Learn JavaScript for complete beginners?

[andreasholt]

How do I learn JavaScript the correct way? I don't want to learn JQuery to start off with, I just want to learn the concepts, and then I can move onto the libraries, etc.

I've tried to read the book Eloquent javascript. However I don't find it very beginner friendly, with all the hard challenges for example...

Any suggestions on how to learn it?

[jwitchel]

https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming/p...

It's a very good gentle intro to syntax and the basics of functions, variables, etc.

However, a word of warning. JS is a double edge sword as a way to learn concepts of programming. It's awesome because you can do fun stuff on a webpage fast so the positive feedback loop is rewarding. But JS also has some peculiar behavior that can be hard to grock and debug if you don't have your computer science fundamentals down or at least someone to help you over the hump when things get weird.

[jonlachlan]

Your path will be your own, but here's what has helped me:

Try Meteor (meteor.com). That way you start from a complete development environment, and you can focus on actually using JavaScript, as well as feel good about being productive. Bring in new libraries to play with using atmospherejs.com. Try to think of a small website that you can build (a todo list, a checkbook balance sheet, a notetaking app), so that you can have real problems to wrestle with and a real goal to strive for.

Use Meetup.com or other community groups to find other people to talk with. Be honest about where you are at ("I'm a total beginner"), ask people about what they're working on, be nice and apologize for not knowing much. Be confident about your ability to learn. Talk about what you're doing. ("I'm working on a small pet project so I can learn"). Go into detail if you can.

Be patient. Be persistent. Also practical. The JavaScript world is vast, you can't know about everything. Ask yourself, do I need to know about this cool library/technology right now, or should I spend my time doing something else, like actual coding? Think about the bikeshedding problem, i.e. "shipping" (finishing your project) is better than bikeshedding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law_of_trivialit...)

Read an authorative book on JavaScript (e.g., JavaScript: the good parts). There's no substitute. No website or blog article will get you familiar with the "deeper" concepts of the language. Don't worry if you don't remember everything, just try to understand each of the concepts and then plan on re-reading it again 6 months from now. Plan on reading more than one of these books.

Have fun!

[korvenadi]

You can start with http://www.codecademy.com

[bhaumik]

The most beginner friendly book I've seen: http://www.asmarterwaytolearn.com/.

At the end of each short chapter, you'll work through repetitive exercises a la Zed Shaw's LPTHW.

[S4M]

Unlike the other commenters, I wouldn't suggest any book yet. Instead, start playing with the language. Take your browser, bring on the javascript console (on Firefox it's ctrl-shift-K, on Chrome it's ctrl-shit-j), and start entering some instructions. Add some numbers, concatenate some strings, do a for loop, create and call a function...

Then learn how to run a script from the browser (create a html file and inside write <script src="my_code.js"></script>, and put my_code.js in the same repertory as the html page, and finally open the it with the browser).

Then, play around, learn how javascript can interactively change a page, etc.

[leodang]

For me, I think this is the best start: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11246/best-resources-to-l...

[freedevbootcamp]

Go here and read the books listed in the roadmap http://javascriptissexy.com/how-to-learn-javascript-properly...

[saluki]

Initially I would start with something like TeamTreehouse to get your feet wet and learn the basics.

Also I would learn HTML and CSS first (if you haven't already) then dive into javascript.

[neilxdsouza]

Professional Javascript for Web Developers by Nicholas Zakas. This treats Javascript as a first class software engineering language.

[dutchblacksmith]

http://eloquentjavascript.net/

[andreasholt → dutchblacksmith]

I stated, that it's not very beginner friendly, and that I've tried it previously.

[freedevbootcamp → andreasholt]

I agree, this book will not teach a beginner anything about javascript. The author decided to show everyone his math skills instead of teach javascript.

[freedevbootcamp → freedevbootcamp]

Yes I have read 6 or 7 books on learning javascript so that makes me an authority

[metaculus]

I find the book "Javascript: The Good Parts" a Javascript little bible.

[AlexeyBrin → metaculus]

"Javascript: The Good Parts" is not a beginner book. For a complete beginner it is overwhelming.

[gordonzhu → AlexeyBrin]

Thank you for saying this.

For a complete beginner the book is total nonsense and worse than overwhelming. The only plausible outcome is frustration and a higher likelihood the person will give up learning.

People need to please stop recommending JS The Good Parts to beginners. Please stop.

Beginners need an intro to the language and often an intro to programming concepts. What are they supposed to do with chapters on closure and currying?

When you think about recommending it again to a beginner, please stop and think about what a beginner knows, and what makes sense for them to learn as a next step.

[metaculus → gordonzhu]

It's true that for a beginner in programming it is overwhelming, but it's worth the read for those already with programming skill who's entering the language.

After all, it's just s recommendation, not a command. I don't see a reason to throw a tantrum over it.

[tienthanh8490 → AlexeyBrin]

+1 . For me "Effective Javascript" http://effectivejs.com/ is much more beginner-friendly and goes straight to the quirks of JavaScript . "JS - The good parts" is still worth reading after you had some experience.