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JavaScript

Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points
Posted by Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points

Where to from here?

Hi, I've finished and re-watched both Introduction to Programming and JavaScript Foundations and I am quite a way through Build an Interactive Website. I found a lot of it very difficult (which is why I re-watched so much). Even after re-watching, I still felt as though I needed a lot more examples and practice, so I went over to Codeacademy and completed both the jQuery and JavaScript courses. After doing that I feel I have a much better understanding of the theory, but I don't feel very competent in applying it to practical situations, like making my own interactive website, and I still feel like there's a lot I haven't learned or been introduced to, and have found myself Googling how to do this and how to do that. I'm not really sure where to go from here because I want to get the hang of using JavaScript but I don't like searching through irrelevant Google answers in hope of finding something helpful-it's quite tedious. I think I would really like some sort of well-structured system (online course/book/whatever) that covers everything JavaScript and jQuery so I wasn't left Googling my unanswered questions. Can anyone please recommend something that would help me to feel comfortable with applying the JavaScript theory to my own website? I feel like I know a lot of theory now but don't grasp how to use it in a practical situation.

By the way, examples of things I am interested in understanding are:

  1. how to assign keyboard shortcuts, ie, instead of clicking a submit button to be able to press enter on the keyboard
  2. if I make an element draggable or sortable with jQuery UI, how to also make something happen when the element is clicked
  3. the difference between click() and on(click), i.e it would be nice if the course went through everything JavaScript could do (I don't find w3schools explanations that easy to follow. Maybe I need a course on how to use w3schools. ;) )

2 Answers

Paul Hume
Paul Hume
6,143 Points

I'm sorry i don't have an exact answer to your question. I was hoping to hear a staff member's reply. You seem to have been diligently searching for your answers. I almost want to say that your question might be better answered on stackoverflow, but maybe you've tried that. I will say that we can't expect to be masters of JavaScript after only an introductory course. (Yes, i got the impression that i was going to get a "full package" here, too. Umm...that's another topic.) You might want to look into a JavaScript framework(like Angular.js, Sails.js or Ember.js). Hmmm...not really helping you i guess. Take a look at this and tell me what you think. Otherwise, i am also looking at Code School, to get more practice. The Code School site is more interactive than Lynda.com or Pluralsight (but those are excellent sites too with some courses on frameworks mentioned above).

Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points
Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points

Hi Paul, I really appreciate your comment. It's nice to know what learning strategies other people are using and what they are finding helpful. I read the article and thought it was great. I think I'll try Code School. Thank you!