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Discussion on: Gatsby vs Next.JS - What, Why and When?

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trythesetips profile image
Adam

I started to learn JavaScript a few days ago and I keep hearing about these frameworks, the most common one I keep hearing about repeatedly is React.

Is there any framework that can make my "learning JavaScript" life easier from the start, and then also pay off later or should choosing a framework wait until I've properly learned JavaScript on its own?

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Jamees Bedford

So these are specifically React-based frameworks. A framework for a framework shall we say ;)

I would stick doing what you are doing for now - check out javascript30.com - when you get comfortable hacking together little projects then, by all means, check out a framework. I think actually it can make the process easier, but I wouldn't recommend doing so before learning the JS fundamentals.

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Tyron Allen

I personally would try and become an expert in vanilla JavaScript... es5 & es6+. Then learn how to serve it up with Node.js and Express. Then learn about webpack and Babel! 😃😃 It will help you understand moving parts of JavaScript and eventually you should learn React.js library . (not a framework) and then Redux. 👍

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Ranjankumar666

Please dont do that mistake, dont go with hype, try vanilla js especially the es6 and beyond syntax find out why u need to switch to react, angular, etc. If u dive in now, nothing will make sense at all and you will be in a complete mess

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lucas kardonski

This is the same problem I had. Whats the point of learning React/gatsby for making sites when you can make reactive static sites with vanillaJs that behave exactly like a native app. This will allow you to master javascript and a do the same that a react app does. Still theres cases where you might want to use React, but it’s overkill for a simple site/blog.

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Thiago de Bastos

Hmm but isn't the point of something like Gatsby to have you up and running with a blog in a manner of minutes? Who wants to spend all that time setting up each time, the boiler plate can be overwhelming.
I suppose the question is: do you want to master JS or do you want to turn ideas into reality? Its a touch tight rope to balance and it depends on what kind of engineer you are how you are employed (eg solo/contractor/full time).

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Dani Vijay • Edited

TL;DR : strategy I followed = cover basics + interview questions, get a job, learn rest on the go. Choice is yours tho.

I was a php dev 1 year before. Took a break for 4 months, learnt basics of JS, Node and Vue, got hired for a reactjs position! Now I'm a full stack dev (react and rails!).

I may not be crazy good these (which is very difficult to become, especially in highly volatile js ecosystem), but brave enough to believe I can make things working with any of these tech. Personally I felt learning speed is much faster when there are deadlines and while working on projects that matters.

I'll highly recommend to follow twitter accounts of devs like dan abramov, where you can get lot of relevant info. Being up to date is critical to survive in JS world IMO. I also follows some sub reddits for webdev, js, react etc. YouTube tutorials of traversy media, academind and net ninja helped me a lot in the initial days.

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F94Olivera

Don't focus on frameworks, first master vanillaJS, there're thousands of resources out there such as YDKJS by Kyle Simpson or Eloquent JS or flavio copes JS handbook. I suggest buying Traversy Media course on udemy of vanillaJS, after that continue with react then the backend, NODE + Express
Once you got the grasp of 1 framework the rest are the same, IMO they're always trying to reinvent the wheel...

PS:forgot about testing, after Frontend and Backend make projects WITH TESTS, i vouch for jest... in today's market this is a must

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lucas kardonski

VanillaJS can replace most frameworks for building reactive static sites. If you get to master it, no need to learn React to make a simple site.

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leob • Edited

Hm partially agree, but not completely ... sure, VanillaJS is an important foundation to master, but if you then want to get good at React (and for good reasons, e.g. because the job market for React devs is huge and booming), well that's a whole new different world, you'll again have to climb a big mountain ...

The basics of React are simple but when you reach the stage where you need to know all of these prototypical 'patterns' (HOCs, render props, hooks, context, suspend, and so on), and when to use Redux (and when not), with all of its countless variations (thunks, sagas, whatnot) and 'best practices' ... welcome to a brave new world - React, simple to learn, difficult to master :-)

I just want to make the point that, yes, VanillaJS is important, but A Knowledgeable JS Programmer does not automatically A React Guru make ... it requires substantial extra effort.

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Aravind K Subash

It is very important to learn the foundations.Once you master the foundation , you can switch to whatever the frameworks for your projects !

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PovilasB

Go for vanilla, learn how to manipulate the dom, why jQuery is redundant, learn ES6, array/object methods. Then learn framework that is up to date and people are hiring for knowing it. Frameworks are like cars, everyone argues that certain brand is the best but learning to drive is what matters .

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Adam • Edited

I'm now wondering what the most in-demand (from a hiring / salary perspective) framework is. My goal is to learn enough to get hired but I also want to ensure I have the best salary prospects at the same time. My initial thinking was that "full stack" development must surely be in the highest demand but now I'm thinking it might be smarter to really specialize in pure JavaScript and just one framework.