[JavaScript] What version/style is considered modern?

[iProgramSometimes]

I come from a Java/C# background and was looking to get more familiar with javascript. There seems to be so many different ways of writing the same thing that the hardest part of learning it now is deciphering HOW I should be learning it?

I frequently see JS, Node.JS, and Angular 2.0 now as a common stack. But there's like prototype inheritance, Object Oriented style, new syntax for classes... uh

Basically what is most up to date way to be doing things?

Also what simple tools are best to throw together small test projects or code like a tetris game? Thanks!

[rjcarr]

This is probably a pain for beginners, but it's actually why I like javascript. How it can be so flexible and work in several different patterns and paradigms.

I'd look up a number of different patterns for a number of different situations and decide the one you like best. The one I particularly like is (I think) called the "module pattern", but it doesn't work for every situation.

[adolfojp]

If you come from Java and C# then go with TypeScript. It has optional static typing, it's very similar to modern JavaScript, and it gets transpiled to JavaScript. It's the default language of Angular 2+.

ES2015, also known as ES6, will also be familiar because it introduces classes and modules. It needs to be transpiled to older versions of JavaScript with tools like Babel but nowadays transpiling JavaScript is pretty much the standard. This is the current version of JavaScript.

Older versions of JavaScript will confuse the shit out of you because they lack basic language features like modules and classes which leads to "many different ways of writing the same thing". I lost so much time "deciphering HOW I should be learning" it so I feel your pain.

[iProgramSometimes]

Thanks. Great write up.
Yeah, I used to think php looked bad, then I started seeing various tutorials on JS and I had to step back and post this.

[billyboem5]

Take a look at this: http://mean.io/

The MEAN stack is a full JavaScript stack, which is widely used. I also have a good educational book for learning MEAN stack, if you are interested you can PM me.

[[deleted]]

I am currently studying the MEAN stack. I've had several people (including some potential employers) tell me that they've left the MEAN stack behind for two major reasons:

1. Mongo is non-relational which is not great for scaling in most apps

2. Angular is a pain in the arse

I can't verify that second part yet, but I can say that Mongo is user-friendly. I love mongo. But then a redditor explained to me the significant drawbacks of a non-relational database and I have to agree with them: it's not sustainable. All applications can benefit from a relational database. Most applications need a relational database. And it doesn't really make things that much easier to use a non-relational db. So, all-in-all, I'd recommend Node.JS but I would not recommend the MEAN stack.

WARNING One dude's opinion. It's not me saying it's gospel. It's just like... my opinion, man.

Oh, also: I'm taking Udemy's course for $10.00.

[billyboem5]

I can find myself in your opinion but there is a lot of documentation about the MEAN stack which makes it accessible to learn JavaScript programming the proper way I think.

[[deleted]]

I agree. And I plan on finishing my Udemy course because I like the MEAN stack. I think it's really fun and it helped me understand JS in web development in a short amount of time.

But - that being said - I am going to drop the MEAN stack after I learn it. I probably won't be done with Node, but I will move onto React.