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Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

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Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#1

Post by kypro »

Someone in my family wants to move into software development and I'm in a position where I could probably get them a job as a junior dev if they were able to get the basics under their belt.

We're using React so some experience developing React apps would be a minimum requirement for the role. They know a little HTML, but are overwise they're complete beginners.

Can anyone recommend a course (free or paid) which can help introduce the basics of HTML/CSS/JavaScript alongside React? Or would it be better to focus on HTML, CSS & vanilla JavaScript first?

I've been doing this so long I'm not sure I appreciate how difficult it might be for sometime to jump straight into React. Has anyone got children or family members who were able to pick up React without first learning HTML, CSS & JavaScript?

Re: Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#5

Post by aregsar »

It would be better to focus on html and especially vanilla JavaScript first and maybe even Typescript then start with react. Knowing JavaScript well helps with react. Pluralsight offers a number of excellent courses in all web technologies including react but its a paid service. Another paid option is egghead which has a focus on front end tech.

Re: Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#6

Post by otras »

I agree with the other poster that starting with HTML and JavaScript is beneficial to have a better understanding of React and what it does for you. I’d recommend the curriculum at FreeCodeCamp, where you can work through the HTML course, the JS course, and then go to the React course. It’s a nice (and free) introductory path with a good balance between guided problems and open-ended projects, and there’s a great deal of support (online forums, chats) to ask for help if/when they get stuck.

https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/

Re: Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#7

Post by kelljust »

Start with The Odin Project: https://www.theodinproject.com/

It defers to FreeCodeCamp where beneficial but overall puts a greater focus on setting up an actual developer environment instead of doing everything in a sandbox. It's a bit more challenging for that reason, but overall better for your progression.

The Odin Project does go through React, but I'd actually recommend switching to FullStackOpen once you hit that point in the curriculum: https://fullstackopen.com/en/

Re: Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#8

Post by codegeek »

Focus on HTMl/CSS/vanilla JS first. Teach them how web applications actually work and then get them into React etc. I have interviewed a lot of Bootcampers who could not tell me how/why to submit a form using POST vs Ajax but had built "react apps" in their training.

Re: Ask HN: Good React courses for a complete beginner?

#10

Post by xolve »

Starting with plain HTML, CSS and Javascript makes sense as it helps to know underlying concepts.

But its a big leap from writing basic pages to writing React. Suddenly you have to know npx, packaging, transpiling and what not. Nothing in those basics prepare you for that. At some point you have to jump in and figure your way backwards from there.

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