About a year ago I finally started learning JavaScript so I could build complex, fast and fancy client web app that relies on restful services. I was completely new to this subject so I basically needed to learn everything from scratch… the language, best practices, architecture…

So here are resources I used for learning and libraries that helped me along the way.

JavaScript basics

First the language and most popular lib – jQuery.

• JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford
• jQuery Learning Center

Knockout

Knockout is great lib for MVVM that does client rendering and data binding.

• Knockout
  • Documentation
  • Live tutorial
• Chrome extension for knockout debugging
• Steven Sanderson's blog – knockout’s author blog
  • Knockout-ES5: a plugin to simplify your syntax
• Knock me out blog – very good blog about knockout.
  • devLink 2013 - Knockout.js Tips and Tricks
  • Working With AMD Modules in Knockout.js
  • Utility Functions in KnockoutJS
• knockout-switch-case plugin
• Durandal – single page app framework relying on Knockout and Require.

Bootstrap

Grate CSS framework with fancy controls that supports responsive UI.

• Bootstrap
• WrapBootstrap – Bootstrap themes gallery and place to seek out inspiration.

Controls

Additional controls that integrate nicely with Bootstrap.

• Responsive Tables
• Date picker
• Date Range picker
• Jasny Bootstrap – additional Bootstrap controls
• Tab drop – responsive tabs
• Select2 – fancy select/multi-select
• Toastr – user notifications
• Typeahead

Libs

• RequireJS – for modular JavaScript
• Mediator.js – publish/subscribe
• MomentJS – handling time and dates
• Mouse Trap – keyboard shortcuts support
• JQuery form – post forms using ajax
• JsonNET - .Net server JSON serialization
• SignalR – for pushing data from server to client