10 Javascript Resources – From Noob to Pro

When I started developing I was fortunate enough to have an experienced friend who pointed me to all the right articles, websites, etc. The right tools make all the difference and this educational jumpstart was exactly what I needed to hit the ground running.

Now that I’ve gathered a good deal of Javascript knowledge and used a wide variety of Javascript resources, I’d like to share these so that others can experience the same benefit I did. And don’t stop reading if you already know Javascript inside and out: there’s resources here for all skill levels, from noob to pro.

1. Mozilla Developer Center

Skill Level: Noob to pro
Format: Website

The Mozilla Development Center should be your starting point for all things Javascript.

Beginners should start with the Core Javascript Guide. Javascript can be a really confusing language at first and going through each of these pages will make you comfortable with Javascript’s peculiar syntax and methods. (It’s way better than w3schools.com)

For seasoned pros, the Core Javascript Reference section provides the best resource on the web for quick Javascript info on functions and syntax. Most devs write several languages and it’s easy to mix things up, so bookmark this must-have reference and save time.

2. Advanced DOM Scripting

Skill level: Pro to guru
Format: Book

Written by Jeffrey Sambells and Aaron Gustafson of A List Apart fame, this is by far the best advanced level Javascript resource I have come across. Teaching you everything about best practices, this book covers important topics such as rewriting the DOM core, advanced event management and graceful degradation through feature checking. After giving you a superb footing in Javascript, Advanced DOM Scripting ends with an upper level discussion of AJAX and a few Javascript libraries.

Not for the faint of heart, make sure you have a good deal of Javascript knowledge before starting this book, or it will be very slow going.

Buy it here cheap

3. Quirksmode

Skill level: Dev to guru
Format: Website

Although the site’s organization can be confusing, I’ve found some of the most interesting front end articles and resources at Quirksmode.

Quirksmode’s claim-to-fame is its incredibly useful cross browser compatibility tables. Not only an excellent resource for Javascript, these tables cover CSS, HTML and DOM support across all browsers, and are essential for all front end devs. They are my go-to resource whenever I have a cross-browser issue I don’t understand.

4. Ajaxian

Skill level: Semi-noob to guru
Format: Blog

Founded in 2005 by Dion Almaer and Ben Galbraith, Ajaxian is arguably the authority on front end development. Don’t let the name fool you, this site handles Javascript of all types: AJAX, various libraries and plain old Javascript. It has a variety of front-end and some back-end articles as well. Reading this blog will keep pros up to date and get noobs up to speed. However you should have at least a tiny bit of JS experience before starting with Ajaxian.

5. Secrets of the Javascript Ninja

Skill level: Pro to guru
Format: E-book and book

Only available as an E-book right now and scheduled for printing in June ’09, Secrets of the Javascript Ninja by John Resig should prove to be the next great Javascript book. From what I’ve read of the e-book prerelease, it is at only a slightly lower level than Advanced DOM Scripting, so it should be an excellent resource for pros and gurus alike. Pick this one up in June to solidify your knowledge of best practices and learn new techniques.

Pre-order it here

6. blog.nihilogic.dk

Skill level: Dev to guru
Format: Blog

Jacob Seidelin’s blog is an excellent place to learn about new, ground-breaking Javascript, especially anything to do with Canvas. Jacob covers a variety of topics, from current Javascript trends to techniques used in his personal projects. These include some of the best and most interesting Javascript that is being written today, such as the super cool Pixastic Javascript photo editor.

And you just have to play Javascript Mario Kart.

7. jQuery Docs

Skill level: Noob to pro
Format: Website

I know this post is about Javascript resources, but who doesn’t write jQuery these days? In my experience, jQuery is the best light-weight Javascript library; very easy to use and also extensible for pros, it really has everything. And the jQuery docs are the definitive resource for quick jQuery lookups as well as beginner education, much like the Mozilla Dev Center is for Javascript.

And yes, John Resig is my nerdy hero (Super-Hiro!).

8. www.learningjquery.com

Skill level: Noob to dev
Format: Blog

Additionally, Learning jQuery is an excellent resource for doing exactly what the domain says. The tutorials and posts on this site will bring you up to speed quickly, and are probably a better starting point that the jQuery docs for total beginners.

While these tutorials are at a more basic level, they are of course useful to Javascript pros who are first learning jQuery.

9. DOM Scripting

Skill Level: Semi-noob to dev
Format: Book

Also published by Friends of ED, DOM Scripting is the prequel to Advanced DOM Scripting. Written by Jeremy Keith, this book will lay a firm foundation for your Javascript programming. It is a must-read for anyone who has already knows the Javascript basics and wants to take their skills to the next level.

Buy it cheap here

10. Interactive Volcano

Skill level: Noob to dev
Format: Blog

Interactive Volcano provides a variety of front end and interactive tutorials with a Javascript focus. Although there are currently very few tutorials, this blog started a few months ago and the list is growing.