A Quest to Tackle JavaScript Fatigue

For the longest time, I dreaded working with JavaScript. The overwhelming changes in the JavaScript ecosystem caused me to experience what is known as “JavaScript Fatigue.” This feeling persisted for years until one day, everything changed.

Finding Love for JavaScript

My introduction to JavaScript dates back to the nineties when document.write statements filled my books. Around 2012-2013, the impending arrival of ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) flooded discussions everywhere. At first, I struggled to keep up with the rapid changes. Learning JavaScript had been challenging enough, and with the ground constantly shifting beneath my feet, it became even more difficult.

A commenter on a blog post put it perfectly, “Learning modern JavaScript is tough if you haven’t been there since the beginning.” It was a sentiment I could relate to as someone who had immersed myself in JavaScript and Node.js in 2012. The ES6 update turned everything on its head. It revolutionized the language, and each day, new features were being discussed, leaving uncertainty about which ones would make it into the spec. I felt like I was constantly playing catch-up, with everyone on Twitter talking about the next big thing.

Embracing Change: From Var to Babel

The changes in the JavaScript ecosystem extended beyond language upgrades. Building JavaScript applications underwent a significant shift. Gone were the days of including JavaScript with script tags; instead, we now had build steps that compiled our code into large, incomprehensible files. Initially, I resisted this change, but when Babel (a JavaScript compiler and transformer) emerged, I realized it was here to stay. Babel ensured that we could continue using the latest features like ES2017, ES2018, and beyond, even before they were supported in browsers. With Babel, I saw the future potential of JavaScript and embraced it wholeheartedly.

Simplifying Tooling: The Power of Ready-Made Solutions

Navigating the complex tooling landscape was one of the greatest challenges in the JavaScript world. While learning about Webpack and other tools is important, starting out with ready-made solutions like create-react-app or Glitch can ease the learning curve. These tools simplify the setup process, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than getting caught up in the intricacies of configuration.

Transitioning to Smaller Releases

ES6 (ES2015) marked a turning point for the ECMAScript committee, leading to the decision to release smaller updates more frequently. This shift made it easier to keep up with the changes, as updates were more predictable, manageable, and provided less disruption. While the landscape continues to evolve, the pace of change is more measured.

Avoiding the Buzz: Focus on Your Work

As developers, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends and buzz surrounding new libraries and frameworks. Following thought leaders on Twitter who constantly promote the next big thing might lead to a feeling of missing out. But it’s crucial to ignore the noise and focus on the work at hand. While there are new frameworks and libraries emerging regularly, stable technologies like React, Vue, and Angular have already stood the test of time and are likely to remain relevant for years to come.

Recognizing the Lifecycle of Technologies

While change is constant in the world of technology, it’s important to embrace the fact that everything has a lifecycle. jQuery, once ubiquitous, has faded from popularity. Backbone.js, CoffeeScript, Ember.js, and Angular.js all dominated conversations and then made way for newer contenders like React, Vue, and Angular. Major frameworks typically enjoy a few years in the spotlight before evolving or giving way to newer solutions. It’s perfectly acceptable to stick with a tried-and-tested technology if it continues to meet your needs. Tech evolves and matures, and eventually, the focus shifts from talking about it to using it effectively.

No Judgment in Technology Choices

Public opinion can be a fickle thing, and every technology has its critics. As a beginner, you may encounter voices that criticize your choice of technology. Whether it’s PHP, jQuery, or any other tool, it’s important to remember that if it works for you and your project, it’s the right stack. Many technologies are developed by large organizations, each with their specific needs. It’s perfectly valid to choose familiar technologies and make a difference without necessarily adopting the latest and greatest.

Accepting That You Can’t Know Everything

The JavaScript ecosystem is vast and constantly evolving, making it impossible for any individual to master everything. Instead of trying to learn every new library or framework, focus on learning the fundamentals and building a solid foundation. Recognize that there will always be gaps in your knowledge, and that’s okay. Find your balance and strive for continuous learning rather than aiming for complete mastery.

Prioritizing User-Friendly Documentation

Strong documentation is a hallmark of successful technologies like React and Vue. It’s essential to choose tools and frameworks that come with accessible, user-friendly documentation. This ensures a smoother learning experience and facilitates effective development.

Anticipating Future Changes

JavaScript continues to evolve rapidly, with new language features being introduced regularly. Await/async, introduced in recent years, quickly gained popularity, making promise-based code look outdated. Embrace these new features for new code but avoid rushing to rewrite existing code that still functions effectively. As ES2018 features become widely adopted, attention will soon shift to ES2019 and beyond. Embracing change in JavaScript keeps us ahead of the curve, and the language’s growth shows no signs of stopping.

Embracing the Journey

JavaScript is still in its early days compared to other languages, but it has become immensely popular and undergone dramatic transformations in recent years. It continues to attract talented developers, and the possibilities for its future development are vast. As we imagine the JavaScript we’ll be writing 10 or 20 years from now, it’s an exciting time to be a part of this ever-expanding language ecosystem.