Ask HN: Which (physical) book should I get to learn JavaScript/TS?

7 pointsluxpsycho2y ago4 comments

I'll ask the question about me specifically, as it's too generic otherwise and there exist more than enough articles about this already. I'll describe my circumstances, so everyone can assess for themselves how relevant it is to them.

I am a DevOps Engineer. I describe myself as a "good conceptual programmer": I understand algorithms, data structures, etc. (I used to do some C, which I credit with a lot of that.) I also have very good knowledge about the internet: networking, routing, IP, DNS, HTTP, its methods, headers, return codes, API best practices, etc.

However, my knowledge rapidly drops to zero when front-end / the browser is involved. For reference, when I last working with HTML/JS, you couldn't rewrite the URL in the user's browser without reloading the page. Single-page apps seemed like magic to me until I figured out this is now possible.

So I (assume I) would like/need a book that doesn't spend too much time with algorithmics / data structure explanations, but at the same time explains all the lower-level relevant concepts: DOM and friends, execution contexts, browser-side security& permissions, local storage, etc.

I used to say I hated JS, but I must admit at this stage that's mostly just ego anymore, as I really don't know 2023 JS. (Also, should I just go TS? Or is TS only accessible to people who already know all of the context of JS, alluded to above?)

For reference, I felt vaguely the same about Python, but after reading and developing a crush on Fluent Python (Luciano Ramalho), I really understood the language, conventions, community, and now love it!! I am effectively looking for the same with something I can develop webpages with—which has gotta be JS/TS, right?

Thanks! (I hope the formatting is okay; written on my phone.)

4 comments

rshnotsecure2y ago

You Don't Know JS by Kyle Simpson. The PDFs are one of the most starred repos on GitHub: https://github.com/getify/You-Dont-Know-JS

Also more to your question, "The Browser Hacker's Handbook" and "The Web Application Hacker's Handbook" I also think are really helpful in understanding how browsers work. Sadly a not better documented subject.

Visiting the list of APIs on Mozilla's website is also helpful.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API

sphars2y ago

Eloquent Javascript: https://eloquentjavascript.net/

Available online/digital download (free) or you can buy a physical copy.

thorin2y ago

I would concentrate on modern JS without frameworks and TS initially. I can't recommend a book really as the last ones I read are 10 years old now e.g. JS - the good parts.

You mention devops stuff e.g. networking / routing that I've never been great at - would you be able to recommend a "real" book on that stuff?

austin-cheney2y ago

Look at table of contents hinting at these key concepts:

* Functions as first class citizens

* Lexical scope

* Events

* Callbacks and promises

* Bonus material: performance, DOM, Node.js or Deno

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