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@dan_abramov
Apparently this needs to be said but you can absolutely start with React and skip “JS fundamentals” IF YOU WANT. You’ll be confused about some things for sure (!), but for some people (incl. me) getting something on the screen is the only thing sustaining the initial interest.
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@dan_abramov
Be wary of advice like “I learned it in the wrong order, so don’t repeat my mistakes”. It reeks of survivor bias. Those people *did* end up learning both, right? Maybe if they approached it from the other end they wouldn’t even finish it and switch to something else.
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@dan_abramov
Learning is not linear. You can “start anywhere” and branch out. It is much more important to be learning effectively (e.g. learn to recognize when you have a gap instead of trying random guesses until it works, and learn to ask the right questions).
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@dan_abramov
Note I didn’t say it wouldn’t be confusing. It absolutely would! But do we teach kids grammar, or do we speak in front of them? This isn’t quite the same but the notion that big dependent things must only be learned sequentially is wrong.
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@dan_abramov
People keep answering: “but they will be confused”. YES they will be confused. The goal is not to eliminate confusion from the learning process, it is to not to lose people who give up because what they’re learning feels too far from what they want to be doing (make an app).
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@dan_abramov
I am focusing on this because it’s a common fallacy. You learn something, then you learn it “right”, then you think that if you could go back and learn it “right” from the beginning it would have been easier. But your thinking is already tainted by both experiences.
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@dan_abramov
It is tempting to misattribute your “aha” moment to learning fundamentals when it is actually a byproduct of BOTH. You learned what the fundamentals were “for” first, then you learned how things actually work, and these pieces combined in your brain in a satisfactory way.
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@dan_abramov
Learning from fundamentals is more efficient in the long run from a mechanical perspective. But we’re not machines, we need to CARE. A longer route that makes you care may end up working better than a shorter route you abandon because you’re bored.
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@dan_abramov
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Replying to @SpeakingSW
I work on a JavaScript fundamentals course. I get what you’re saying. You focus a lot on “understanding”. Understanding is nothing without motivation and a sense of how you can apply it. “All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of life springs ever green.”
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Robert Haisfield 🤔🔎🤯🔁
@RobertHaisfield
This tweet is dropping knowledge bombs Failure states like confusion are inevitable, so design for recovery. roamresearch.com/#/app/Rob-Hais Maintain interest by showing people how learning relates to their goals. roamresearch.com/#/app/Rob-Hais
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@dan_abramov
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People keep answering: “but they will be confused”. YES they will be confused. The goal is not to eliminate confusion from the learning process, it is to not to lose people who give up because what they’re learning feels too far from what they want to be doing (make an app).
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