Hey @everyone! You may notice your percentage change in the JS section of TOP, this is because we introduced a full-blown React course in favor of a high level overview of the 3 main frameworks. This is thanks to aronfischer putting in a lot of work to get the meat of the content finished.

This has been a long time coming, and we have decided that focusing on a specific framework is more important than a high level overview of many of them. We believe that understanding the concepts is more important than learning specific pieces and feel you can learn the others with minimal issues after completing the React one. Good luck all! Feel free to give criticism and feedback either here or on GitHub!

Here is a link to the new section: https://theodinproject.com/courses/javascript#react-js

Don't get me wrong, I've loved what The Odin Project has taught me. It has a wonderful community and its project based learning system has made me grow in so many ways. Factory functions, IIFEs, and the modular JS approach that they taught were awesome -- it really enlightened me in a lot of ways on how largescale programming projects actually work. But to be honest, once I got to Battleship and beyond it basically felt like I was hitting my head against the wall and made me want to quit. My vanilla Javascript skills vastly improved from Odin so it was worth it. But it didn't go far enough in helping me learn TDD (test-driven development) so when doing Battleship it was basically like I was making up tests just to complete the project, not really to build upon it. It really felt like a gigantic waste of time tbh even though I did learn quite a bit about how Jest works and why TDD is so important. After finishing that I proceeded to the React section and it seems like things only got worse. I watched a bunch of tutorial series on React that they recommended, but I could barely even complete the first React exercise and during their walkthrough of it (before CV project) I was just like "Right, ok yeah... that's how it works..."

Maybe it's not their fault. Maybe my brain has capped out at this level or something. I don't know.

So at the point I'm at now in the curriculum it's just not for me anymore. because it just makes me frustrated. I don't know if the teaching style changed, things became too complex, or what, but I'm not learning or getting anything out of it. At a certain point it feels like they throw you in the deep end of the pool and to figure it out on your own which I get it, that's the whole point of it and why it's so good, but now the concepts are kind of flying over my head.

The only alternative now is for me to find a new free education service to continue my studies for where I left off.

Did anyone else go through this? Any suggestions on another site or service I should use to continue on? Thanks.

The project is CV_Creator. The code for the project is here. Live link for the project.

The purpose of the assignment was to get used to the props and state of the project. Please take a look at the code and see if there is something I can improve upon or someplace where I might have used bad practice. Also tell me if there is something good if I did.

If you have time please take a look at the my github. And see if you see I am getting good or this is something that I should give up as I am not good enough.

Thanks for time and help.

I want to build a web app and have no clue where to begin. Went to school for cs, coded c++. I have understanding of some technical concepts but 0 when it comes to webdev.

I really don't want to flail around in the dark trying to find the right process. Would be open to a hands-on tutor/consultant that helps me learn and builds the app alongside me. This would be compensated of course. For context, I pitched the platform to the Maryland Dept of Health and they want to pilot it in 5 counties as the first step towards statewide procurement. Just need to build it.

Hi all,

When I was contemplating starting TOP I scoured the internet (especially Reddit) to figure out if it was still relevant in 2022, how long it would take, what I’d learn, etc.

After three months, I am nearing the end of the JS curriculum and it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve had taking an online course. I’m feeling pretty competent with the MERN stack, and am excited to begin applying for jobs in the next month or two.

The structure is very unique and like nothing I’ve seen before.

Each section has a write up of what’s important, and it contains links to other external resources that are pre-vetted by the community.

Then, each section will have some sort of assignment.

They sprinkle in fun projects every so often as well to test that you’re retaining the knowledge.

It’s also updated frequently. I never felt once that I was learning something that was outdated, or missing out on relevant information.

I love how they flat out tell you sometimes about a topic, but then tell you it’s not super important to understand it yet and just move on. It makes keeping moving forward easy.

One of the biggest standouts is the community. Being able to pop in and ask technical questions that relate to the various assignments. The community is amazing and there are many smart developers that respond to newcomers' questions on a regular basis.

What helped me succeed in using their curriculum:

• Follow the directions! Every step of the way - don’t make it up as you go. You’re not qualified ;)

• Ensure you have a basic understanding of the terms used, and be sure to Google things as needed. Seek out external resources where needed to expand upon things that aren’t “clicking” in the way they’re teaching them.

• Do the additional assignments if you feel your knowledge isn’t keeping up.

• Google things! Work to understand the concepts and what’s possible - don’t get bogged down on perfecting syntax just yet. It will come with time.

• Every once and a while, stop the TOP curriculum and do a follow along tutorial relevant to what you’re doing. I ONLY do this after I already have a theoretical understanding of the technology in the tutorial. Seeing it in action, and how other devs approach situations has been exceptionally valuable.

• Don’t skip the CSS! It’s a pain in the butt, but learn flex and grid - and don’t get dependent on frameworks until you understand how it works.

• If you feel like you don’t “get” something, you probably need to go back a section and review older material. I found sometimes when I’d skim too quick, or had been studying too long I’d stop retaining and in those situations simply going back fixed the issues.

"How long does TOP take?"

This will inevitably come up in the questions. It fully depends on your dedication, ability, prior experience and time committed. I started early January and should be done in the next month.

I aim for a minimum of 20 hours a week - but that will be up to you based on your scenario. I probably log about 30 a week.

Feel free to hit me up in the comments if you have questions.I am no professional developer (yet), but I can confidently say that TOP is an incredible resource to learn how to build web apps! If you want to learn, get on it and stay consistent!

Edit: Just adding this edit for those comparing timelines. It's a useless en devour and not helpful. Go at the pace that's going to work for you.

The only thing you should worry about is if you're getting better.

I've worked in marketing since 2016 and have had exposure to HTML, CSS and Javascript, as well as APIs and servers.

I also built a "no code" application a couple years back, so I already knew how to think like a programmer. So, while I wasn't doing any (or little) traditional programming, this experience definitely helped me understand things quicker as I had a frame of reference to work from. I was not starting at zero in terms of industry knowledge.

Those who have completed the React section, what did you think of it? I know it was updated a few months ago.

Hi! I wanted to ask for some opinions here, I was learning React on my own, trying to follow tutorials from very good channels, which are up-to-date, but now I wanted to pick up TOP, and I saw that the content is a bit outdated.

I saw that it still uses a lot of class-based components in teaching, when since a while ago React redirected to a more functional component-based approach (and class-based even disappeared from the new docs), it still suggests CRA (when it has been deprecated from React), and some more things.

Also, I wanted to ask what other parts of TOP do you think are deprecated, and should be updated, I created the topic on GitHub (about the React part), but as I haven't seen much activity there I don't know if maybe this happens to other sections as well.

Hola, solo quería aportar (y dar a conocer) que la sección de React de The Odin Project ha sido actualizada prácticamente en su totalidad (solo hace un par de días atrás), ya que estaba algo desfasada.

Se quitaron cosas como "create-react-app" (ahora se usa Vite) o el código basado en clases.

Así que, si lo intentaste hacer, pero te desmotivó por esa razón, quizás es buena idea darle otra oportunidad.

Y eso...

Contexto para quienes no sepan: The Odin project (o TOP) es una página gratuita para aprender desarrollo web (principalmente MERN stack), la cual no dejaré de recomendar.

The Odin Project

React JS (OLD) (en sección de javascript)

React JS (NEW) (de momento en una sección aparte)

So for context, I've already tried developing an e-commerce website by following a tutorial and also adding some functionalities on my own without tutorials. Also, I've done a simple POS (category, product, inventory, and order management, mostly CRUD). Those 2 projects were done using ReactJS and Firebase.

I admit that I kind of went into React without really knowing a lot in JavaScript. So I wanted to study more about ReactJS and also NodeJS. And hopefully, get a full stack job or as a junior dev.

Hello I’m near learning react, and I want to get good at it. Does the Odin project do a good job at teaching this tool? Or will I be better off paying 20 bucks (which I can afford) for a Udemy course that’s on sale?

Kinda left off TOP around the React section and I was curious to see whether anything had changed and I noticed a difference there.
Has the React content been updated and if yes, what do you think about it now?

[ANSWER] I have checked out a couple of your suggestions:

the Odin project: this is highly underrated, I don't know how it never showed on any of my search results by default https://www.theodinproject.com/lessons/node-path-react-new-how-this-course-will-work

Freecodecamp: it covers the basics, and has an integrated online IDE which makes it the perfect fit for someone just starting coding and doesn't want to install a thousand packages https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/front-end-development-libraries/react/create-a-simple-jsx-element

Learning zone: this one goes deeper into react and state management using redux https://github.com/learning-zone/react-basics

Might be a repeated question, but I am kind of stuck, I tried to get back to webdev , I have taken a couple of courses many years ago . I have revised HTML, CSS even studied Tailwind (highly recommend it) And studied some Typescript basics(functions types classes ,, etc) But I am stuck trying to figure out how to go with learning react, I watched "web dev simplified" intro video which got me to get what states are , however I still don't find my self in any position to use react in a project, are there good topic to learn/read as a beginner that would get me in-depth knowledge and make me confident using react?

soo im interested in full stack web dev . Do u guys still recomend it or are there any better alternatives? And i have some knowledge on html and css from some reputed youtube but that proved to inefficient .

Edit: I have a sold grip on python along with oop if it helps

I'm almost done with the Javascript part of The odin project and after that comes the React part.

Foundations was great because the tutorials were very well explained but in the JS part, all the tutorials are from very advanced articles that go over my head at this stage of my current skills.

It seems like they are linking articles that were written for professional developers.

Even though the projects are great, I have to constantly find other lessons on Youtube to learn the topics.

That's why I was thinking of quitting The odin project after JS and learning React from fullstackopen which seems to be recommended by lots of people. And it is a university course so I assume it was written by a professor that knows how to teach better than The odin project's moderators.

Can someone who tried both resources (top and fullstackopen) give me some insight?

Kinda left off TOP around the React section and I was curious to see whether anything had changed and I noticed a difference.

Has the React content been updated and if yes, what do you think about it now?

Hey everyone,
Just wondering if someone could provide some insight. I'm currently making my way through the Javascript course and saw that there's a new course on React. If I'm not very interested in the frontend aspect of software engineering, ... would it be alright to skip this and go onto Node.js? I really want to learn how to do backend and I know there's merit in doing the React course as well but I'm also on a time constraint and would like to focus on stuff that I'd like to pursue in my career.

* * This is a post made by a highly frustrated person. Such surprise! **

I tried a few sources before TOP sucha as: Freecodecamp, codecademy and learncpp. I didint like them because (at least at that time) they didnt explain much about what programming is like. They would just jump right to coding into some type of terminal in their page. TOP seemed better in that aspect because it actually taught the background behing all those weird codes and taught by using our own terminal on our pc.

But, as I keep following the course (I am on the javascript foundations now), it keeps getting more and more frustrating. One link to a source is a VERY long article that often talks about things I dont know and has even more links to other big articles. I feel like there is always a obstacle in my learning process even before any projects.

Should I just give up and pay for a normal course? I am stubborn because I have a genuine interest in programming and would love to learn but the frustration is killing me everyday.

I am currently following a course on Udemy on React JS but i'm also looking for other resources to learn from and was wondering are those 2 resources still relevant or are out of date?

https://www.theodinproject.com/paths

https://fullstackopen.com/en/

Asking as i read some people talking about taking TOP like 4-5 years ago. Before people mentions react.dev, i did go through it too.