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Zach Elkins
9,602 PointsJavaScript Foundations vs. JavaScript basics, if your starting this course please read this!
Hello everyone! I am posting this to be helpful as possible to anyone about to embark on learning JavaScript. Please take a moment to read this, it could save you a good amount of time.
A couple things you may want to know before getting too deep into JavaScript Foundations with Jim Hoskins.
First, many people seem to have had rather rough experiences when it comes to understanding the content fully and I believe that is because of the teaching style of this series.
I personally went though the first 3/4ths of this course and felt that there wasn't enough exercises to practice the material presented or I was really unclear what purpose some of material served because you don't get much of a "big" picture of what you're learning or don't implement it in a project style like so many other Treehouse courses.
After hours of these tutorials I found out that there is a more up to date version called JavaScript basics and it takes that project based approach and really gives you a lot more practice and breaks the content into manageable portions. Here is the link: http://teamtreehouse.com/library/javascript-basics
I'm not saying that you can't learn anything from Hoskins' videos but when it comes to JavaScript (or any programming language) it requires you to apply the skills to really understand what you are learning and JavaScript Basics does that far more than Foundations.
I know there are tracks that "require" Foundations but honestly you may be better off simply using the Library feature to access the videos in the proper order, and using JavaScript Basics as a place holder for this particular series.
Thats just my two cents, I hope this advice helps.
Muhammad Sohaib
1,819 PointsVery true. Thanks.
Shahraiz Tabassam
5,086 PointsThanks a lot, this was very beneficial!
14 Answers
Ethan Paz
7,710 PointsWhat helped me out to learn JavaScript was reading "JavaScript and JQuery" by John Duckett. Haven't read the whole book because currently I'm trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle for AJAX. I'm not saying TreeHouse isn't good for learning, what I am saying is if anyone wants to learn how to code you must learn to go to different learning sources to get the whole picture. For instance, w3schools, thenewboston, youtube, mozilla, books, teamtreehouse, and google all have different solutions and guides to solving problems in reaching the same conclusion.
Zach Elkins
9,602 PointsYou're totally right there. And as for Jon Duckett, I have a copy of his HTML & CSS book and it was really helpful when starting out with that. I'll have to grab his JavaScript and JQuery book because I love the way he lays out his books, very easy to follow along and very clear explanations.
Paul Calabrese
13,516 PointsI did the same exact thing. Treehouse is my primary learning tool, but you do need other resources as well and those books are excellent resources. I also found a good video on youtube that helped explain the bigger picture. Here it is below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf_cb_Nw5zY
Also if you keep pushing through and use other resources, it does come clearer over time - but it is frustrating at first. I will say that JQuery was easier to understand - though that might have just had been the right timing with my overall understanding. I haven't taken that javascript basic course yet, but I think I will when I am done with the Front End track to reinforce the material.
Ethan Paz
7,710 PointsWhat you said is completely true as I first started learning JavaScript with Hoskins, and I found it difficult to learn because I did not see the big picture. Personally, understanding the DOM (Document Object Model) made it possible for me to want to learn JavaScript better, so I could do well at JQuery. If I would start learning JavaScript all over again, I wish I learned the importance of the DOM, the importance of knowing my selectors inside out, and knowing how to set up functions.
Zach Elkins
9,602 PointsYeah, personally going through Hoskins' videos I was taking tons of notes because it was hard to retain and referring to W3C and MDN to put the puzzle pieces together on my own. I figured it would be a good idea to at least point out the alternative for people because there were quite a few people commenting in the questions in Hoskins' series about how they were feeling very lost or not sure why they were learning what they were.
Emily Mitchell
Front End Web Development Techdegree Student 8,599 PointsI'm glad I'm not alone! I got lost in Hoskins Intro to Programming course in this track so when I saw that he was also teaching Java Foundations I took Java Basics on the side first. I'm about to dive into Foundations and hopefully it will make a little more sense now.
I really think they would benefit by letting Craig Dennis teach these courses. He does a much better job of explaining the processes and purposes behind things.
John Cope
13,924 PointsThanks for the tip Zach!
I keep starting this coarse and finding it hard work then losing interest. Then I return and have to start again because it's not sinking in. Perhaps Treehouse should update this coarse and make it more engaging.
Zach Elkins
9,602 PointsYeah absolutely. I mean JavaScript is already a more difficult language to grasp conceptually (as compared to the likes of languages like HTML and CSS.) but with the Foundations course it makes it feel even more daunting. And the fact that a lot of lessons in the Foundations course are between 11-15 minutes makes it even more difficult. I don't know about everyone else, but it makes me feel less engaged even if I am following along in my preferred text editor.
Shorter videos, more exercises is the best advice I have for revision of the course. I feel that JavaScript Basics helps do that a bit more to get people ready for 'Interactive Web Pages with JavaScript' course and some others. Irregardless, multiple resources makes learning JavaScript a smoother process.
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsI am struggling also to pick up JavaScript and how it relates to a platform I am trying to build. How it fits with HTML and CSS so maybe I should look a Java basics. I am really wanting to build platform using Ruby on Rails but it seems I need to understand Java first is that right?
John Cope
13,924 PointsHi Leisa
The short answer to your question is yes.
If your building an application on your own whether it's Ruby, Python, PHP, or whatever (server side) you will need to know the basics which are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (client side). I have now completed this course but first completed the Javscript basics course as suggested by Zach, it took a little extra time but I was struggling with this one.
If your working on an application with a team then each team member usually works on one of the above components so you'll still need to know how they all fit together.
Hope this helps, happy programming
John
P.S. Ruby is not a framework
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsThanks John, Yes I have just started Javascript basics and finding the teaching much easier. I do not have a team, it's just me, my laptop and my crazy idea:) My platform is similar concept to airbnb but for a different industry and I have heard that Ruby on Rails would be the best framework to build it in?
Ethan Paz
7,710 PointsJava and Javascript are nothing alike. Learning Java won't get you closer to Javascript at all. Honestly, in order to learn JavaScript, you have to learn that language on its own terms, unforunately.
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsI meant Javascript....sorry for the confusion!!! My goal is to learn Ruby on Rails but it seems I need to learn Javascript first, is that right?
John Cope
13,924 PointsMy pleasure, Leisa. Once you get through JavaScript basics you'll fly through JavaScript foundations. There are many ways to build your application, Ruby on Rails is one way. So now you’ve picked one keep going as you have a long journey ahead of you. Each new skill you pick up makes it easier to learn the next as all programing languages have common concepts i.e. variables, arrays, if statements, loops, functions, etc., etc. that’s what you need to understand.
Keep at it and very soon it will all make sense.
Happy programming John
Ethan Paz
7,710 PointsI haven't learned Ruby on Rails yet, but here is something you should ask yourself first: is Ruby on Rails a framework or not? If it is, learning Ruby on Rails won't be as helpful as learning the language it's based on.
Ethan Paz
7,710 PointsI haven't learned Ruby on Rails yet, but here is something you should ask yourself first: is Ruby on Rails a framework or not? If it is, learning Ruby on Rails won't be as helpful as learning the language it's based on.
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsWould you have a preference for text editors. Obviously I am getting use to Workspace so would love to find an editor like Workspace. Any suggestions??
John Cope
13,924 PointsYep, Sublime text
Adam Dingle
5,582 PointsHi Leisa,
I started with sublimeText as well but found it tough to use when it came to displaying my work in an active browser. I fully admit this could have been my error because a lot of people recommend it.
But if you are also having problems, I switched to textMate and like it a lot. It's free and you can download it easily from the web.
Just a suggestion. Best of luck!
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsOk I'll check it out. How much does it cost and is there a particular version that is better? Thanks for your answers John. What are you hoping to get out of learning code?
John Cope
13,924 PointsThey have a free version of Sublime text that pops up a message after so many saves which really doesn't bother me, the paid version is $70 Download here. If you do some of the older courses on treehouse you will build them on your local computer and edit them using sublime text as they were posted before workspaces (PHP is an older course).
What am I hoping get out of learning? That's a long answer, at the core I get a great sense of accomplishment when I learn a new skill. I also have my own business Cope I.T and I need to stay ahead of the game.
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsAlways great to upskill. I am coming from a completely different background in health (Midwife) so this is all very new, but I am loving it. Love your website! Very simple and easy to use. Thanks for your help. I hope one day very soon I will be able to build my own dream business. Cheers.
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsHey Adam I'll check that one out too. What is your hope in learning code?? Cheers
Adam Dingle
5,582 PointsHi Leisa, I am learning to code so that I can start my own freelance design company and go from there. It's such a large and interesting industry so who knows where it'll take me. You?
Leisa Clark
4,531 PointsSounds good Adam. I am actually trying to learn code so I can build my own web and mobile platform for a business idea. It ahs been a dream of mine now for two years and I have been looking for coders who would partner with me with no luck, not many coders with these skills where I live. So I decided I would have a crack at learning code myself. I know it will be a long journey but one that I would regret if I didn't try. Leisa
Conner Cousins
6,347 PointsThanks for the tip! I'm going to follow your advice on this one.
Sakib Ahmed
10,105 PointsSakib Ahmed
10,105 PointsReading this before I sunk a chunk of time into this course was so helpful! Thank you for this awesome suggestion.