(Part 2) Top products from r/Frontend

If I could do it all over again, I would:

1. Buy HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites by Jon Duckett
   
   
2. Buy JavaScript and JQuery: Interactive Front-End Web Development by Jon Duckett
   
   
3. Build stuff. I cannot emphasize this enough - I literally can't, Reddit won't let me. But this is where the rubber meets the road. You can read all the books you want; take all the tutorials but nothing will grow your skills quite like developing something from scratch.
   
   
4. Know this: being a front-end developer means you will always be learning (and if you're not, time for a new job). Good luck!
   
   ** I am not Jon Duckett but I do love his books.

Are you a visual learner?
There’s Jon Duckett’s HTML & CSS

I would say this book is an oldie, but a goodie because even though this was published almost 8 years ago, it’s a good book to learn the fundamentals and it has good visual aids that go along with the concepts being taught.

There’s also Jennifer Robbins’s Learning Web Design

This book teaches you HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s a good book, it has plenty of exercises and from my experience, it’s a good reference book for concepts.

Learn pure JavaScript. It will not only help when learning new frameworks but will also help you to realise that frameworks are not always necessary and by understanding them better, will not rely on them as a crutch.

From my perspective, these two books helped me "level up" from jQuery to full-blown JS developer:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JavaScript-Good-Parts-Douglas-Crockford/dp/0596517742
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-JavaScript-Design-Patterns-Osmani/dp/1449331815

I am also a member of Udemy, which has a great selection of courses to work through.

Once you understand JavaScript without frameworks, just pick up a framework and start playing with it. Do the tutorials or pick your own goal/application to build with it. I find I learn more than doing something rather than simply reading about it.

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software doesn't use JS for it's examples, but is highly regarded in learning design patterns.

Also, Mastering JavaScript Design Patterns is pretty good, and if I recall correctly, is modeled after the first book I mentioned. Heads up, there is a more up to date 2nd edition of this book available (linked version is 1st edition)

> I know I can't master it (and I don't have to)

You're already limiting yourself there. Anyone can learn anything!

For beginners I like recommending this book: https://www.amazon.ca/Non-Designers-Design-Book-4th/dp/0133966151

Buy it, check it out at your library... whatever. If you get through it go to /r/web_design and ask for more suggestions.

Also check out this online course: https://hackdesign.org/

I haven't gone through it but looks really promising. If anyone has taken it please leave a review here :P

Start with the book "Don't Make Me Think" (the latest edition) and Google's Material Design. They're good introduction to visual design for digital interfaces. Then learn basic design foundation theories, these are things that all type of designers need to know. Learn the tools designers use such as photoshop (or Sketch), Illustrator, Axure, etc. Then find projects to practice on and get designers to critique your work as much as you can. Designing "in a way that is pleasing to the human eye" is something you learn through trial and error.

I'm the opposite of you. I'm a designer who wants to get better at front end coding (html/css/javascript). I will review and critique your designs, if you are willing to do the same for my code. PM me if you want partner up. This offer is also open to any coders out there, by the way.

Well, the most important books that I read when learning design were:

• Grid Systems
  
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
  
• The Elements of Typographic Style
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid
  
  All of those would be a good start.

The Little Schemer was a good read when I wanted to learn about recursion. It cleared everything right up =) Only the first few chapters are necessary:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Little-Schemer-4th-Edition/dp/0262560992

You should read this book