Professional JavaScript for Web developers

What Hacker News says

1. reificatorMay 2020
   This is why I look for gems like Professional Javascript for Web Developers[0][1]. (I can't speak to the latest version, I think I read the 3rd edition from 2012.)

   It's a book about Javascript that assumes you've written software in other languages before. I believe the book uses Java/C#, Python, and maybe a couple other languages as reference points.

   It describes language behavior and constructs that may be new to you, and details where the familiar may differ from what you'd expect. For instance, the section on `var` and how function scoping (and hoisting) differ from block scoping was quite detailed, but I don't remember it spending a lot of time on what it meant to declare a variable or why scoping rules matter.

   If the book had a beginner focus I might have seen the section on declaring variables, skimmed to see the `var` keyword, and skipped the rest. Then I'd have written a bunch of code that would bite me later, because why would you ever assume function scoping when coming from another language?

   It's unfortunate that it's so difficult to find books with either an intermediate to advanced focus, or a focus on switching languages, as I think both are sorely needed in the current programming ecosystem.

   [0]: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Professional+JavaScript+for+Web+...

   [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-JavaScript-Developers-Ma...

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2. rl3May 2019
   >... but it seems that many are outdated (without ES6), for instance: Professional JavaScript for Web Developers, which has great reviews, but no ES6.

   Professional JavaScript for Web Developers was the text I used to deep dive on the language in 2012, and it was fantastic. The chapters that dealt with prototype inheritance, scope chains, and execution context provided for a very solid command of the language at the time. Nicholas C. Zakas is an excellent author.

   Understanding ECMAScript 6: The Definitive Guide for JavaScript Developers 1st Edition was also written by Zakas, although I have not read it. Unfortunately since it was released in 2016, it likely lacks some of the later revisions to ECMAScript that have been ratified since.

   Honorable mention includes Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja, but it's also an old book. Despite its campy name, it provided some of the best visual explanations of advanced JavaScript topics I've ever seen. Granted, I just read a few of the chapters.

   I recently had to skill up and take the leap from my pre-ES6 knowledge into the bleeding edge, and the way I did that was to just read MDN (Mozilla Developer Network) pages where necessary, maybe the occasional blog post assuming it seemed of sufficient caliber.

   Of course, the hardcore way to deep dive is simply read the latest ECMA spec directly, but I wouldn't recommend that route for where you're at right now unless you're really curious about a particular mechanic.

   Based on a cursory search and taking a gander at its index, Eloquent JavaScript, 3rd Edition: A Modern Introduction to Programming (December 4, 2018) looks pretty good.

   Some other commenters are saying the "learn as you go" approach is sufficient, and it certainly is initially, but at some point I highly recommend deep diving into how more advanced features of the language work so that you have a solid command of the language.

   Either way, best of luck and happy learning!

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3. reificatorFeb 2018
   Counterpoint, I wish there were more resources for new languages that assume you already know how to program.

   Professional Javascript for Web Developers[1] is a favorite of mine, because it doesn't waste time teaching you to program and teaching you the language. Instead it points out things that will surprise you if you come from C-like languages, and things you need to watch out for.

   Now, since I effectively learned to program in C and later C#/Java, ___ for node developers isn't what I'm after, especially if it spends a bunch of time talking about static typing or fixed size arrays and such. But if you're going the opposite way as I did, learning the high level and transitioning to the low level, something like that could be very useful indeed.

   [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-JavaScript-Developers-Ni...

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4. Top19Jul 2017
   Also "Professional Javascript for Web Developers" by Zakas is a pretty classic text too. Gives you a ton of background on Javascript, not as much as Simpson though (but the alternate perspectives are useful). Where this book really helps is by explaining how the browser works. Things like the DOM and "document" and "window" along with the HTML5 APIs aren't Javascript but you need to know them as well.
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5. clark-kentSep 2015
   "Eloquent JavaScript: A Modern Introduction to Programming"

   "Functional JavaScript: Introducing Functional Programming with Underscore.js"

   "Professional JavaScript for Web Developers"

   [edited to add more books]

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6. pixel67Jun 2015
   I just want to point out that 'JavaScript the Good Parts' is not a good first book for beginners. David Flanagan's book is a much better book to start off with or Zakas book `Professional JavaScript for Web Developers` is the one I would suggest, then Crockford's book. Nothing trumps practice though,just keep coding and breaking things just to fix them, that, imo is the way to learn anything.
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