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To Learn (Or Not Learn) JQuery

Posted by samzenpus on from the that-is-the-question dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes: jQuery isn't without its controversies, and some developers distrust its use in larger projects because (some say) it ultimately leads to breakage-prone code that's harder to maintain. But given its prevalence, jQuery is probably essential to know, but what are the most important elements to learn in order to become adept-enough at it? Chaining commands, understanding when the document is finished loading (and how to write code that safely accesses elements only after said loading), and learning CSS selectors are all key. The harder part is picking up jQuery's quirks and tricks, of which there are many... but is it worth studying to the point where you know every possible eccentricity?

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  1. A Dissection of the Summary by Art3x · · Score: 1, Redundant

    jQuery isn't without its controversies

    Huh?

    and some developers distrust its use in larger projects because (some say) it ultimately leads to breakage-prone code that's harder to maintain.

    This article is less critical of jQuery than the summary led me to believe. It just warns you against two things: (1) a long procedure of code for the ready argument, "The Big Main Method Problem," and (2) DOM-centric code. But neither of these are problems, and neither of them are caused or even encouraged by jQuery.

    After the click-baitish FUD, the summary goes on, saying you might as well use it anyway:

    But given its prevalence, jQuery is probably essential to know

    The phrase "probably essential" is a weird combination of a weak and a strong word, and may be a sign of a writer who is half asleep.

    but what are the most important elements to learn in order to become adept-enough at it? Chaining commands, understanding when the document is finished loading (and how to write code that safely accesses elements only after said loading), and learning CSS selectors are all key. The harder part is picking up jQuery's quirks and tricks, of which there are many... but is it worth studying to the point where you know every possible eccentricity?

    Who cares? The jQuery reference is easy to browse for whatever you need right now, and there's little need to understand one part of jQuery to use another.