Javascript is it like marmite for you ?

[benisjamin]

Ive just started within the past couple of weeks learning Javascript, and Ive got to say, Im not a big fan of writing it (knowing what it can actually achieve on the other hand is different and I appreciate the reasons why designers/developers use it)

My question is this, how far should I go with learning javascript in order to use Jquery or any other javascript library ?

Can anyone point me to any good novice articles or "physical" books that would help me out. Im desparate to get into the web design industry but just need some shoving in the right direction to get me rolling along.

I also understand that if I cannot crack javascript, then my chances of ever becoming a web designer or null and void. It just all seems like "gobbledeygook" to me @ the moment with not knowing where certain () or {} or "" or even ; go...... I dont want to give up so easily but I feel like Ive hit a brick wall the size of Mount Everest.

Any comments or advice wil be greatly appreciated.

Ben

[RLM2008]

There's a sticky regarding books on this forum.

There's an inexpensive Javascript intro course also availble here at Sitepoint, which could be very useful to you. Starts with javascript and then touches on Jquery.

In addition you really should have put 'Vegemite' in your title as well.

RLM

[ScallioXTX]

There's an inexpensive Javascript intro course also availble here at Sitepoint, which could be very useful to you. Starts with javascript and then touches on Jquery.

All SitePoint courses have moved from the SitePoint website to Learnable

[goldfidget]

Take a look at Doug Crockford's book JavaScript - the good parts. It is very good indeed. Javascipt is like a puzzle, there's a lot in it that can seem odd, but once you get it it's actually wonderful, like swimming through the matrix.

I came to JavaScript practically cold a while back and it has grown into my favourite language. That's saying a lot considering I'm primarily a Ruby/Python developer.

As for whether it's worth learning? It is the most widely deployed platform in the world, by a margin. It's utterly ubiquitous. If you have a computer/tablet/phone the chances are it has a Javascript interpreter on it somewhere, probably more than one. You can write mobile apps that run on any device, You can write games. You can write rich, dynamic websites.

Do I sound biased? I am, among other things I teach JavaScript courses for a living. Feel free to check out my blog webofawesome.com for a bunch of little articles and tutorials.

Good luck, and I hope you "get it"

[RLM2008]

All SitePoint courses have moved from the SitePoint website to Learnable

Thanks for posting the link. A bit lazy there on my part.

Take a look at Doug Crockford's book JavaScript - the good parts

You've obviously got a bit of a background in programming what with python etc.

Just my opinion, but I'd say that title could be a bit off putting as a first choice for a novice. A bit difficult to grasp and lacking in detailed explanations. For the more experienced?

The Nicholas.C.Zakas and Stoyan Stephanov titles I think are well worth consideration. Even though they maybe cover some of the more advanced topics, the foundation sections are very good, and often have diagrams to help illustrate the explanations. I'm thinking things like functions, scope, hoisiting, primitives, references etc.

Anyway I guess that's what the book sticky is for.

Edit: Just an after thought as you mentioned career. I'm not in the industry myself, but I'd say that getting a good solid grounding in HTML and CSS, would be a priority. And to be honest looking at the sort of vacancies going often a decent qualification is a prerequisit. I'm sure others here could better comment on that though.

RLM