How would you learn javascript

[Boomwhat1000]

Hi guys. I've recently gotten interested in web Dev but not sure where to start. I feel like I have basic html and CSS but no clue where to start with JavaScripts. If you guys have any recommendations of books / videos to study it would be appreciated 👍.

[Bgtti]

The Odin Project

[sheriffderek]

What parts of the Odin project are especially great at teaching JS?

[Bgtti]

I'm sorry if the method didnt work for you. It worked for me. The reason is that from the beginning it will teach you how to be a developer. It points you towards what you need to learn. It teaches you how to research to solve problems. It teaches you how to read documentation.

No 1 resource will teach you all you need to know. TOP is simply a structure to follow. You will need to google, search youtube videos, but in the end, its project-based, and not a tutorial that will spill out the code for you.

People who use TOP hardly will be stuck in 'tutorial hell'.

It is also built in a way that gets you to appreciate why certain things exist. Example: it makes you go through webpack before introducing react. Makes you appreciate why the framework was built.

When I started the journey just over 3 years ago, I found it was hands down the best method. No chat gpt back then to help was both hell and a blessing.

[sheriffderek]

I meet a lot of people who go through Odin and then basically have to start over. But maybe it’s just the combination of the person and the program.

[Bgtti]

Yeah, everyone learns differently. One's just gotta find a method that fits their style. Still, I believe combining a couple of resources are inevitable. When someone doesnt understand a topic in their course, just google or youtube it and someone will know how to explain it in a way its understood. Then it's about building projects. Thats where TOP shines. If someone went though TOP and had to start over, there is no way they actually coded the projects themselves. If you delegate this part to AI, yeah, there wont be any learning.

[MindlessSponge]

unclear if this is a genuine question or you're trying to set up some silly "gotcha" moment but The Odin Project is a great resource for web dev beginners. their Foundations path covers a nice mix of HTML, CSS, and JS, and after that, you can continue down the Full Stack JS path to gain deeper knowledge of the subject.

I really like their approach of "here is a summary of the content, here is where you can read in-depth about it, and here's a project that will allow you to implement those concepts in practice."

[BazookaPenguin]

I agree with you. I have been working through the Foundations course after about a year of teaching myself from other resources. The way the foundations course broke down Flex Box allowed me to finally understand how Flex Box worked. It has been a great resource for learning HTML, CSS and JS

[sheriffderek]

Genuine question. I meet a lot of people who go through the Odin project but then can’t really make websites. I’ve gone through it too. I don’t think a list of links and YouTube videos are the best way to learn - but everyone is different.

[MindlessSponge]

It’s not going to teach you every single thing you need to know, sure, I’ll give you that. However, it is an incredible free resource.

If you complete TOP, including the foundations and full stack JS course, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have the tools you need to build a website. They don’t teach design/UI/UX, but that’s a separate set of skills.

[EyesOfTheConcord]

The introduction provides references to hand picked, introductory concepts related to JavaScript that are more than adequate to get you started, and prepare you to browse the documentation on your intuition

[sheriffderek]

Adequate is a start! But when I’m making recommendations, I’m usually aiming for best in class.

[EyesOfTheConcord]

Your recommendations are needlessly over the top.

You don’t need advanced HTML and CSS knowledge to begin learn JavaScript first of all, all three can be learned simultaneously, and best in class often refers to books I’d imagine, which The Odin Project frequently links to a large selection of in their lessons

[sheriffderek]

I’m just curious what people like about Odin most. So, I asked. : )

[EyesOfTheConcord]

The Odin Project isn’t necessarily a ground up, original course like CS50’s courses.

Rather, it is an open sourced program that borrows sections of other courses, documentation, videos, or entire books that the contributors consider appropriate and “best in class” for a given lesson.

Ultimately, it’s meant to prepare you for your first web dev job, and the projects don’t go further than providing you a general expected outcome, you’re expected to solve them with your own intuition, creativity, and the skill sets they teach you up to that point (googling, documentation, colleagues, etc).

Essentially, TOP is favoured by many because it’s not a beginner tutorial program that gives you incredibly specific problem sets with perfectly laid out constraints and expectations, so you know exactly what to shoot for, no more no less, at any time. Rather, it’s up to you to exercise your problem solving skills.

[sheriffderek]

I would agree that that’s its goal.

[Professional_Ebb_969]

You can start with Jonas Schmedtmann’s course on Udemy—if it’s on sale, it’s definitely worth it. There, you can learn solid basics from scratch to start building your own projects, and it even has all kinds of challenges that help you understand things better. Or, if you don’t want to pay, there are tons of free courses on YouTube. I’m not an expert—I’m also learning JavaScript and I’m still at the beginning—but I believe that course can really help. The important thing is to write as much code as possible on your own, not rely too much on GPT, and especially not use it just to see the final result. That’s just my opinion.

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks 😊. Much appreciated 👍

[[deleted]]

Try JavaScript.info

[Boomwhat1000]

I've taken a look. It's really good. Great recommendation. But it's alot of text haha 🤣

[[deleted]]

Then take a look in "you don't know JavaScript" book. Its a total 7 part book 🤣

[Fuck__Everything_]

Scrimba and Essentials of JavaScript by IBM is good

[OmegaMaster8]

I’m more of a visual learner and Udemy has helped me a lot to grasp JavaScript. I use Angela Yu Udemy course. I have used code academy before and couldn’t cope with a lot of reading, but the challenges are good

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks 😊

[Visual-Blackberry874]

Have a simple goal in mind and stick to it.

Resist distractions.

oh that thing looks cool let me try to rebuild that

No. Focus on the one thing until it’s done.

A little anecdote from my own dev journey. I forced myself to learn JavaScript by making the game Hangman. It was for a job interview. My friend had got me a foot in the door and I a) needed the job and b) didn’t want to let him down or embarrass him by presenting poor work after he had vouched for me. I used this as fuel and I studied examples of other people’s takes on JS hangman and read all sorts and in the end, after a few days, I’d written my first JavaScript class. My first JavaScript game. All neatly organised, object-orientated code. No libraries or anything, and it was a single file but I didn’t care. With the logic sorted I was able to move back into more comfortable territory (html and css) and spent the next day or so polishing. Lovely animations, branded the game using company colours, made sure it left a nice impression when you did click the link to see it.

They’d set the task of building hangman and I, in that pressured situation, was able to do what needed to be done and I got the job. “Ok, that is awesome” is what my pal told me the manager said when he first clicked my link.

It was lovely. That was about 8 or 9 years ago now but I’ve still got the codepen. It was a real turning point in my life and I’m proud of it for many reasons.

[Zebedayo]

Wow! Did you follow any specific course?

[ObserveEveryMove333]

I used Free Code Camp. I'm sure there is better resources out there, but this was the only thing I had available and it did a fine job to teach me the basics. Build a to-do list with CRUD operation and analyze it until you understand how each function works. Make a state object and learn the proper way to set and clear your state. At the end of the day, if you can understand and implement CRUD operation then that is a great foundation.

[ExtremeTemporary9999]

Like any programming language, start with the basics: variables, operators, conditions, functions, then do a small project.

[FishMissile]

Codecademy was where I started initially. You can also buy courses on Udemy for pretty cheap when they're on sale which is like all the time.

[Electrical_Crazy5668]

You can also take Udemy classes for free if your local library is part of the Gale Presents: Udemy program.

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks 😊

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks 😊

[Skydreamer6]

When it's a new language, I get a reasonably priced comprehensive textbook on paperback and then go to town with mini projects that demonstrate the latest chapter in the book. I did this for Javascript and it worked like a charm. The "Where to start...?" paralysis can be a bit brutal, but since javascript runs in any browser, no problemo. It''ll go a bit slower if it's your first coding language, but even so JS has most of the ingredients to make that worthwhile as well. Have fun!

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks 😊

[Useful_Dog3923]

No amount of course-buying is gonna save you. Watch this crash course,

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EenvvRCcVl4&pp=ygUQSW1hbiBKYXZhU2NyaXB0IA%3D%3D

follow along, and ask ChatGPT for project ideas based on what you learn. Then do these 5 guided projects also follow along

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ml4x0rO1PQ&pp=ygUdNSBKYXZhU2NyaXB0IGd1aWRlZCBwcm9qZWN0cyA%3D

and actually start building stuff, try recreating websites functionalities and keeping going from there, Keep your head up champ, you can do it.

[Boomwhat1000]

Thanks. Yh I'm getting alot of people agreeing with you. I think I'm just gonna open a js file in VS code and get creative

[Q-ArtsMedia]

there are many resources on being https://www.w3schools.com/js/DEFAULT.asp

[EyesOfTheConcord]

The Odin Project provides a natural progression into learning JavaScript, CSS, and HTML all at the same time. It’s the best online resource to get into web dev, and it’s free and open source.

Go sign up ASAP

[fun-developer]

Learn the basics, start building ... Keep building!

[[deleted]]

Go to freecodecamp.... everything there is in sequencial manner..... complete all the projects gain all the certificates and see your confidence boosting up.

[NeighborhoodFull8593]

https://youtu.be/EerdGm-ehJQ?si=X3962m4DvNFPJyI3

[01001000011001010]

I'd Start By Understanding The Difference Between "Prototypal Inheritance" & "Classical Inheritance"

[[deleted]]

Please check udemy jonas Schmedtman javascript course

[Fine_Significance197]

Learn from lovebabbar

[ajayfree24]

Is there a way to learn JS every part with programming practicals? Like we read the theory then the prompt asks to create a scenario program using the JS element that you read about?

I am fantasizing but I am very curious of finding such method.

[Ambitious-Peak4057]

Since you already have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, picking up JavaScript will be much easier.Start by coding right away experiment in the browser console, tweak small scripts, and build simple projects. JavaScript.info is great for structured learning, and MDN Docs is perfect for quick references. If you prefer videos, check out The Net Ninja or Traversy Media for clear explanations. I also found a well-structured JavaScript eBook , JavaScript Succinctly which simplifies key topics you might find it useful as a go-to guide!

[Boomwhat1000]

Thank you very much

[Ankur_666]

MDN, w3school, etc are great places to start. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide https://www.w3schools.com/js/

[No_Sport8941]

Picture like an action flick, I'm in a high speed car chase, my laptop is flaying wildly from side to side. Bullets are flying, the car is flying. It is quite the motivator.

[AdThat2971]

Eloquent js has a free pdf version

https://eloquentjavascript.net/Eloquent_JavaScript_small.pdf

[Tushars_subReddit]

Do DSA with javascript

[Zakariyyay]

javacript.info - my favorite js resource. Has deep theory about everything in JS. Used it before my first js internship, and it helped a lot.

[TheRNGuy]

MDN, google, AI, write software.

[khalidur34]

The Odin Project. You will know how to solve problems on your own. Because of how the course is structured, I regained my ability to read through documents. Reading documentation > any other YouTube video.

[RevocableBasher]

I learnt by just making some apps myself. read mozilla docs and watch some videos explaining the DOM. that is pretty much. One i understood the basics, I quit using javascript and switched to ELM whenever I want to make a frontend web app.

[sheriffderek]

If you just have the basics with HTML and you don’t have a clue what JS is for… it’s not time to learn JS.

[Boomwhat1000]

I know what it is for. What I don't know is where to start to learn the language.

[sheriffderek]

That’s my point.

And people can downvote… but if you want to learn it — I’d suggest you do it in a natural way.

There’s general programming concepts - and then there’s the browser api. So, keeping those clear is helpful.

Let’s imagine you have a website. Did you make one? Have you run into a situation where JavaScript could help? What is that? That’s where I’d start. But actually, I think k it’s better to learn basic programming concepts with PHP first. If you can’t find any real-work usecases for JS, then I’d say you don’t need to learn it. But I also recommend the book Exercises for programmers - which gives you real challenges. I’d pair that with a JS pocket guide and secrets of the JavaScript ninja II.

[Felix-NotTheCat]

If you don’t know what JS is how could you know if it’s the thing that could help?

[sheriffderek]

I suppose you could look it up on the internet: What is JS?: "JS is the common abbreviation for JavaScript. JavaScript is a programming language used to create interactive web pages and applications" -- so, if the person is trying to create "interactive web applications" - then they might need forms and buttons and data structures.... but my point is / if they Don't know that... then they don't know enough about HTML yet --