feel like learn JS will make you more of a well-rounded and knowledgeable web developer. Learning JS is tough, I know. If you just stick with the basics, then this is an advantage that you will have over the next guy who only knows the jQuery library. Jquery is absolutely fantastic, don’t get me wrong, and it cuts development time but it has its place. Don’t crucify me for saying that you shouldn’t concentrate on jQuery. But at the same time, you have to remember that jQuery is only a library.
Now I’m still learning JavaScript myself and I asked myself this question a number of times before finally landing at the conclusion that I will eventually be able to say to a hiring manager that asks if I can write vanilla JS with confidence, “Yes! I know and can confidently write in JavaScript!”.
Learn the basics first. Programming is an art.
I recently saw an opening for a junior web developer position and within the job requirements, besides the usual stuff, the job required that the person knows JavaScript and not just jQuery. Now I’m not sure about you, but I would much rather know how to prepare a 3 course meal than merely knowing how to make a desert. (I hope I didn’t fumble than crude attempt at an analogy). And I’m pretty sure you get what I’m saying and let me know if I’m wrong! Like I said before, I’m still learning this stuff and while it’s challenging, I feel like it’s going to pay off in the end because I will know the basics. The foundations to the numerous other libraries out there.
In conclusion, if you are focused on your career and looking at it from a long term point of view, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with picking up a good JavaScript book, enrolling in a course and putting some elbow grease into learning JavaScript. Stay up to date with technology and the web. Digest whatever you get your hands on from cover to cover, write JavaScript everyday and stick to it.
Well there you have it. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. Until next time folks. Happy coding.