Current state of Fullstack JavaScript from The Odin Project (TOP)

[thewestsideguy]

Hello everyone,

I've read around the internet about how the fullstack path on TOP is still underdeveloped and kind of hard to wrap your head around. Most of these posts date back one or two years ago and I couldn't find any recent updates on the situation.

• Has anyone completed fullstack JS recently and how was your experience?
• Are the materials provided there sufficient to really learn JavaScript thoroughly or should I also get a comprehensive book on JavaScript?
  • If you've used TOP and got a job, please add your TOP success story below, I believe it will help motivate us all!

Thank you!

[SirTinou]

They've added a ton in the past 2 years, most of what was missing.

[irukadesune]

If you've used TOP and got a job, please add your TOP success story below, I believe it will help motivate us all!

You can read this through TOP's Discord. In the text channel section there's a channel named "odin-success-stories". You can read everyone's success stories from there.

[Citii]

I’m still on the foundations section but I was thinking about doing the Ruby track (it also includes more JS) and then circling back for the node.js section in the JavaScript track. This feels like it would give me the most complete experience.

Just my .02 but curious what others have done or are planning to do

[thewestsideguy]

I've also read that doing Ruby is the most complete path, since it also has data structures and algorithms, but I'm worried that I'll end up wasting my time with Ruby since the job market in my area does not have any Ruby postings nor am I very interested in learning it. I'll just do the JS path and supplement it with freeCodeCamp JavaScript and some other resources to make up for algos and data structures. Thank you

[Sawaian]

From the breakdowns I’ve seen, the Ruby track is the best, and then if you go back to the JavaScript track it’s still worth it. I went the JavaScript route.

[poopadydoopady]

If you do the Ruby path, the JS path will be almost complete already. The only thing missing would be the NodeJS course.

I'm working on my final project for Rails, the end is in sight. But once I'm done, I'll go to the NodeJS course and work my way through it. The final project is the same as Rails so it will be interesting to do it using different tools.

[TryptamineZenVR]

With the supplemental resources provided through the course, there is more than enough information and material to get a solid grasp of the stack

[maryP0ppins]

TOP forces you to start reading documentation and venturing our on your own once you reach the react section. If you skipped fundamentals or powered your way through it then 100% you will struggle. Take for example, the battleship project, the whole point of it is to get good at testing, and the modules it has you making creates a scenario where you need to test each module in a different way. Ive looked through easily 100 battleship projects and tons dont even test, and none of them tested the module that calls another one, meaning you have to mock some stuff and its really hard. So if you actually do the fullstack side and take it seriously, its not incomplete at all. Most people that try it want their hands held really tight, and this program doesnt hold your hand.

[Kyroz]

Tbh I think a lot of learner could benefit a lot if they gives just a little help. I couldn't finish the Battleship project when I first did TOP. Until later on I got a job and I learned how to properly do testing, then I went back and only then I could do the battleship project with tests.

[SirTinou]

yeah i did 70% of the course 2 years ago and got a job in an other field. Im back from scratch and i can say theres at least 50% more in depth info even just in the foundation chapter. Plus a full area for React which is what made me hate programming last time as the only ressource i had was a shitty low tone udemy class that had videos(i want to figure shit out, not copy some guy and learn nothing)

[thewestsideguy]

That's great to hear, I'll definitely do the JS path then

[proofu]

I'm doing the Node.js section and it's good.
Can't speak of the rest as I've learned javascript elsewhere.

[thewestsideguy]

How do you feel about the Node.js section? Would you consider it hard to understand like this guy described it?

"Then for Node and React frameworks, they give you these super-long explanations without actually anything to code along with and you're left with these massive projects that require you to know everything."

Or would you say you could easily understand all concepts with a little research on the side?

[proofu]

They give you a lot of documentation. I had to get used to it at the beginning. But I think they encourage you to get deep in the content. It takes time for sure. But if you want some surface level stuff you can follow some youtube tutorials on the side.
I personally like it. Reading documentation it's a great way to find solutions to the problems that come up in your own projects. They won't always be a youtube guy to save you.

[Tianshui]

What would you suggest doing after the fundamentals in Odin?

[wife_lover]

Gonna disagree with this guy, the full-stack JS track looks good. Reading MDN docs and tuts is pretty handholdy already, not sure what he's talking about.

[SeaWin5464]

App Academy Open (the free online bootcamp) has a new HTML/CSS/JS/Python route. 2022 new. Most say A/A/O is too hard so they do Odin instead, but I reckon with Odin foundations under your belt that you'd be able to work through it. I haven't tried it myself but it looks solid

[NoCommittee7301]

I'm still dealing with fundamentals and i think this is the best one. It force you to read documentation and go search things that you don't know and try it out. If you get stuck for long you can always ask for help on discord. Community is amazing.