As a computer engineering student, the majority of the programs I’ve worked with have used C or C++, but I also have some experience with Java and Python. Comparing Javascript to other languages I have dealt with, as the name suggests, it’s most similar to coding with Java. I do enjoy the flexibility Javascript permits -primarilty the allowan of variable declaration without a specific variable type and unspecified return types for functions- however I find it difficult to remember the difference between Javascript and other languages. I found using “freecodecamp” convenient for learning Javascript; it was easy and fast to go through exercises where I already understood the material, but I was also able to spend more time and get hints on new or more difficult examples.
The biggest difficulty I had with the Introduction to JavaScript was remembering functions and rules already built into Javascript, such as “hasOwnProperty” from Basic JavaScript: Testing Objects for Properties and string immutability. The ES6 section was more difficult for me than the Javascript section; the new syntax and some concepts were extremely different than other languages I have learned in the past. I can see why the new material would be convenient when writing long programs, but I need more experience coding this way in order to use it efficiently. I think the syntax for Javascript is more convenient and concise than other languages, however I also believe it’s better for beginning programmers to learn another language before Javascript.
Right now I find WODs challenging and stressful. When I did Euler problems 1 and 2 for the homework WODs, I found them much easier compared to the BWOD and in-class WOD. My main problem with the in-class WOD was forgetting about string immutability and thinking the string could be edited as an array. I hope that practicing using Javascript more will get me used to its rules and syntax, and I’ll be able to comple the in-class WODs.