HN Books @HNBooksMonth

Mostly pre-es6, but this is my favorite "intermediate -> advanced" JavaScript book: https://www.amazon.com/Effective-JavaScript-Specific-Softwar...

There are gaps/things that have changed since the book came out, but this is a really great resource for understanding the core JS language.

I highly recommend this road as well.

Three exercises along the lines of the parent that I found particularly valuable:

1. Compare VanillaJS TodoMVC to your framework of choice

http://todomvc.com/

https://github.com/tastejs/todomvc/tree/gh-pages/examples/va...

What does the framework buy you? Is the framework-powered code easier to read? Easier to understand for a newcomer to the code base?

2. Read every line of Effective Javascript (it's short and eminently practical) and write out every code example.

http://www.amazon.com/Effective-JavaScript-Specific-Software...

There are about a dozen small errors in the code in the book, see if you can find them.

3. Read substack's alternative Javascript build flow:

http://substack.net/task_automation_with_npm_run

Think about the possibilities and limitations. (I personally love his approach at the beginning of projects when I could care less about fiddling with gulp and want to get into exploring the guts of a problem)

⬐ temo4ka

3. b) http://blog.keithcirkel.co.uk/how-to-use-npm-as-a-build-tool...

"The Good Parts" is still a good one, but my recommendation these days now goes to Effective Javascript:

http://www.amazon.com/Effective-JavaScript-Specific-Software...

Outside of books, http://superherojs.com is another good resource to recommend.

⬐ skfroi

Thanks!

http://superherojs.com look really good. I'll definitely check it out.

Aside:

Your invocation of Effective Java made me look for Effective Javascript, and it does exist. Amazon users give it five stars: http://www.amazon.com/Effective-JavaScript-Specific-Software...

Can anyone comment on how well this books fulfills the expectations implicit in a book calling itself "Effective X?" Or just how effective the book is with respect to accepted javascript practice?

⬐ geekingfrog

It's a very good book. It explains a lot of 'why' and inner working of good practices.

It's also fairly comprehensive, ranging from - some evilness (type inference with ==, eval and its performance toll) - functions and higher order functions - objects and prototypes. Some good explanations of the all prototype and constructor thing - array, dictionnary and some things to know about their prototypes - api design and concurrency

It's 200 pages full of content, I recommend it.

⬐ dangoor

I haven't personally read it (shame on me!) David Herman and I spoke from time-to-time while I was at Mozilla and he's very smart, a very clear communicator and he knows the language as only a language lawyer can. He's actually a member of TC-39 (the ECMAScript committee) and had a big hand in the modules coming in ES6.

By every account I've seen, it's a great book and the only reason I haven't read it is that I've already been bitten by all of JS' pitfalls once or twice :)

The real reason I'm posting a comment, though, is to give you a link to the JS Jabber episode in which they talk to Dave about the book:

http://javascriptjabber.com/044-jsj-book-club-effective-java...

That episode will give you a good idea of what the book is like.

To the people who wish they could answer that question with confidence, I recommend getting this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Effective-JavaScript-Specific-Software...

Just got it and I feel like it clarified so many things about Javascript that I didn't have down cold as a self-taught pragmatist.

⬐ __derek__

Agreed. I cannot recommend that book enough. It's a natural extension of The Good Parts and should be considered required reading (in the same way that Effective Java is for Java developers).

⬐ platz

I felt Effective Javascript was pretty on par with The Good Parts, and even better in some aspects.

⬐ drgath

I concur. I recently finished Effective JavaScript, and found it to be an excellent and insightful read.

⬐ ulisesrmzroche

I'll 4th this recommendation thread for those still on the fence. This and also Secrets of the Javascript Ninja.

⬐ kika

I hate HN. Instead of watching action flicks on flights I now read books picked up from HN threads. I've got Platinum Medallion this year and I'm still behind my reading queue.