Hello, @guaip.

Your predicament is not new and you are not alone. Good money has a way of distracting us from “new money” and the reverse is true.

You already know the answer to your question: you need to learn Javascript and learn it good. Then you also need to learn React. And you need to do all of that while applying to jobs before your savings run out.

If 70% of the jobs are React, why are you spending time on Vue?

If the jobs require knowledge of a frontend framework, why are you confused?

You know what to do. Now go out and do it.

Alvin

Hey @alvinkatojr . I guess you’re right.

I already know javascript fairly well. Made my own framework for a big job back when there was no such thing, around 2005. Then jQuery came and made things easier for my line of work, but I kept doing vanilla stuff to this day. Zero Typescript though.

I guess spending so much time and energy in a framework, which is not even a proper language, feels wrong for an old schooler like me (especially Javascript). But I guess it’s what people want now.

I’m going to increase my search for agencies that still need a “visual” front-end guy to make some more money while I study the new stuff and look for a job.

I’m curious if you found yourself in a similar situation before. If so, when did you decide to learn the new stuff? Any tips to share?

Any idea on how hard can it be for a guy like me (average to good javascript, strong CSS/SASS, also PHP developer) to learn React and all the stuff that usually comes with it?

Thanks

OK — here’s what I’d do if I were you (in fact, I’m doing it).

Forget React, Angular and Vue. Instead take your existing skills further by investing in these two key areas:

1. Design systems and pattern libraries. This means learning things like Atomic Design, Storybook, Chromatic and the like. This will allow you to do proper modular user interfaces rather than simply converting visual design to HTML / CSS / JS.
2. Learn hypermedia (I recommend htmx). This will allow you to work with the full stack (including any PHP framework) without involving front-end frameworks.

If you do both, you’ll be able to go out and offer your services as someone who can design and develop web UIs that are leaner in size, faster to build, and easier to maintain. That’s a much stronger value proposition than being yet another generic React dev.

(I’d add Tailwind, Web Components, Figma, and Webflow to the above list. Yes it’s a lot to learn but that’s the way our industry works).

If you want the reasoning as to why React and the like isn’t suited for the 90% of web UIs, you can read this article (it’s the last part in my “htmx and hypermedia” tutorial):

htmx on Sinatra Part 9: In Conclusion

…and here’s some stuff from other peeps:

Deep dive on going from Vue to Htmx in a large-scale production app

Why HTMX is crushing React, Vue & Svelte

Good luck.