If I Had to Learn JavaScript Again: The Real Journey From 2017 to Today
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A developer shares their 8-year journey learning JavaScript from 2017 to 2025, detailing the messy, non-linear path from HTML/CSS basics through a CCNA networking detour, to building production apps with React, Node.js, and TypeScript. The post provides honest insights about what actually worked: building personal projects, reading others' code, deploying everything, and spending thousands of hours coding. Includes a practical month-by-month learning roadmap, curated resources (javascript.info, Matt Pocock for TypeScript, YouTube channels), and uncomfortable truths about imposter syndrome, job hunting, and the reality that learning never stops.
Table of contents
The Beginning: HTML, CSS, and Pretending I Knew What I Was Doing (2017)The School/UNI Years: Where Nothing Really Clicked (2017-2020)The Detour: CCNA and the Command Line Awakening (2018)The Real Start: Coming Back to Programming (late 2018)The School Project That Changed Everything: Job PortalJavaScript: When It Finally Made SenseReact: The Framework That Almost Broke Me (late 2021-2022)TypeScript: The Boss Level (2023-2024)The Things That Actually Made Me Better (The Real Lessons)The Path I'd Take If Starting Fresh TodayWhat to Skip CompletelyMy Resource Bookmarks (The Real Ones)The Uncomfortable Truths Nobody Tells YouWhere I Am Now (2025)If You're Starting Today3 Comments
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