javascript: don't start doing it, without learning it.

[dezwald]

If you're a server-side programmer like me, javascript is a language you learn just to get by on. However, in my case, I never took the time to fundamentally learn the language. I would pick it up along the way to because i needed to, or because i was forced to used it.

Then of course jquery came long, which made using javascript a whole lot easier. However, whenever it came to writing raw js code, (instead of copying and pasting snippets off another site.) i was lost. Especially when it came to writing proper oop, or using closures. - these problems also slowed down my productivity time, as well, leaving a frustrating experience in memory.

The youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQVTIJBZook is Doug Crockford talking about misconception about javascript.

He also wrote a book called: "Javascript: The Good Parts" - which many JS coders are probably be already familiar with

I would also recommend (which is recommended by many other programmers): JavaScript - The Definitive Guide

[Zecc]

Nah, I don't need to relearn JavaScript because I already know it quite well. I should start learning jQuery though. Maybe even node.js

[fbnt]

This disagrees with my personal learn-as-you-need-it mantra.

(works if you're already fluent with programming fundamentals)

[dezwald]

You're right. But only to a certain extent. If you are building medium to heavy based JS web apps (without using frameworks like JQuery) JS can throw some unexpected/questioning curve balls along the way, due to the design flaws of how it was built.