JavaScript for Backend Engineering

Hello “👋”

Welcome to another week, another opportunity to become a Great Backend Engineer.

Today’s issue is brought to you by MasteringBackend, a great resource for backend engineers. We offer next-level backend engineering training and exclusive resources.

Before we get down to the business of today. JavaScript for Backend Engineering.

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Now, back to the business of today.

I discussed “How Node.js Works” in the previous edition. In this issue, I will focus on exploring JavaScript for Backend Engineers. This will detail the different topics you need to know in JavaScript before you move on to Node.js.

One thing I favor a lot about learning new things is proper planning. It has been my bedrock, helping me grasp new concepts easily.

Here’s what I mean:

If I want to learn a particular technology, let’s say Docker. I don’t just jump in and start learning Docker right away.

I start by learning the fundamental reasons why Docker, what the prerequisites are before learning Docker, and what level of knowledge I should have. This approach helps me with lots of things.

• I don’t feel overwhelmed by everything I need to learn

• I don’t get discouraged by the complicated things I need to learn

• I don’t make it difficult to get started

There are more good benefits, but you get the point.

For this reason, I want to share this newsletter with you today. It explores the fundamental things you should know in JavaScript before diving into back-end engineering with Node.js.

JavaScript Concepts before Node.js

Before you consider moving to Node.js, below are some of the topics in JavaScript that you should be familiar with:

1. JavaScript Fundamental

2. Functional Programming

3. Control Structures

4. OOP (Object-oriented Programming)

5. Intermediate JavaScript

6. Advanced JavaScript

Now, let’s explore the topics in each category listed above and why they are important for your Node.js journey.

JavaScript Fundamental

This is the fundamental category that introduces you to the JavaScript programming language. It explores the language syntax, variables, expression, and lexical structure.

Here are the topics in this category:

1. Lexical Structure

2. Expressions

3. Data types

4. Variables

5. Template Literals

Next, let’s look at the functional programming category.

Functional Programming

This category goes deeper into functions as first-class citizens in JavaScript. Learn different ways to use functions, including arrow functions, anonymous functions, and named functions, and their different function definitions.

Here are some of the topics in this category:

1. Functions

2. Array Functions

3. Scopes

Control Structures

This category is one of the fundamentals, and it’s important to learn how control flows are handled in JavaScript as a programming language. Learn how to write concise conditional and control statements.

Here are some of the topics in this category:

1. Conditionals → If, else, if-else-if

2. Loops → for, while, foreach, etc

OOP (Object-oriented Programming)

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a broad topic that applies not only to JavaScript but can also be used in several programming languages. Therefore, if JavaScript is your first programming language, you must learn OOP well. This will aid you in transitioning to other programming languages easily.

OOP teaches many concepts. It is the beginning of building real-world projects with JavaScript because OOP is a programming paradigm that organizes software design around data or objects rather than functions and logic.

Here are some of the common topics to deeply dive in in this category:

1. Classes

2. This Operator

Intermediate JavaScript

This is where things start to get interesting. In this category, you can learn all JavaScript tricks and tips. You can also dwell in algorithmic thinking by learning to build your logical thinking by solving many algorithm problems.

Here are some of the topics to learn here:

1. Arrays

2. Strict Mode

3. ECMAScript 2015 (ES6) and beyond

You can go above and beyond in this category and learn many things to help you become a great backend engineer using JavaScript.

Advanced JavaScript

This category is very important if you want to understand Node.js. You need to learn the concepts listed here deeply. The topics might not capture what an advanced JavaScript will look like. But they are important topics for Node.js.

Below are some of the topics to learn in this category:

1. Asynchronous programming

2. Callbacks

3. Timers

4. Promises

5. Async and Await

6. Closures

7. The Event Loop

That’s all

Suppose you’re already familiar with these concepts and topics from JavaScript. Then, you are fundamentally ready to jump into Node.js for backend engineering.

Your next question might be:

Where can I learn all these in one place without having different books or videos only to pick out these specific topics?

Check out the JavaScript Essential on my blog. Also, I’m working on a JavaScript and Node.js course for backend engineering that will capture all these topics and concepts.

You don’t want to miss this course. We are launching soon.

I hope this guide gives you perspective on what to learn in JavaScript before diving into Node.js for backend engineering.

That will be all for this one. See you on Saturday.

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