According to statistics, JavaScript is one of the most popular coding languages and it has been for quite some time. The main reason for this is that, unlike other coding languages, JavaScript is fairly simple.
Most commonly, JavaScript is used for web content creation as its versatility is second to none. With JavaScript, developers can control multimedia, animate images, and dynamically update content.
Going on, as opposed to other coding languages, JavaScript is not compiled, it is interpreted and object-oriented language. Most of the time JavaScript is the language that comes next on the agenda after mastering HTML and CSS.
That being said, even though JavaScript is extremely popular, some frustrating aspects of it seem to drive developers away. Let’s explore the good and the bad of JavaScript, while also not forgetting the ugly.
It’s super simple
Learning JavaScript might not be as simple as pie, but it’s fairly simple compared to other languages. For instance, if you are entering the world of JavaScript after perfect C, you will notice a lot of similarities in syntax and structures.
JavaScript simplicity allows every individual to embark on coding and developing a career path. If you are struggling with grasping the ins and outs of JavaScipt, you can always consult experts and look for online courses.
In addition to that, there are a million online sites that allow you to practice your JavaScript skills for free. It’s not a bad idea to practice with other aspiring coders to perfect every database and every framework while having your eyes set on that front-end job opening.
Its speed
Since JavaScript doesn’t have to be compiled it’s much faster than other coding languages. Its instructions are thoroughly read and executed by another program drastically reducing the time required for compilation.
In addition, JavaScript is completely client-side oriented. This means that selected updates can be made easily without having to reload the whole page.
JavaScript allows developers to create dazzling feature-abundant websites. Nowadays, clients love the interactivity and generally avoid pages that look like a storefront window. Fluidity is this language specialty and this is why it’s so popular among development wizards.
You can become a full-stack developer
JavaScript libraries are its biggest plus. Many developers want to tackle both sides of the fence and become full-stack developers as it’s one of the most lucrative professions out there.
With Node.js, JavaScript experts can tackle the back-end and perfect the service side of development. There are other libraries such as Angular, React, and Vue that can help you with your front-end endeavors.
So, with strong support for back-end and front-end development, JavaScript seems to be the perfect option for every aspiring developer out there.
The bad and the ugly
Since we outlined some of the good sides of JavaScript, it’s time to discuss its unpleasant parts. Many developers criticize how JavaScript works in the sense of maintaining and debugging code. This leads to frustrations and web page downtime. On top of that, codes can get too complicated to read for even the most experienced developers.
Furthermore, JavaScript support for safety is almost non-existent. Errors in code are not always detected when compiled and unexpected errors are always a possibility. Going on, JavaScript is not a modular language which means that it’s incredibly difficult to reuse code in another program.
Lastly, different browsers may interpret JavaScript differently. While server-side scripts always produce the same output, client-side scripts can sometimes be unpredictable. To completely avoid any problems, test your script in all the major browsers to see whether the code is accepted.
Final thoughts
JavaScript is a beautiful coding language that’s fairly simple to learn. As soon as you master HTML and CSS, you can start thinking of your next move. Your best course of action is to either go with JavaScript or Python depending on your preferences.
Either way, there are a lot of things that make JavaScript a good coding language. Even though the bad aspects of JavaScript are minor, there might be enough to drive some developers away. For that reason, conduct your research before you step into the waters of JavaScript to be certain that you won’t be wasting time on a language that might not suit your developer’s needs.