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Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

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Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#1

Post by nielmalhotra »

I'm an experienced Rails developer, and I'm helping a friend learn about javascript frameworks so he can eventually get a job (we're kinda learning together). He was considering the MEAN stack, but with the announcement of all the breaking changes in angular 2.0, I don't think it would be a good use of time to learn angular.

It would be nice if there was a Rails of javascript, but there seems to be a lot of competing technologies. Obviously, you can learn new things at a new job, but it would still be better to learn something with a lot of adoption. I'm thinking a MEEN stack (using ember instead of angular) or even using react and flux. Meteor is another choice, but I'm not sure how widely adopted it is. I think it would be best for him to pick one stack and master it well before moving on.

It's annoying because, when it comes to Rails, I know exactly what skills a beginner needs to learn. Does anyone know what the more successful js bootcamps like hack reactor teach? Or do you have any advice on a good stack for a prospective full stack js developer to learn?

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#2

Post by otto_sf »

Familiarity with frameworks is useful, but knowing plain JavaScript inside out is way more valuable than being able to recite various APIs. But if your friend hasn't found the job yet, and therefore doesn't know what framework he will spend his days learning to loathe, I'd say put together a few small projects with a smattering of libraries to get a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses, what problems get solved, etc.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#3

Post by simpixelated »

otto_sf wrote: post #2

Familiarity with frameworks is useful, but knowing plain JavaScript inside out is way more valuable than being able to recite various APIs. But if your friend hasn't found the job yet, and therefore doesn't know what framework he will spend his days learning to loathe, I'd say put together a few small projects with a smattering of libraries to get a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses, what problems get so…

This is the right answer. The best stack for a JS beginner to learn is JS, HTML, and CSS. Throw in some localStorage if you need persistence. The OP is definitely coming at this from the wrong perspective (the need to pick a framework). Instead, learn the core fundamentals and perhaps the nuances of a few different libraries, before you have to pick a stack. Otherwise, you won't even know the pros/cons of the stack you've chosen.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#4

Post by voodoomagicman »

otto_sf wrote: post #2

Familiarity with frameworks is useful, but knowing plain JavaScript inside out is way more valuable than being able to recite various APIs. But if your friend hasn't found the job yet, and therefore doesn't know what framework he will spend his days learning to loathe, I'd say put together a few small projects with a smattering of libraries to get a better sense of their strengths and weaknesses, what problems get so…

I agree - I definitely think its worth exploring a few. A good first framework to try is Backbone.. Backbone would not be my choice if I were starting a serious new project today, but because it is small, simple, and has very approachable and well annotated source code it is an easy framework to pick up and understand deeply. I would recommend reading through and then implementing a simple example like a to-do list, and then taking an hour to read through the annotated source.

After doing a small project with backbone, other frameworks like react + flux / angular or ember will be easier to pick up, and the tradeoffs they make will be easier to understand.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#6

Post by oneplusone »

I would learn Ember. The documentation is really good and it has the same philosophy as Rails (convention over configuration). It is as close to Rails for JS as you are going to get. Ember-cli is also amazing.

For the backend I would stick with Rails. I see no benefit of moving to Node for a general application when you already know Rails.

Ember, Ember Data and Rails works incredibly well together.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#9

Post by annise »

If this is about getting a job, forget about stacks and just start hacking on the first thing that seems interesting. If you're comfortable, you're doing it wrong.

Whatever you're working with will most likely be out of touch with what the job requires and outdated in a year, but the ability to pick up new things is an indefinitely transferable skill.

In addition to not bothering with stacks, I would also advise you not to limit yourself to JS.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best JavaScript stack for a beginner to learn?

#10

Post by neilk »

Ember is the Rails of JavaScript. People who like Rails tend to also like Ember -- same approach to problems, and they integrate well together.

Personally I am into React/Flux lately but that's because I like doing things at a bit lower level, with more control. Note, lower level doesn't mean better.

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