Source
r/javascript•
StudyAnimal

What is currently the best book for learning javascript?

Hi, I am looking at making Javascript my language to learn for 2011. What has worked in previous years (c#, Python, Haskell) is to book-learn for the first 6 months, and then find a way to use the language at work in the second 6 months.

I am picking Javascript because there is a cool javascript user group in my area, and there is a chance I may be able to use it at work.

I have heard of Javascript the Good Parts, is that recommended? I would prefer something modern, that has a good mix of the practical with some of the more out there possibilities, and ideally a mix of both in-browser javascript as well as non-browser javascript.

Thanks

Posted Nov 12, 2010, 2:09 PM UTC

1225
M1573RMU74710N•

For some reason people often answer "The Good Parts" as a recommendation for learning JavaScript. It seems to be a result of the unfortunate echo chamber in the JS community, where some people just mindlessly repeat whatever Douglas Crockford (or John Resig, etc etc) says.

I disagree with this...."The Good Parts" is a book every JS'er should read, no doubt...but it should be the SECOND book you read.

The Good Parts will give you a very good understanding of theory, but little practical knowledge. It covers very little DOM, browser issues, etc etc.

I think a beginner will find it very boring and frustrating, as you're not gonna get much out of it. You'll learn all the constructs of JS, but without knowledge of how those things are applied in practice...I don't think it will stick in your mind.

As a newbie reading The Good Parts, you're just trying to understand and remember everything...

It's like trying to learn how to skateboard by understanding the entire "theory" of skateboarding...

You don't do that. You learn a tiny bit of theory of a trick (x trick is where you jump and flip the board with your foot). You try the trick...then you learn more theory.

Trying the trick helps you learn the theory, because it teaches you what to pay attention to. If your foot keeps catching on the board, you know when you are learning the theory to pay particular attention to what your foot is supposed to be doing.

If you ask most great programmers how they started programming, they didn't enroll in a Com Sci class...they start by hacking out little games and practical stuff...the theory came later.

Reading "The Good Parts" after some practical experience is like a revelation. It's not boring anymore because the entire time you're realizing how this stuff applies to what you have done...it helps you realize your mistakes.....this way it will stick in your mind much better.

When Crockford wrote "The Good Parts" there weren't many good books on JS. That was 2 years ago, an eternity in Internet time, and this is no longer the case.

I recommend the following course:

  • Professional JavaScript For Web Developers - Nicholas C Zakas

This is a great book to start with. If you read this book carefully and understand it, you will be ahead of many JS'ers that I have met. It covers everything, including OOP in JS which is something a lot of newbies seem to struggle with. It also contains a considerable amount of theory and technical information.

  • The Good Parts

This is a great read, and if you already know some JS, this will help you really "get" what JS is all about.

  • High Performance Javascript - Nicholas Zakas

This book is more technical, and helps you understand the performance implications of your code. Even if you don't write speed critical code, this book will help you understand some of the JS internals and some advanced techniques a bit more.

If you follow this course, I guarantee you will become a "ninja".

Learn vanilla JS first, and once you are comfortable with it, pick up a library.

There's also a lot of great resources on the Internet, but be wary...there's tons of horrible blog posts by php programmers that will just confuse you.

For reference purposes, check Mozilla Developer Network first.

Check out YUI Theatre, and the JSConf videos.

Read the blogs of the greats John Resig, Crockford, Zakas, etc etc...

Also, there's a lot of great JS communities on the web and irc to help you. Good Luck.

13
johnfelix•

awesome suggestions...thanks :)

1
cactuspants•

Much like the jQuery echo chamber :/

1
metamatic•

Hey, jQuery is great if you don't know JavaScript and don't want to.

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madsravn•

The good parts is a VERY nice books. I would pick it up as a very nice intro to javascript. It has all those small things that makes you go "aaah, nice".

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Djatha•

I agree. Javascript, the language, is quite small and easy to learn (if you've got already some languages under your belt) and this book will give a good and intensive introduction. The power of javascript, however, comes from the context it lives in (html,css,htmldom;svg,css,svgdom;...). Learning javascript in its context (whatever context) probably is more difficult as you do not only need to understand the language but also the context and how it is hooked into the context.

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osirisx11•

javascript is not an easy language by any stretch of the imagination. i've been doing js for years and its intricacies still astound me. it is an extremely deep language. look up variable hoisting, wtfjs.com.

if you still think js is easy, look up the infamous javascript loop problem.

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neoform3•

I think the most fucked up part of js is it's scoping. I still can't quite understand why this would ever be needed in a modern language:

function () { var self = this; }

Yet I see that all over the place in jQuery's codebase.

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BusStation16•

because every function in javascript is a closure?

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cactuspants•

It's lexical scope and it's how closures are implemented in JavaScript. You don't need it; jQuery author could choose to bind methods to a particular context, but that requires more overhead (executing a binding method), which is not really desirable in a library that is concerned with performance. Using closures is faster (sometimes), and easier to read (sometimes).

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iberci•

+1 on "JavaScript: The Good Parts" by Douglas Crockford!

I didn't really like JS till I read this book and was set straight by Crockford. He spells it all out and tells you what to use and what not to. Before this book, I was always asking myself if I should embrace the OO or the prototypical and I disliked having both mechanisms available.

Probably shouldn't be your first book but definitely read it once you have been doing JS for a couple of months..

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Monkeyget•

The problem is that while it goes into Javascript in depth it doesn't talk about actual web development. A good thing would be to get Js the good parts along with Pro javascript techniques or javascript: The Definitive Guide.

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the_argus•

I got it recently and laughed when I saw how small it is compared to most programming language books.

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delivi•
  • "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide" by David Flanagan
  • "Learning JavaScript" by Shelley powers
  • "JavaScript: The Good Parts" by Douglas Crockford
  • "JavaScript Cookbook" by Shelley Powers
  • "JavaScript Programmer’s Reference" by Alexei White
  • "Pro JavaScript Techniques" by John Resig
  • "Professional JavaScript for Web Developers" by Nicholas C. Zakas
  • "JavaScript Patterns" by Stoyan Stefanov
  • "Object-Oriented JavaScript" by Stoyan Stefanov
  • "High Performance JavaScript" by Nicholas C. Zakas
  • "Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja" by John Resig

Some of the books listed above are for advanced javascript users.

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[deleted]•

sometimes more is less you know.

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BusStation16•

"Pro JavaScript Techniques" is really good especially if want to use jQuery (which I would recommend.) It is basically a break down of how a library like jQuery is written with a lot of other great information along the way.

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cactuspants•

What's an advanced JavaScript user? The only "advanced" programming that I've ever seen done in JavaScript is from functional programmers who are experimenting with things like continuations and Y-combinators. I'm pretty sure those kinds of things aren't in most or any of these books.

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[deleted]•

All of Crockford's videos on the YUI Theatre website.

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sizlack•

Do not get "Javascript: The Definitive Guide". It's nothing but an exhaustive documentation of every object and method provided by the core Javascript language with very little context to understand it. You can Google that stuff. The Good Parts is the best place to start. Then get "Pro JavaScript Design Patterns", which has some good ideas for structuring your programs. Then get Resig's "Secrets of the Javascript Ninja" ebook to get to the next level shit.

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TundraWolf_•

Just a tip, i'd also learn something like jQuery/dojo/etc. It'll make your life much much easier :)

I learned them both at the same time, and daily I'd sweat over chapters in the javascript book "here is how you do the same thing, in each major browser!" and my Dojo book was like "doing this thing sucks in javascript because of different browsers. Here's you do it in Dojo one way that works on all browsers"

Just my .02

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Omikron•

Jquery a million times

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beeskneecaps•

Pick up the JavaScript Cookbook first, then get the good parts. While you go through the cookbook, create your own mini library in a singleton with all the snippets you've picked up. After that, go read the good parts and think about the mess you've just made.

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chadillac83•

I've read the pre-released pre-order version of "Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja" by John Resig (Founder of jQuery) and even in its early stages I've already learned a good bit and some nice trickes.

http://jsninja.com/

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Omikron•

It's called the internet

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sveisvei•

+1 on "JavaScript Patterns" by Stoyan Stefanov

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