My project at work is in the process of gearing up for a major development cycle, and I've wound up in charge of helping to train a bunch of Java and C++ devs on how to use JavaScript, React, Redux, and TypeScript.

As part of that, I put together a 4-hour internal presentation, which I labeled "JavaScript for Java Devs".

It...kinda grew. Okay, it grew alot. I wound up covering aton of material - not only JS and its many intricacies, but DOM/HTML/CSS basics, HTTP requests, Node, NPM, TypeScript, and much more.

I also added a "recommended front-end learning resources path" section at the end, with a list of "must read" and "useful reference" links for JS/React/Redux/TS - basically, a condensed version of my links list, intended to help people get up to speed on these topics from scratch.

Here's the outline:

• Introduction
  • A Brief History of Web Dev and JavaScript
  • Understanding JS
• Core JS Syntax
• JS Concepts in Depth
  • Core Language
  • Functions
  • Classes
  • Async
  • AJAX
  • Modules and Other Topics
• Working with the DOM and HTML
• JavaScript Outside the Browser
  • Node.js
  • Package Management
• Real World Usage
  • Build Tools
  • Developing JavaScript
• TypeScript
• Further Information

The talk was recorded, but only internally. However, I'm making the slides available publicly as a reference. Hopefully this proves useful for folks!

JavaScript for Java Devs - slides 🔗︎

This is a post in thePresentations series.Other posts in this series:

• Jun 13, 2025 -Presentations: The State of React and the Community in 2025
• Nov 21, 2024 -Presentations: Maintaining a Library and a Community
• Nov 21, 2024 -React Advanced 2024: Designing Effective Documentation
• Jul 09, 2024 -React Summit 2024: Why Use Redux Today?
• Nov 13, 2023 -React Summit US 2023: What's New in Redux Toolkit 2.0
• Oct 24, 2023 -React Advanced 2023 - Building Better React DevTools with Replay Time Travel
• Aug 16, 2023 -React Rally 2023 - A (Brief) Guide to React Rendering Behavior
• Jun 01, 2023 -Presentations: Debugging JavaScript
• Dec 11, 2022 -Presentations: 2022 Podcasts
• Jun 27, 2022 -Presentations: Modern Redux with Redux Toolkit
• May 04, 2022 -Reactathon 2022: The Evolution of Redux Async Logic
• May 04, 2022 -TS Congress 2022: Lesson from Maintaining TS Libraries
• May 29, 2021 -Presentations: Learn Modern Redux Livestream
• May 29, 2021 -Presentations: The State of Redux, May 2021
• May 29, 2021 -Presentations: Podcast Appearances in 2021
• May 25, 2021 -Presentations: Using Git Effectively
• Dec 20, 2020 -Presentations: Intro to React, Redux, and TypeScript (2020)
• Dec 03, 2020 -Presentations: Podcast Appearances in 2020
• Oct 08, 2020 -Global React Meetup: The State of Redux 2020
• Oct 19, 2019 -Git Under the Hood: Internals, Techniques, and Rewriting History
• Sep 24, 2019 -React Boston 2019: Hooks, HOCs, and Tradeoffs
• Jun 11, 2019 -ReactNext 2019: A Deep Dive into React-Redux
• May 22, 2019 -Presentation: JavaScript for Java Devs
• Mar 31, 2019 -Reactathon 2019 Keynote: The State of Redux
• Oct 01, 2018 -React Boston 2018 Presentation: The State of Redux
• Jun 30, 2018 -Redux Fundamentals Workshop Slides
• Mar 20, 2018 -Reactathon Presentation: Redux Fundamentals
• Mar 07, 2018 -Presentation: Intro to React and Redux (March 2018)
• Sep 24, 2017 -React Boston 2017 Presentation: You Might Need Redux (And Its Ecosystem)
• Feb 24, 2017 -Presentation Sources Published
• Feb 17, 2017 -Presentation: Intro to React and Redux
• Oct 07, 2016 -Presentation: Modern Web Dev Overview