DuomlyThis article was originally published at https://www.blog.duomly.com/how-to-practice-javascript/
Intro on How to Practice Javascript?
Javascript is a programming language that has been used for decades. It's how you make interactive websites, how you build mobile apps. And it's how most of us interact with our smartphones' virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa.
Javascript is now everywhere in software development, which makes it one of the most in-demand skills on the market. That's also the reason why many people start learning Javascript. It's very often chosen as a first coding language.
To become proficient in any coding language, one needs to be familiar with the concepts of the particular language as well as syntax and algorithms- but when you already read many books and did lots of courses or one big course, you have to start getting experience and practice your new skills.
Practicing Javascript is very important, because it can help you to understand everything that may seem complicated in theory. And it works the other way, when you start practicing you understand how important it is to know the theory.
When I started learning how to code in Javascript objects and inheritance seemed difficult to understand, and I couldn’t imagine when I can use it in real project, but when I started to write the projects, I realized how important is to know the theory of the programming language to be able to provide a high-quality solution for the problem.
Many people don't have an idea how to sharpen your Javascript skills. I already went through this stage, and I'd like to share with you my ideas on how to practice Javascript online and offline.
P.S. I prepared a Youtube video about the ways I’m going to describe here, so feel free to watch it and leave me your feedback.
1. Build Javascript Projects
Building projects as Javascript exercise is probably the most obvious point in this list, but it’s important.
Don’t worry if you are a beginner and you don't know how to write the whole app. You don’t have to start from anything advanced, you can create a simple piece of code, like a function changing the colors of the button.
The most important in the process is to create a code and understand how it works. This will help you to understand the theory that you already know from books, and teach you how to choose the best solutions.
If you don't want to start with setting all the environment by yourself, and just want to start coding, try to use ready playgrounds, like CodePen for example.
Besides experience which you can get by writing the code, you can gather all this in the repository and create your programming portfolio, which is very important when you apply for a job.
Here you can find lists of projects that you can do as an exercise for practicing Javascript.
Projects:
2. Improve Existing Projects
As the first point, I wrote about creating projects. The next thing you can do to train your Javascript knowledge is to improve the program you created. It's a really good exercise.
If you've learned some more advanced things and have an idea how you can change what you created, do it. Try different ways to solve the same problems, measure the performance and pay attention to the coding best practices, then you are able to learn to build a high-quality solutions.
The other approach is expand your projects, and adding another functionalities.
For example, if you were learning HTML and CSS first and you build a layout, you can add functionality in Javascript later, or you created a listing of products, try to add a basket and make e-commerce. If you created a simple function, try to write some simple app, using that function.
Remember that the main goal of the project is to learn, get some experience and improve Javascript skills.
3. Complete Code Challenges
It may happen that you won’t be able to find an idea for a project to build, or maybe you are more advanced and would like to solve more advanced problems.
Than a good idea may be to find some groups or website where you can solve code challenges. It’s also possible to find those kinds of challenges in blog posts, articles, forums, online applications and website, etc.
Solving more advances issues will bring you a lot of fun and can be helpful during a technical interview as you may be asked to explain something similar.
Some websites provide even real examples from interviews in such companies as Google, Amazon, or Uber.
Another advantage of solving coding challenges is that you often don’t have to build an entire application to practice solving a particular issue, especially if you are solving it in a ready platform with ready test cases. It also teaches you best practices in coding.
4. Join an Open Source Project
Joining an open source project is an advice for those who have the junior level knowledge at least. Joining to the existing, open-source project will allow you to learn on a real-life application, and learn from other developers who work with you on the project. It’s also a huge plus in your resume.
Joining an open source project will teach you the way development is done. You can get experience with tools and practices used in many jobs, like git, code reviews, etc.
Besides that, collaborating with others on a project makes you learn the process of development as well.
5. Join the Coding Community
Javascript, as one of the most popular programming languages, has a huge, friendly community, and you can become a part of if. There are a lot of forums, groups, or even live meetups where you can participate, read interesting content, and try solving different programming problems.
This is a great way to learn from other programmers in real-life situations, and it’s always a great thing to listen to advice and tips from people with more significant experience.
Also, you can start sharing your knowledge with those who start learning and need some help or advice, which will give you the feeling of achieving the next level.
You can start building your profile on StackOverflow, and answer some questions, or help beginners on Reddit, or Quora as well.
6. Share your Javascript Learning Journey with Others
Nowadays, media like blogs or vlogs are really popular, and people share their everyday life with others. Why couldn’t you share your learning journey?
I think it’s a great idea to start documenting what you’ve learned. It’s motivating while you get the community around your content of people who keep fingers crossed for your progress.
Besides writing blog posts, or vlogging, you can start building a coding Instagram profile as well.
Besides it, you can create blog posts about some Javascript programming concepts, and tips to help others, and explain it in your own way. Or do a video tutorial on how you practice your knowledge and build the application, or do a live coding stream.
Possibilities are really huge, and by doing content you are learning new things as well.
7. Write Coding Articles and Share Knowledge
Besides sharing your coding journey, your successes and failures, you can aslo share tips and tricks about coding.
There are a number of ways you share your Javascript articles without setting up your own blog. One option is to set up an account on Medium and start sharing knowledge with people who may really need it while going through the process as well! Writing about syntax errors, parent function, arrow functions, object oriented programming can also teach you a lot.
Sometimes it happens, that a Medium blog with big audience will reach out to you, and ask you to publish your content on their blog. It will give you huge visibility, and can also be a great achievement in your resume.
What do you need to start practicing Javascript?
You already know a few methods on how you can train your Javascript skills. Now, let's clarify what exactly do you need to start.
Code editor
If you decided to create your own project, you can set up your own code editor, like Visual Studio Code with plugins that will help you a lot with writing project.
To start coding without big preparation, you can use any online playground.
Browser
Good browser with nice developer tools will be requiered as well, because with Javascript you can easily debug by console.log a lot of things.
List of code challenges resources
Creating a list of websites or mobile apps with coding challenges, will be another step in your career.
List of community resources
Setting accounts on platforms with Javascript communities, like StackOverflow or Reddit is something what you should do as well.
Of course all steps depend on which methods you decide to select for yourself.
Conclusion on How to Practice Javascript
In this article, I went through the six ideas on how to train Javascript online and offline, but most of the ideas may be used to improve different programming languages skills as well.
If you need some help with building your first projects, you can join an e-learning platform where you will get a ready environment and some instructions to start, like in some of the Duomly practice courses.
I hope you will find this list helpful, and I encourage everyone who started learning the theory of programming to practice it as much as possible because it’s a great way to remember everything you already know in theory, and become a better programmer.
Thank you for reading,
Anna from Duomly
