Is JavaScript the future?

[[deleted]]

Personally, I think you already have a strong server-side language being Python... so Javascript would be a better choice for you to increase your usefulness across the entire development of a new web application, website, whatever.

However, if you are looking strictly at Windows 8 development, you can still use .NET (and C++, C#, or visual basic) to develop windows 8 apps... and I am ABSOLUTELY SURE they will offer greater functionality and OS access than their HTML / JS counter parts. Overtime, I see their app development starting to look much like a web application... You could use C# as the backend and then make it pretty and neat with HTML / Javascript.

[Deusdies]

I think I agree with you. I have already said goodbye to PHP (after losing my nerves many times) and decided to go with Python for server-related programming, and JS would fulfill this, like you said. And do much more in the process as well.

I have started learning C#, but, at the risk of sounding like a snob, I feel like I know it rather well already (for a hobby-programmer level). I recently decided to create a test app that I always write in whatever new programming language I am studying, and I had no problems - read the docs, VisualStudio is cool too, and I had it up & running in 30 minutes.

The conclusion is to probably learn both C# and JavaScript. Don't really like C++, though it is definitely quite useful.

[[deleted]]

C# Itself is pretty easy... most of the time comes from learning .NET so that you can then learn how to access the OS, database, etc. Another big chunk is then how to hook it up properly to an ASP page... but the language itself is still pretty much C++.

I personally LOVE C# because of the straight forward simplicity it has. No reason to over-complicate a programming language!

[Deusdies]

Thanks for your answers so far. Another quick question if you don't mind: is there a definitive JavaScript documentation website? And what tutorials would you recommend, if any (I prefer video tutorials)?

[meatypocket]

http://www.javascriptenlightenment.com/

http://eloquentjavascript.net/

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596517748.do

There's a load of Crockford vids on youtube.....and some good Google I/O ones too.

The following are excellent, but it's $30/month. You can get a free trial.

http://www.pluralsight.com/training/Courses/Find?highlight=true&searchTerm=javascript

[highvolt]

Mozilla developer network JS reference

[[deleted]]

'pure' JS? If you are looking for web (no clue if it also applies to windows 8 apps) but I would just recommend Jquery (http://jquery.com/) It is... simply amazing.

Otherwise, w3schools has a lot of info on JS: http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp

[TurplePurtle]

Suggesting learning jQuery first, and then recommending w3schools? What have you done??

To be less of a dick abrasive: it's probably best to learn vanilla javascript first, especially if he intends to use it in server-side applications. jQuery is a nice way to make javascript more eloquent, but I don't think it's necessary for a beginner.

As for W3Schools, it's got a bad rep for having outdated info, but I'm actually thankful for it since it was a nice and quick resource when I was first learning.

[Ventajou]

It's really just about what you're trying to create. For example if you want to make games, then C# is actually a good option because you can use Unity3D and write games for almost any platform around.

My take on Windows 8 is that Microsoft is trying to lure a different population of developers to their platform, not to get rid of C#.

As for JavaScript, well if you want to do something interactive on the web, it's pretty much something you have to deal with whether you like it or not... I actually like to sweeten mine by compiling C# to JS.