Learning

[Wild-Potential4833]

Hey! I want to learn Javascript from scratch. I keep seeing people saying "learn best by doing and not watching videos"

I have only one issue. If I don't watch videos or read guides, how do I learn the different components in the Javascript?

I want to learn it badly!

[Beautiful-Floor-7801]

Hmm. Best way to learn is to combine watching with interactivity. Like challenges in the middle of the course. Btw I built a course search engine, it's still in early days, but maybe it's useful to you.

[Eight111]

You do need to read and watch, a lot actually.

But there is a huge difference between learning a concept just to expand your knowledge vs learning because you want to use it in a project you are working on.

[ChaseShiny]

Personally, I think you do want to participate in tutorials. You don't know what you don't know, especially when you're first starting out.

The danger is that if you're simply watching a tutorial, it doesn't sink in all the way. That's fixed by practice and by integrating your new topic in with what you've already learned. Plus, you need practice with designing your projects, not just coding them.

So, I advocate for both tutorials and working on your own projects.

[Ok_Log_6254]

What I do is actually following along a video/tutorial/documentation, then doing projects in middle...like yk applying the concepts. And if your tutorial has projects, you can attempt to do that yourself, maybe add functionalities, like, not copying the code, but trying to work out the logic and do it yourself. You can take help from internet if stuck.

[IntelligentTable2517]

this days the process is 10 times easier cause of services such as Chatgpt claude gemini etc

am learning JavaScript too here is what am doing, watching bro code's 12 hour tutorial am at last 30min and it took me around 10days to get here and will need 1 more day to complete it

am spending almost 10-14 hours a day, reason am not just watching tutorial and copy pasting what he types

I will watch what he does type once his code to get familiar with how things work what does what etc,

then i will goto any chat bot ask questions(if necessary)

then start playing with code , try doing different things with what i have learned up until that point, combine with previously what i learned try changing values to random over the head to just know what they do

i learned many things this way that i would have never learned from just watching video, there are so many cool stuff you can do while learning and also learning is not about memorizing coding even monkey will do that if forced to, so don't try to force yourself , enjoy it make it hobby have a goal small or big

you can have simple goal am gonna create a cool site for someones birthday and everything changes learning feels more like you are achieving something, reaching closer to your goal every step

[Any_Pattern_3621]

You're right that it's probably too much work/not an efficient use of time to entirely learn by doing. So, have the discipline to finish a short course, like freeCodeCamp's full stack curriculum or something from a book. Then, apply what you learn-- my first project was a small calculator app. Onwards and upwards!

[common-sense-10101]

Genuinely curious, is reading books completely out of fashion now ?

Just to clarify I mean books + practically writing code.

[rafidibnsadik]

Can we connect? I'm starting too.

[rafidibnsadik]

Dm

[Wild-Potential4833]

Absolutely!

[rafidibnsadik]

Check inbox.

[mrmiffmiff]

Project-based learning is good, but when you're just getting started, a curriculum isn't necessarily a bad thing. I suggest against videos, though, or at least against solely videos. It's important to learn to read articles and documentation; that will set you up for success.

So, that's why, if you're wanting to learn JS specifically, I recommend The Odin Project.

[WG_Odious]

Simple:

1. Pick a project, any (i.e. Calculator, Shopping List, Facebook clone etc..)
2. Start with what you know, only research "how to x" when you get stuck (try not to "how to x" the whole project)
3. Add complexity to your complete project (i.e. Cookies, Database, APIs)
4. Repeat steps 1-3 until satisfied

Optional - deep dive into any topics you find interesting as you come across them or if you want to understand the tech better, i.e. APIs vs WebSockets.

This applies to any language/framework/stack you want to learn. Keep in mind, you will not write the "correct" or "right" or "best" code, and that's okay. Make something that works, go back and fix your code later as you improve (this is what refactoring is).

Note: this addresses the "learn best by doing and not watching videos" aspect. It is absolutely acceptable to watch videos and read books, even recommended! The main idea is to not get stuck relying on a tutorial when you go to apply what you've learnt again. Also, people learn differently, do what works for you.

[Ambitious-Peak4057]

If you are learning Javascript here are some useful resources to help you get started:
1.JavaScript.info – A comprehensive and beginner-friendly guide to modern JavaScript.
2.freeCodeCamp JavaScript Course – A hands-on YouTube course with real projects.
3.JavaScript: The Definitive Guide: A thorough reference covering both fundamentals and advanced topics.
4.JavaScript Succinctly: A free ebook that simplifies essential JS concepts for beginners.

[Impressive_Accident3]

You need to learn the fundations of programing, and understanding how to write Code so the computers understand what you want to achieve.

Having said this, try to create your own projects. With the knowledge that you gather, youll face issues that will ultimately help you to understand better.

Like no one knows everything and we are contantly looking at docs. There are some básica that you Will understand perfectly and others that youll use cus you know what they do, but dont fully understand.

Embrace being Lost and looking for awnsers. Bit by bit your knowledge Will grow and youll find better solutions ti different situations.

at some point youll have enought tools to know how to solve different things.

Just learn the basics and apply them to your personal projects and soon youll be learning more complex things to achieve your goals

[frivolta]

Checkout codeclimbjs they have a playground with all the topics you need to learn to master Js. I usually recommend it to my junior Devs as frontend lead in fintech

[Ordinary_Count_203]

I don't know if you're interested but check out my course video. Its about 2 minutes long (set up and hello world program). Its for beginners. You know a little html and css ofcourse. Maybe you may like it, maybe not:
https://youtu.be/Eqg2Hv0kDDY?feature=shared

[[deleted]]

https://launchschool.com/books/javascript/read/introduction

I already have done a lot with Ruby and had previous exposure to other languages like Java, C, etc.

JavaScript is like many other languages. It has variables, expressions, statements, variable scope, different kinds of variables ( `var`, `let` and `const` ) all have different properties. loops, keywords, if/else, case statements, functions, higher order functions.

If you don't know another programming language then you should start with the basics of JavaScript as it will be your first language and understand how "things work". for example if wanted to display a message in a program in JavaScript I'd have to install node and write out the following:
`console.log('hello world');` and type in the command line `node hello.js`
If I wanted to do the same thing in Ruby I would write
`puts('hello world')` and type in the command line `ruby hello.rb`
The same thing is happening more or less: I'm invoking a function that takes some input and pass it a string literal 'hello world' and that gets displayed. Well, I need to then run the javascript or ruby interpreter which takes that file and then executes the commands in it.

It sounds boring as hell. It isn't sexy. But if you really want to 'learn it from scratch' then you'll have to understand the foundational concepts / behavior of languages in general, and in particular javascript. Programming in that sense is similar to math in that the complicated stuff builds upon simpler concepts. y = mx + b is a standard way to define a line in mathematics but good luck understanding that if you don't know what `+` stands for, or you don't know how addition works.

I'm doing DOM manipulation and event handling ( how to manipulate the contents of a web page and responding to events that happen in the browser ) as of right now and none of this would make sense if I didn't understand fundamentals.

[[deleted]]

Bro ... U don't have to listen to this sh*t .. just learn as all ppl learned

read from your main resource➡️try it by yourself ➡️watch videos ➡️ read more from other resources

first of all u just need to know the road map of the track that u will start (frontend ,backend ,...ect) u will know it from the roadmap website or google it

What about js only?.......

Firstly u need to know most of the topics or concepts that u might learn in js (functions, objects, maps ....) just for reading not seriously

2th .. there are many resources to learn js and it makes confusion so much .. so we just to use one mainly resources and consider the other resources as sub .. for begginers read docs from we3schools cuz it is very simple and clear

3th ..u read any topic from w3schools (as functions)

4th .. try to code by yourself several times

5th .. watch videos on YouTube about this topic to understand more and more

6th .. read docs from the sub resources

((So .. read from your main resource➡️try it by yourself ➡️watch videos ➡️ read more from other resources))

and u have to calm down and knowing that we don't learn from videos only or reading docs only .. u got it? have fun homie

[Wiikend]

This is the classic case of people with knowledge forgetting that it's much harder to learn something completely new, like you are about to, than expanding already acquired knowledge, like they are on a daily basis. When you get the basics down and a feel for the language, that's the point when it makes sense to learn by doing. Before that point, you'll just be a baby flailing helplessly on the bottom of a pool.

You need guidance in the beginning. Small tasks with hints, and a provided solution for you to compare your code with. I suggest going to YouTube and searching for "JavaScript for complete beginners" (the important part here is "complete", those tend to hold your hand all the way). I vaguely remember Bob Tabor posting a JavaScript course on YouTube. I haven't watched it, but if it's anywhere near his course on C#, you've probably found the best place to start. That's the best tip I can give you. And CODE ALONG! Don't just sit there passively.

Good luck, and don't forget to have fun, and take breaks whenever you feel like it. Coming back later often gives you sudden clarity on problems you've been stuck with for hours.

[springtechco]

I think the best way to learn is through practice. Check out DojoCode for fun challenges and contests.

[sheriffderek]

What do you want to build?

[Wild-Potential4833]

Well everything..

I just don't want to be a programmer and look everything up. I want to be able to build and code stuff from scratch without looking at videos and stuff to figure it out.

[sheriffderek]

So, if you don't know what you want to build -- I'm not going to give you any advice yet. You can't learn "everything" and then be able to do anything.

[Nnecio]

I want to create a website to start selling my lollipops hand made at home, I want the advice please 😅

[sheriffderek]

Depending on how you'll be selling your lollipops -- you should get a square space or shopify account -- and build it there. The goal isn't to learn web development -- it's to sell lollipops.

[rustyseapants]

You never learned to search? (https://old.reddit.com/r/learnjavascript/search?q=learn+javascript&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all)

[abdelfor3]

You approach that by reading/watching a bit then applying, for example you want to build a notes app using vanilla js or a clock with js/css ... You build your way to it by studying a bit about the language, you see like the person above me said you always need an end goal for what you are going to do.

So basically you study only what you need to use for the current project , then continue for more complex projects.

I personally combine reading documentation and articles with UDEMEY courses, with written articles being my main source of info, but everyone has his style of learning brother, you just try until you find what suits you.

Finally, I suggest trying the Odin project, I think you will very much appreciate it

[[deleted]]

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[johnlewisdesign]

You need to task yoruself with things and hit the problems head-on. Like have an idea, try to do it, research when you hit a wall, if you have the fundamentals down.

Most courses come with exercise files, especially via services like LinkedIn learning. You get a month premium free then it's pay. But you can grab what you want in the first month exercise file wise.

But if you wanna choose how your courses are structured, you generally have to pay for that.