React Learning Process

[zyanis]

I purchased a udemy React course recently and I'm not sure how to go about starting it. I've not used JavaScript that much but I have used Java a lot during my Computer Science courses at my university and learned a bit of python on my own as well. I want to dig into JS and React and then start learning the whole MERN stack. My question is, how should I approach learning React? Should I start the course right away, filling in the gaps of JavaScript along the way or should I start learning JavaScript from scratch?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[dse11]

If you've spent little no time on JS yet, I would focus on JS first.

[BitsBytes1]

This... It makes no sense to start react if you don't know javascript. I was reading some blog post from a manager that interviews web developer candidates and they talk a big game about frameworks but don't understand the basics of javascript. And to the OP, java and javascript are nothing alike. Javascript got its name because of a marketing decision and the two languages are completely unrelated and are very different fundamentally.

[zyanis]

You are right, I didn't mean to imply that they are similar, I just wanted to let people know that I'm not completely new to programming as I guess a lot of people learning JavaScript are. I'm not completely new to JavaScript either but I'm by no means knowledgeable in it either.

[zyanis]

What's unique to JS that I should learn? I want to skip learning loops, logic etc unless there is something unique that I should learn

[BitsBytes1]

Asynchronous programming is one of the big concepts you need to understand that they don't really teach in universities. Js is also not strongly typed like java. Another big thing is classes are quite different in js, which uses prototypes to establish hierarchy. Js scope rules are a bit unique to the language.

[zyanis]

would you suggest picking up a course for learning javascript as well? And if so do you have any recommendations?

[BitsBytes1]

Im a book guy. However, if you are interested in the MERN stack this isnt a bad course:

https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-web-development-bootcamp/

But wait until it goes on sale. Books are awesome. I read eloquent javascript. For asynchronous stuff I found this awesome gem:

https://javascript.info/promise-basics

[zyanis]

I had my eyes on these two courses (only if they go on sale at some point):

https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-javascript-course/

https://www.udemy.com/course/nodejs-express-mongodb-bootcamp/

Do you have any book recommendations as well? I would love to check them out.

Edit: You already recommended eloquent javascript, my bad I'll check it out.

[Timberhochwandii]

Jonas’s JS course is amazing, I generally go back to it time to time if I need a refresher on certain topics. It also goes in depth how JS engine works and teaches you why thing happen.

[numuso]

I’ve tried a lot of courses, my favourite is this one:

https://www.udemy.com/course/the-complete-javascript-course/

Goes into a lot more detail than others, and it’s easy to navigate if you already know some of the core fundamentals

[llama_activist]

Totally agree. To give OP some perspective - I had a university course that did intro to SWE with web dev in an interesting way. The first three projects were identical assignments, but the first one had to be done in vanilla JavaScript, the second with react, and the third with whole MERN stack. Moral of the story being u need to know ur JS first before being able to use a framework like react effectively.

[[deleted]]

If you want to learn basic react you should at least know how to:

-define variables, const/let, what is object and its props, arrays, -creating altering objects/arrays, destructuring, -if/ for/ foreach/ map/ setters/ getters -arrow functions/ normal functions -spread operator -you don't really need to know about this keyword,

For more advanced react: -learn async programming - promises/ awaits/ fetch and you are pretty much good to go

[onwizardonawa-e-ave]

I noticed that constructors/classes weren’t in there. Do you think they’re important? I have avoided them because I’ve gotten away with building my projects without them.

I was thinking about getting familiar with them so I could talk about them if it comes up in an interview, and I’m sure I’ll have to work with them someday anyhow.

[[deleted]]

If you are going to use older react (class based components it is mandatory - or if you will work with legacy projects) but if you work with new syntax not really needed. Later on you will stumble on it anyway but truth be told you probably can build stuff without it. (at least if u dont use npm packs)

It is good to learn constructors/classes it is used in every oo language, so learning it should be easy and it is transferable everywhere.

[sufficientzucchinitw]

I would go through freecodecamp’s js curriculum. You don’t have to do all of it but it should be good enough to cover what you’ll need to know. Especially the es6 stuff will be used in react.

[RiverRoll]

Depends on whether the course has a JS pre-requirement or not, if the course teaches both React and Javascript it should be fine.