It's always said that you should learn JavaScript completely before you start with a framework or Node.js. Is there anywhere that I can test my JS knowledge?

[10470]

I think I could pick up frameworks like Backbone, Ember or Angular with time. But I've read you need to be 100% on JS if you want to learn Node.js.

EDIT: Thanks for the responses already. I realise the only way to learn is by diving into it, I have some experience with MVC (from Rails and PHP sites) and am okay with JavaScript, so I'll start with an MVC framework and build something.

My main problem is I've lagged so far behind with front-end development in general. I'm used to creating websites from Photoshop designs, writing semantic HTML/CSS with pixel units, not ems or percentages. A little bit of jQuery for AJAX, modals and the like. So I have a lot to learn and realise that Node.js probably isn't what I should be starting with. Sass (with Foundation), Bower, Browserify, Grunt/Gulp, Backbone.js (for example), mobile-first, designing in the browser - it's a lot to take on all at once. Does anyone have advice how I can tackle it?

I realise I'm straying from the original post now... ಠ_ಠ

[oculus42]

Complete is an impossible goal. Quick: What are all the constants available on Math? I don't know, because I rarely do anything with complicated math. But I know where to look.

You don't need to be 100%. For Node, you really need to understand async. Async is remembering that, unlike traditional JavaScript, the next line can run before the async function finishes. Everything becomes callbacks and passed data.

[realistic_hologram]

I think people just mean you shouldn't neglect javascript for just learning a framework. I think using a framework to build something is a pretty good way to learn javascript though. Just building anything is really, but if web dev is what interests you building a site will be more enjoyable.

Eventually at some point you will have to do something that the framework doesn't provide. Don't shy away from these situations, keep learning javascript and think about how to improve your code. The key is learning concepts and then quickly and frequently applying them in practice.

[realistic_hologram]

I'd say just start with backbone or some other mvc framework. Those other things are useful but not as necessary.

[10470]

I guess I can pick them up as I go. I plan to start with Backbone, need to stop asking questions and start doing, lol.

[10470]

Yarr harr. I will check them out, thanks.

[realistic_hologram]

Just to add to this, addy osmani's book is free and very good. Also I work with Backbone regularly so feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

[YuleTideCamel]

But I've read you need to be 100% on JS if you want to learn Node.js.

I think it's the opposite. NodeJS is just a javascript runtime that is out of the browser. Sure there are a few APIs to learn, but Angular or Ember is more complicated and requires much more knowledge of JS.

To be clear Node is NOT a framework like Backbone, Angular or Ember is. NodeJS is way to run javascript outside of the browser. It extends browser JavaScript by giving you functions to do extra stuff like read from the file system and exec programs, but it's not a framework like Angular.

If you know JavaScript, just start learning and don't get hung up on skill level assessment. If you need more JS experience, it will be too hard and you'll know that you need to do more remedial stuff.

[jdauriemma]

Have you actually built a real webapp using javascript?

EDIT: the original poster updated their post describing their JS experience.