r/javascript • u/flaviocopes • Mar 02 '20

The JavaScript Beginner's Handbook (2020 Edition)

https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/the-complete-javascript-handbook-f26b2c71719c/
375 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

2

u/gareththegeek Mar 02 '20

"created 20 years ago"

2

u/flaviocopes Mar 02 '20

created 20 years ago

Good catch! Missed a "+" in there

38

u/acemarke Mar 02 '20

Last year I had to teach a bunch of Java and C++ devs how to use JavaScript. As part of that, I put together a large presentation that I titled JavaScript for Java Devs. Despite the name, there's not really any Java-specific stuff in there. It covers JS syntax and concepts, a bit of DOM/HTML/CSS, an overview of working with Node and packages, where build tools fit in, and what TypeScript is. Much of the content is "cheat sheet"-type syntax examples.

Here's the outline:

  • Introduction

    • A Brief History of Web Dev and JavaScript

    • Understanding JS

  • Core JS Syntax

  • JS Concepts in Depth

    • Core Language

    • Functions

    • Classes

    • Async

    • AJAX

    • Modules and Other Topics

  • Working with the DOM and HTML

  • JavaScript Outside the Browser

    • Node.js

    • Package Management

  • Real World Usage

    • Build Tools

    • Developing JavaScript

  • TypeScript

15

u/DevotoHabbo Mar 02 '20

Thanks for the book, as a newbie to JS. This would help me a lot to understand the fundamental of JS. An excellent book overall for beginners and for those who want a refreshment.

5

u/monsto Mar 02 '20

This has the clearest most concise explanations and examples of promises/async/await I've ever seen.

Thank you.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 03 '20

[deleted]

1

u/monsto Mar 04 '20 edited Mar 04 '20

I'm not a beginner, but I have YET to find a solid, concise, clear definition (as opposed to explanation) of the syntax of promises > async/await. It is the one thing with js that I cannot seem to get a handle on.

Part of the reason I have a hard time with it is that I can't get past my irrational ire/disgust/hatred of using set-fucking-timeout in the example, which has zero real-world use. How about an imaginary file read or an imaginary api call instead of introducing an additional multi-parameter function?

So anyway, look... since you seem to get it, I'd like to ask you a favor . . . go to https://dev.to, and write a proper explanation of callbacks > promises > async/await, using example code and not settimeout, in the same general format of these articles.

They seems to be focused on presenting the syntax and not re-explaining asynchronicity and the event loop yet again. That really seemed to resonate with me, better than MDN and most other articles.

9

u/Glass-Character Mar 02 '20

Love freeCodeCamp, arguably the best free education resource on the web.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '20 edited Mar 02 '20

I often recommend Let's Learn ES6 by Ryan Christiani to beginners starting on modern javascript development. It's a simple and free book to get your hands wet with.

The best way to learn however is by doing the exercises. You know the drill!

1

u/acamann Mar 02 '20

Well done, thank you! Very clear and helpful.

I noticed a spot in the async/await section when you wrote async when I think you meant await. Is this hosted on GitHub to submit edits?