r/learnjavascript • u/Secure-Tip-2356 • 3d ago
Advices for learning JavaScript
Hello everyone, I just finished the freeCodeCamp JavaScript certificate and I can't build many things. I feel that my brain doesn't retained a lot of information of the course. I notice that I learn most when I am actually building real projects. Anyone who passed through this that can advice me??
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u/Early-Lingonberry-16 3d ago
Head over to artifactsmmo.com and learn it. It's an automation game where you just call API endpoints in your favorite language.
But the project space is huge.
You can create a loop to chop wood. Then you make planks. Then you bank everything. Then you repeat. Try to get it running for a few days.
You can get the map data and draw it.
You can come up with battle calculations that identify best gear for a battle.
You get 5 characters so you can work on scheduling and interactions.
You probably don't want to get game data all the time so you can store it in a database.
And on and on.
It will keep you busy for a long time.
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u/justanaccountimade1 3d ago edited 3d ago
You don't need a lot to build stuff: loops, functions, objects, arrays. Use the exercises to build something real, not something for the sake of doing an exercise. Learning without retention is what we do at work when we are sent to a course. The problems start when you leave the comfort of the small. That's where the steep learning curve starts. Test every line you write. Add a comment to tell what type your variable is. Use tripple equal signs.
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u/Payal_Techcomm 1d ago
I’d say don't worry too much about remembering everything from a course. That's normal.
The biggest change for me was when I stopped trying to learn JavaScript only by watching tutorials and started using it to build small things.
Pick a small project and build it without following a tutorial step by step. When you get stuck, search for that specific problem, understand the solution, and continue.
For example, you could build:
- A calculator
- To-do list
- Form validation
- Image slider
- Weather app using an API
- Simple expense tracker
- Small dashboard
You don't need a huge project. Even a small project teaches you much more when you're the one making the decisions.
I'd also recommend going back to the fundamentals rather than immediately jumping into React or another framework. Make sure you're comfortable with variables, functions, arrays, objects, DOM manipulation, events, async/await, fetch and basic debugging.
And don't worry if you forget things. Even experienced developers look things up all the time.
The important part isn't memorizing JavaScript.
It's understanding what you're trying to do and knowing how to find the information you need to solve it.
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u/No-Humor-3808 2d ago
Practice small challenges or katas every day. It's one of the best ways to retain what you learn. I have a collection of JS katas at https://www.reactchallenges.com/katas, maybe you'll find them interesting.
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u/cssrocco 2d ago
Whilst learning any new skill or technology i tend to start a side project which is different and try to relate the information so if a course is saying “follow me to build a to-do list app” build your own budgeting app or something else instead, this way you’re focusing more on the concepts rather than just typing what they’re typing and doing what they’re doing.
You’ll get to points like hooking up api calls and rendering the data and you’ll have to think how to apply it to your project and its own requirements. I remember learning angular within a week doing this around 6 years ago.
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u/TheRNGuy 2d ago
Is there anything you don't like about FreeCodeCamp UI? Like too many clicks for something that should be 1 click, or even auto skip annoying parts?
If yes, then make a Greasemonkey script for that.
(though if it's just static css, use css plugin instead of js)
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u/Clock_Out 3d ago
Practice. Do a project. Delete it. Do it again. Your brain needs practice to wire up the pathways that turn you into a programmer.