JavaScript

What Hacker News says

1. lukanAug 2026
   Ah yes, nowdays it is even easier, but "Javascript, the good parts" came out 18 years ago already.

   https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/javascript-the-good/978...

   Helped me get a more pragmatic approach to use that chaotic mess of a language and environment. Just use what works, ignore the rest (but I also ignored some specific advice from the book and used what worked for me).

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2. keithalewisAug 2023
   Someone should write a book about this [0] and a tool to automate checking your JavaScript code [1].

   [0]: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/javascript-the-good/978...

   [1]: https://www.jslint.com/

   I'm working on a book called "How to not get your knickers in a twist because you neglected to learn from people who came before you."

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3. kludgemakerSep 2022
   * Getting Real, by 37signals: Gave me confidence to side-step a lot of the bs I saw in software development practice

   * The Mythical Man-Month, Fred Brooks: Provided an argument against inexperienced managers who errantly assert that they need more developers to get projects done quicker; perhaps more importantly, it gives as a model for a programming team with a "chief programmer" to whom these managers need to report

   * The Timeless Way of Building, Christopher Alexander: Taught me the original (perhaps better) concept of design patterns, which helped in talking to colleagues about the parts of software we build and reuse

   * JavaScript: the Good Parts, Douglas Crockford: Led me to a solid understanding of how to make good use a crummy scripting language that was only really meant to glue DOM behavior to Java applets

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4. perilunarAug 2022
   > You can complain and moan about it or you can roll up your sleeves and do some work

   He's done the work, so he has more right to complain than most:

   * https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/javascript-the-good/978...

   * https://www.json.org/

   * https://www.jslint.com/

   * https://www.crockford.com/jsmin.html

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5. solidistJul 2020
   JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford. Note that this was written in 2008 but still holds up well.

   https://www.amazon.com/JavaScript-Good-Parts-Douglas-Crockfo...

   It may be a perfect time for a revision.

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6. combatentropyMay 2020
   Svelte is easiest to pick up and gets you far.

   Eventually it makes sense to learn JavaScript on its face. It is a weird and beautiful language. Abandon hope of understanding it unless you read a coherent book about it. As for me, I read JavaScript: The Definitive Guide from cover to cover. I have also read good things about JavaScript: The Good Parts, and I know that Douglas Crockford is smart.

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