If you are looking to become a JavaScript developer, there are a number of things to consider before jumping into the fray. Whether you develop solely on the front end (for a web browser or other client) or server-side using Node.js, you will need to learn a number of things that will help you on your path to becoming a professional JavaScript developer.

Learn the Basics

First, you will need to learn the basics of the language. However, most projects (whether in Node or on the front end) require you to have at minimum a familiarity with (and more often than not expertise with) the other major building blocks of web pages – HTML and CSS.

The image below shows how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript all cross paths for a front end developer. You will likely need to have a good understanding of all three, since JavaScript uses and interacts with elements from the other two technologies. For example, JavaScript can be used to identify an HTML element that needs updating, or to change the CSS styling of that HTML element.



The various specialties within front end development. Source: SlideShare.net.

So, you will probably want to learn HTML and CSS, then move into learning the basics of JavaScript once you have the other two languages tackled.

Learn the Web Browsers and the Console

When it comes to developing on the front end, it is essential to know how to test in all of the web browsers that may need to be supported for a given project. This could include not only the latest version of any given browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, IE, Safari), but may also include older versions that may require additional testing or workarounds to make things work.

With this, it is helpful to know how to use the developer tools/consoles that come with each browser, so that you can identify and debug problems more quickly when they arise.



Example of a web browser console. Source: Mozilla.

Learn Related Libraries and Technology

While knowing the language itself is great, you will almost surely find it helpful to understand some related libraries. For example, JQuery is used in a vast number of programs and apps to help alleviate many of the browser inconsistencies you may face. Knowing how to use it can be helpful not only for those advantages, but also for being able to transition that same code back to vanilla JavaScript if a project moves away from using it.

In addition, learning a technology such as Node.js, which allows I/O on the server with JavaScript, can be quite an addition to your resume’. This can allow you (along with learning to use and interact with a database) to transition into becoming a backend or full-stack developer if you desire. Needless to say, JavaScript offers numerous opportunities for you should you choose to learn to become a JavaScript developer!

Get PaaS with Morpheus

Looking for a good PaaS service to run your apps? Whether you are using JavaScript and its syntax throughout, or combining it with other languages, why not try out Morpheus, which makes it easy for you to develop in either case. You can provision databases, servers, and more quickly, and have your app up and running in no time! Using the available tools, you can also monitor the various parts of your system to keep track of uptime, response time, and to be alerted if an issue does arise.

Morpheus allows you to provision apps in a single click, and provides ease of use for developers with APIs and a CLI. In addition, backups are also automatic, and you can have redundancy as needed to avoid potentially long waits for disaster recovery to take place. So, why not grab your Morpheus demo now?