Learning React and TypeScript?

You Can Do This!
#1

Hello there. I hope this is the right thread.

Anyway I have a problem and I would like to have your opinion. I’m a PHP Developer and in my current job I have to work with React and Typescript.

I don’t know why, but I am unable to create even the easiest app in React by myself without tutorials. I have been learning React for about 3 days I guess. But this thing won’t get in my head.

Could you give me some advice to learn React? I don’t know why, but I’m just more comfortable with PHP syntax and all this magic in React doesn’t give a sense for me.

Thank you and happy coding!

1 Like
#2

Hey there,

I would not expect anyone to create anything in React after only 3 days. At this point, I would expect someone to be looking at others’ work - tutorials included - for almost everything.

I would not be so hard on yourself about this. React is a specific library (I want to say framework, but this is mixed), and is quirky in its unique way.

I am not very familiar with PHP, so I cannot describe React in those terms, but if you are comfortable with JS, then I always recommend this video:
Deconstructing React || Tejas Kumar - YouTube

It goes a bit deeper into the inner workings of React, and I find the style it is presented as entertaining (which is always a plus, in my books).

In case you were unaware, freeCodeCamp has a course on React: Front End Development Libraries | freeCodeCamp.org
It is considered out-dated, as it teaches class-based components (as opposed to functional components w/ hooks). Otherwise, it is just a nice way to walk through common concepts to React.

Hope this helps

#3

Hey Alex,

Most concepts are new for developers with different backgrounds.
Read the docs for at least 1 week. Build the Tic Tac Toe from the tutorial.
Then try to rebuild it just with the explanations, not looking at the code.

2 Likes
#4

So you’re trying to learn JavaScript, React and TypeScript simultaneously? I’d say that it’s a bad idea. Start with a simple ToDo app using JavaScript, then recreate it using React, then add TypeScript.

#5

Is it going to get updated?

#6

Actually no. I’m intermediate in Javascript I would say. So I know a little bit more than the basics. But yeah… I have tasks where I have to work with React and TS and I never worked with these before.

#7

not really, it is going to be substituted with the project-based curriculum, which is on pair with current standards

#8

Yeah, React is weird when you first start. It is weird and different and things seem not to make sense. Until you “get it” - then it is magical and wonderful.

After 3 days, I would not expect to be nailing it. This especially true if JS wasn’t “my thing” yet - you mention PHP but not JS. You also mention TS - that would make it incrementally more complicated if you aren’t used to it.

Just stick with it, read the docs, code along with some youtube videos - that’s how I got it.

#9

Then I would advise you to go through some React crash course (there are ton on youtube, usually about an hour long), but without TypeScript. Become somewhat comfortable.
Then do a crash course on TypeScript (without React).
Then I’d recommend you to take a simple React project (e.g. a ToDo app) and gradually convert it to TypeScript - it will be a good (and frustrating) learning experience.

#10

Yeah that sounds good! Thank you very much! Will do it in exact order!