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So I'm going to learn either JavaScript or CoffeeScript over January. I have some experience in VisualBasic (took a high school programming class about four yea

• DanHulton 15y ago
  JavaScript, easily. I'm a huge, huge fan of CoffeeScript, but JS will be far more useful to you right away, and your knowledge of JS will help you understand CS more when you learn it later.
• quanticle 15y ago
  Learn Javascript. Coffeescript is defined in terms of Javascript. If you don't know Javascript, learning Coffeescript will be unnecessarily difficult, because you'll have to go back and learn Javascript in bits and pieces as you learn Coffeescript. If you learn Javascript first, learning Coffeescript will be easier, because Coffeescript will build upon your Javascript knowledge.
  • stickfigure 15y ago
    To re-emphasize this point, there is no "choice" involved. You cannot understand Coffeescript without understanding Javascript... it almost looks like you can at first, but at soon as you start debugging you're back in "what is this prototype thing?" On the other hand, after you work with Javascript for a little while you quickly start wishing for something like Coffeescript. It's a very natural transition, but you can't short-circuit the process.
• dpritchett 15y ago
  JS first, and be sure to use this excellent guide: http://eloquentjavascript.net http://eloquentjavascript.net It really covers the how and why of JS in a way that will make your understanding sharper.