Learning JavaScript – or Practicing the Art of Not Going Insane

I’ve decided that I need to learn JavaScript because I’m tired of having to ask other developers for help with something that I feel I should know. Additionally, a number of my clients have asked me to do more than just build help for them so I need to know more. And finally, I firmly believe that I have to keep learning all the time.

Thus, the effort to learn JavaScript.

I actually started to learn JavaScript several months ago when I began a new help project and wanted to do some fancy image changes on the Welcome page. It frustrated me that I couldn’t do what I wanted so I ordered HeadStart JavaScript. I’d had experience with HeadStart HTML & CSS. I can’t say I learned HTML and CSS via the book – but it’s been helpful when I need to refresh my memory on something. So, I got the JavaScript book from the same line of books.

I can’t say it was a rousing success. I don’t think the book was at fault…I think it was me. I don’t know that I was ready to take on a completely new language. So I put the book away and focused on other things, like my client work, the holidays, more client work. And now it’s the new year and I have some time to commit to something….and it might as well be JavaScript.

So, instead of pulling out the book, I decided to try out Codecademy. I’d heard about it from some colleagues and then heard that NYC Mayor Bloomberg was going to use it to learn to code (why, I have no earthly idea).

AND, it was the magic price of FREE.

Given that I’m learning this on my own and don’t have the bandwidth (being a mom, and a consultant, and a director of a non-profit) to actually go to a class at night…and my current employer doesn’t have a training budget…

I finished the first group of lessons yesterday and I can say that, while I didn’t go completely batty, it was a challenge:

Notice, my super awesome 100% complete on the first series of lessons!

Anyway, the biggest issue I have with JavaScript is that it is very case-sensitive. I spent 10 minutes trying to figure why the simplest line of code wouldn’t work – it turns out that I had capitalized the F in function when that’s, obvious to me now, a no-no. Here’s the culprit:

Figuring out that that can’t be capitalized = 10 minutes of my life that I won’t get back.

Codecademy does the whole points, achievements, badges thing that’s all the rage among sites now. I have no idea what the points are for, and while I like the little badges, I won’t be posting them to Facebook, which they encourage you to do.

So, I’m chugging along, trying to remember what it was like learning HTML and CSS way back when. I keeping picturing myself as a JavaScript Ninja…someday.

Are you taking on new languages while building help? If so, which ones?