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Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

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Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#51
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> By all means learn about raw DOM manipulation with JavaScript first Yep, where is the documentation for modern JS without any libraries? Preferably something that doesn't try to teach you what an if and a loop are first.

I can recommend this book: https://exploringjs.com/impatient-js/

Skimmed through it randomly and it sounds good for learning the language, thanks!

Now where's the equivalent for actually using JS in a modern web browser :)

Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#52
For a raw ground up experience you could start with W3 schools.

If you wanted to learn via video and you want html/css/js, search 'vanilla javascript website.'

Currently "vanilla javascript" usually means a native browser website free of npm/node/ecosystem.

To serve a plan old site like this: google, "how to serve a static website", as that is what you are creating here.

Want a DB or persistence? Now you need an api. After creating your static site, now you need an api on a server somewhere. Any tutorial on creating an api (in whichever language you like) will probably work.

Now you have options,

1) run a static web server for your website (this can be done for free via github pages btw) and run another server for your api

2) run two one single server with two different applications-- your api and you static web server (now you need a reverse proxy)

3) run a single server/api that both serves you static website and handles communications.

Easiest/fastest: get a static site (html/images/css/js) made and up on github pages

For some sort of api, whip up an expressJs app with a node server to handle both serving your static site communication needs.

Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#53

Start with Nuxt / Next and work your way to HTML. I say this after being a web developer since 2002. You will figure out what you need and what you do not very quickly this way. It won't be easy, but you'll end up with the skills you need in modern web dev. And be thankful you did not have to spend a decade dealing with cross browser issues. You have it very easy today. https://nuxtjs.org/ (I prefer Vue). https://nex…

As someone using this same stack, among others, I don't agree with this answer. It's the opposite of the simplicity that the poster is asking for.

Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is what I'd do too if I were starting now.

10 years ago I would have maybe agreed. I wouldn't start with Ruby and Rails today just like I wouldn't have started with Perl 10 years ago.

https://www.theodinproject.com/paths/full-stack-javascript

There is a full stack JS track with Node instead of Rails.

Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#55
post #31

> everything you need to know when creating production-ready (yet simple!) web applications? If you mean web applications rather than (mostly static) web sites then I believe that the boring pragmatic approach is to use React + Typescript, at least for the front end stuff. This is where the tooling, documentation, and community all currently come together in the most cohesive manner for modern web application develop…

You could also pick a more server side style of development such as PHP/Wordpress or Python/Django and then sprinkle a template and or javascript as required.

Python/Django actually pairs well with React/Typescript - I've used this on a few projects. I was gonna suggest this as the pragmatic full stack approach but felt my comment was already long enough.

Re: Ask HN: Where can one learn about boring web development?

#57
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would strongly advise against react if you are looking to learn the fundamentals. By all means learn about raw DOM manipulation with JavaScript first , but do not go directly for react. We are repeating the same issues we had years ago where people started conflating JavaScript with jQuery - people are conflating JavaScript with react l. JavaScript is an insanely powerful flexible and widely deployed language. It i…

> By all means learn about raw DOM manipulation with JavaScript first Yep, where is the documentation for modern JS without any libraries? Preferably something that doesn't try to teach you what an if and a loop are first.

Part 2 of https://javascript.info/ then there is always MDN.
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