Comments on: JavaScript crashcourse

Question: JavaScript crashcourse

russmail — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:17:56 -0800

JavaScriptCrashCourseFilter: I have just been presented with a great career opportunity if I can get up to speed in JavaScript at great velocity- what's the best way to do it?

I checked out thau!'s excellent The Book of JavaScript from the library which I read a quarter of last night, but it is specifically directed at JS for web: I need to become proficient in it more as a programming language, rather than how to do rollovers etc. I know the best way to learn is just to start writing stuff - how would you go about this?

By: null terminated

null terminated — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:25:18 -0800

I believe JavaScript: The Definitive Guide explains the language before getting into web details (I haven't read it).

By: harmfulray

harmfulray — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:35:06 -0800

I second the recommendation for JS:tDG, but if you want something to supplement it you might want to check out w3schools' JavaScript tutorial, which is somewhat web-focused, granted, but free and online. w3schools also has numerous code samples, etc. Good luck!

By: russmail

russmail — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:54:27 -0800

thanks - I appreciate that JS:tDG is the bible of JS, but it's a 900 page monolith which doesn't sit well with my crashcourse idea: I was rather hoping for a more hands on approach. How have others learnt JS, or indeed other languages - surely not by going through great tomes page by page?

By: elderling

elderling — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 14:17:34 -0800

If you check the Table of Contents to JS:tDG you'll see that most of the 900 page monolith is reference material. The "Core JavaScript" chapter is quite concise.

By: null terminated

null terminated — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:26:43 -0800

Yes, all you'd need is section 1, "Core Javascript".

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:55:10 -0800

DHTML Utopia: Modern Web Design Using JavaScript & DOM is a good introduction; QuirksMode and SitePoints JavaScript & DHTML Tutorials have more info.

By: jeremias

jeremias — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 19:05:54 -0800

One of the best "intro to javascript" sources I've found is a bit out of date but I found it invaluable when I was learning javascript: the aptly named
Javascript learning center.

Don't expect it to do more than get you up to speed on the basics: I've always liked the way the author introduces the topics in plain english and doesn't throw you into objects immediately, but eases you into it . . .

By: kokogiak

kokogiak — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 19:18:51 -0800

Assign yourself a project, (or better yet, have someone else assign it to you), then figure out, step-by-step how to accomplish it with JS, if you can (solving problems as they come with books & google). Far better than just copy/pasting tutorials. For instance, build a mortgage calculator, or a slot machine, or a photo gallery.

By: weston

weston — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:11:15 -0800

I can't help but think crash course in Javascript is much like a crash course in CSS. You can learn the core language and document object model fairly quickly -- but the quid pro quos and gotchas are going to take weeks or months to pick up on.

Nevertheless, the suggestions here are good. I especially second kokogiak's suggestion, kirkaracha's resources, and of course, JS:tDG.

By: mirileh

mirileh — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:31:34 -0800

At the time, I found the tutorials on webmonkey great (here and here). They touch both javascript for the web (forms, buttons, ect.) and javascript as a programming language (variables, statements, ect.).

good luck!