The ONLY Courses you need to Learn Javascript and React

Summary

This video provides an in-depth review of various text-based and video-based courses for learning JavaScript and React. The speaker discusses popular text-based courses like The Odin Project and FreeCodeCamp, highlighting their benefits and drawbacks. For video-based learning, courses by Wes Bos and Maximilian Schwarzmüller are recommended, along with Harvard's CS50 web development course. The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding the right learning style and applying knowledge through projects, offering a balanced approach between text and video resources for effective learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Odin Project is a comprehensive, free text-based course that covers JavaScript, HTML, CSS, back-end, and React, while encouraging you to set up a local environment.
• 📖 The Odin Project's biggest challenge is its text-heavy format, which requires significant reading and self-discipline to follow through.
• 👥 Getting stuck on The Odin Project's exercises may require participation in its community for support, which adds to the learning experience.
• 💻 FreeCodeCamp is another excellent free resource, offering multiple tracks and an online code editor for practice, but it doesn't emphasize setting up a local environment like The Odin Project.
• 🎥 For video-based learning, West Boss offers a variety of JavaScript and React courses, including a free 'JavaScript 30' course on YouTube that focuses on hands-on coding exercises.
• 👨‍🏫 West Boss's teaching style is highly regarded, but video courses often involve too much hand-holding, which may hinder independent coding skills.
• ⏸️ To get the most out of West Boss's courses, learners should pause videos and try coding exercises on their own rather than just following along.
• 🎓 Harvard's CS50 Web Development course is an in-depth option but focuses primarily on Django with some JavaScript, which may not suit learners focused purely on JavaScript and React.
• 🛠️ A recommended React course on Udemy is ideal for learning React's basics and tools like Redux, but like other video courses, it requires discipline to avoid passive learning.
• 🚀 For advanced learners, Maximilian Schwartz's Next.js course is recommended, but it may be slightly outdated due to recent updates to Next.js.

Q & A

What are the two main text-based courses recommended for learning JavaScript and React in the script?

The two main text-based courses recommended are The Odin Project and Free Code Camp.

What is a significant advantage of using The Odin Project for learning JavaScript mentioned in the script?

A significant advantage of The Odin Project is that it guides learners step by step through JavaScript and other technologies, and it forces learners to set up everything locally on their own computer.

What potential drawback of The Odin Project is discussed in the script?

A potential drawback of The Odin Project is that it is completely text-based, which requires a lot of reading and may not suit everyone's learning style.

How does Free Code Camp differ from The Odin Project in terms of coding practice?

Free Code Camp uses a built-in online editor for coding exercises, unlike The Odin Project which emphasizes setting up a local environment.

What are the benefits of using video-based courses for learning JavaScript according to the script?

Video-based courses like those by Wes Bos offer the advantage of seeing concepts explained in a visual format, which can be easier to understand for some learners.

What is one potential downside of video-based coding courses mentioned in the script?

A potential downside is that they often involve code-along sessions, which may not effectively teach learners how to build projects from scratch on their own.

What is the JavaScript 30 course by Wes Bos and how does it help learners?

JavaScript 30 is a free course on YouTube where Wes Bos walks through a specific JavaScript exercise each day for a month, helping learners apply concepts to mini-projects.

Why did the speaker prefer The Odin Project over Free Code Camp despite the challenges?

The speaker prefers The Odin Project because it forces learners to set up their own local environment, which is beneficial for applying concepts to personal projects.

What is the Harvard CS50 web development course and how does it differ from other courses discussed?

The Harvard CS50 web development course is a college-level course that focuses on Django and JavaScript. It differs from others as it is more time-intensive and project-focused.

What is the main focus of the Udemy course mentioned in the script for learning React?

The main focus of the Udemy course is teaching the basics of React, including setting up components, understanding state, and using different React hooks.

What is the Next.js course by Maximilian Schwarz and what is a potential issue with it?

The Next.js course by Maximilian Schwarz is an introductory guide to using Next.js with React. A potential issue is that it may not cover the latest updates in Next.js, such as version 13.

What approach does the speaker recommend for learning JavaScript and React?

The speaker recommends a hybrid approach, using both text-based tutorials and video courses, and always applying learned concepts to personal projects.