Looking for a book on modern JavaScript
July 27, 2019 11:15 AM Subscribe
I haven’t written JS in anger since JQuery was the hot thing and VBScript stalked the Earth. It seems to effectively be a different language now. Can you recommend a good book on JavaScript as it stands in 2019?
I work nearly exclusively with backend technologies that have nothing to do with web sites. I am fluent in Python (hssssss), decent with Go, and can write some ugly C++ if called upon. However, even in my isolated world far from web dev, the occasional JavaScript is creeping in, and it seems to be the most common shared language amongst my younger colleagues.
However, the last time I really played with JS was probably around... 2006? Maybe 2008? And the language has evolved a ton. So I basically need to treat it as a new language, and want to make sure I’m learning the version that takes the most advantage of its new features.
However, it’s a fast-moving target, a lot of the material out there is bad, and even more is tied to some framework or other. Can you recommend a book which does a good job of explaining the modern version of the language itself?
A few notes:
I work nearly exclusively with backend technologies that have nothing to do with web sites. I am fluent in Python (hssssss), decent with Go, and can write some ugly C++ if called upon. However, even in my isolated world far from web dev, the occasional JavaScript is creeping in, and it seems to be the most common shared language amongst my younger colleagues.
However, the last time I really played with JS was probably around... 2006? Maybe 2008? And the language has evolved a ton. So I basically need to treat it as a new language, and want to make sure I’m learning the version that takes the most advantage of its new features.
However, it’s a fast-moving target, a lot of the material out there is bad, and even more is tied to some framework or other. Can you recommend a book which does a good job of explaining the modern version of the language itself?
A few notes:
- I learn best from books, but a well put together web tutorial is fine. No videos please, I can’t focus through them.
- Really, no web framework books. I will want to look at them someday, perhaps, but right now none of the code goes anywhere near a web page. Language-focused books are best, or perhaps something like Node which is server-side?
This might be a good one. I have it bookmarked, but have not read it yet. I write modern JavaScript everyday as my job. It looks like a good source for what you want.
https://exploringjs.com/es6/index.html
posted by disaster77 at 11:33 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
https://exploringjs.com/es6/index.html
posted by disaster77 at 11:33 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Most of Axel Rauschmeyer's JavaScript for Impatient Programmers (ES2019 edition) is free online. The missing chapters are marked (bonus) on the complete table of contents. The same author curates a newsletter and IIRC used to edit this one too.
posted by Wobbuffet at 11:34 AM on July 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Wobbuffet at 11:34 AM on July 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I now write JavaScript (and other languages) for my job, and I'm self-taught, so I love this question. I've been super impressed by javascript.info which is open source, frequently updated and has both concepts and exercises. Part 1 is the language, Part 2 is JS in the browser.
For books, JavaScript: the good parts is old and cranky, but it has clear explanation of the basics of the language. I find myself re-reading it occasionally to brush up on core concepts. It's a standard in the field. Then you can supplement with Kyle Simpson's You Don't Know JS series for the more recent updates. Simpson is highly technical so it's best to have a basic understanding of the language before jumping into his stuff.
Another entry-level book - a lot of people recommend Eloquent JavaScript. I found it too verbose, but you should check it out and see if you like the author's style.
I agree with your instinct to avoid learning about frameworks at first. It's possible to be competent in a framework without knowing vanilla JS, but if you want to do more high-level coding, compare frameworks, and/or talk intelligently about what your code is doing with people who DON'T know your framework, you need to know what's going on underneath the hood.
Happy JavaScripting!
posted by rogerroger at 11:43 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
For books, JavaScript: the good parts is old and cranky, but it has clear explanation of the basics of the language. I find myself re-reading it occasionally to brush up on core concepts. It's a standard in the field. Then you can supplement with Kyle Simpson's You Don't Know JS series for the more recent updates. Simpson is highly technical so it's best to have a basic understanding of the language before jumping into his stuff.
Another entry-level book - a lot of people recommend Eloquent JavaScript. I found it too verbose, but you should check it out and see if you like the author's style.
I agree with your instinct to avoid learning about frameworks at first. It's possible to be competent in a framework without knowing vanilla JS, but if you want to do more high-level coding, compare frameworks, and/or talk intelligently about what your code is doing with people who DON'T know your framework, you need to know what's going on underneath the hood.
Happy JavaScripting!
posted by rogerroger at 11:43 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh and on edit, I was able to find all of the books I mentioned above in the public library, so I could read through them before deciding whether/which ones to buy.
posted by rogerroger at 11:44 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rogerroger at 11:44 AM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm going to second rogerroger. The Good Parts followed by YDKJS are the books that you want.
posted by Citrus at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2019
posted by Citrus at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2019
Crockford's vids from his yui days are excellent lectures if you're into that sort of presentation. Language focused, not frameworks.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:00 PM on July 27, 2019
posted by j_curiouser at 1:00 PM on July 27, 2019
The Good Parts was great in its time but it is now so old that I would caution against it. I second the recommendation for Rauschmeyer's Javascript For Impatient Programmers.
posted by Kwine at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Kwine at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
Given your background, you want YDKJS. The Good Parts is out of date.
posted by caek at 2:59 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by caek at 2:59 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
My favorite is Javascript Allongé. Now has an ES6 targeted version.
Helps you think in the functional nature of modern ES
posted by nickggully at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Helps you think in the functional nature of modern ES
posted by nickggully at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Good Parts was great in its time but it is now so old that I would caution against it.
Seconded. It's thoroughly out of date.
I haven't read YDKJS but it at a glance it least seems to cover the relevant bits of ES6.
You should also probably look at TypeScript, which is basically the C# type system glommed onto JS. The docs are pretty good since it's a Microsoft project.
posted by neckro23 at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Seconded. It's thoroughly out of date.
I haven't read YDKJS but it at a glance it least seems to cover the relevant bits of ES6.
You should also probably look at TypeScript, which is basically the C# type system glommed onto JS. The docs are pretty good since it's a Microsoft project.
posted by neckro23 at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: YDKJS looks like a very good option, and I’ll be poking into several of these in the next few days. Thank you all for the recommendations!
Bonus points: most of these are available on O’Reilly’s Safari service, and that service is free with ACM membership, so downloading a bunch of these to my tablet as I type.
posted by a device for making your enemy change his mind at 9:46 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Bonus points: most of these are available on O’Reilly’s Safari service, and that service is free with ACM membership, so downloading a bunch of these to my tablet as I type.
posted by a device for making your enemy change his mind at 9:46 PM on July 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by genehack at 11:32 AM on July 27, 2019