I\'ve been working as a back-end web developer for the last 2 years but since th

Question

I've been working as a back-end web developer for the last 2 years but since the beginning of this year, i'm starting to see i have some very good skills for front-end web development as well.

Still, i only have solid knowledge of HTML/XHTML and CSS 2/3.

I actually can write some small inline JavaScript snippets already, but i feel like i still need more deep study on this matter. That desire made me meet good JS libraries like jQuery, which seems to fit the best for my needings right now.

So, a doubt was created in my mind, and i'd love if i could get a hint of more experienced front-end devs:

Where to start from? The good ol' classic JavaScript, or start from a library already, like jQuery?

Thanks in advance for all the tips

Explanation / Answer

9001 people will tell you to start with jQuery, so I'll tell you the answer that won't be popular: learn javascript. By learning javascript, you will, by default, know jQuery, mootools, prototype, etc, etc, etc - because they are all javascript.

There's nothing magical about a library like jQuery, but it IS possible to dilute your understanding of the underlying principles. You're starting off from a solid foundation in server-side concepts, you'll want to have the same foundation in client-side concepts. Learn about DOM, learn some of the quirks of the language. Learn some of the headaches in cross-browser scripting, learn why front-end folks loathe Internet Explorer 6 - 8 (9 - 10?).

Once you have a good, solid grounding, THEN, and only then, should you think about picking up a tool like jQuery (or --> mootools! <--). Otherwise, you're taking a shortcut without knowing what exactly you're cutting - that's a good way to turn a shortcut into a longcut (to invent a term).

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