Someone commented on my LinkedIn post
@codeck_Hq :
"Stop teaching HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Go straight to ReactJS."
I found the remark amusing because it reflects one of the most pervasive misconceptions in software development. One of the greatest mistakes an aspiring developer can make is attempting to bypass the underlying language in favor of a framework. While it may accelerate the process of building applications in the short term, it often creates significant knowledge gaps that become apparent when debugging complex issues or attempting to understand the architecture operating beneath the surface.
Frameworks and libraries are transient by nature; programming languages possess far greater longevity.
A few years ago, Angular dominated countless development workflows. Then Vue emerged and gained substantial adoption. Today, React remains one of the most influential technologies within the frontend ecosystem.
Will React be the final framework? Almost certainly not.
Technology evolves relentlessly. New tools will emerge, paradigms will shift, and industry preferences will continue to change. However, JavaScript will remain a foundational pillar of the web.
When your understanding of JavaScript is comprehensive, adapting to new frameworks becomes significantly less challenging because the fundamental concepts remain familiar. You are no longer memorizing tools; you are understanding principles.
This philosophy extends beyond JavaScript and applies to virtually every programming language.
Whether you are learning independently, through traditional education, or with the assistance of AI, resist the temptation to skip the fundamentals.
Invest time in mastering the core concepts. Establish a robust foundation. Only then should you progress to frameworks, libraries, and advanced abstractions. Strong foundations are rarely glamorous, but they are often the distinguishing factor between developers who merely use technology and those who truly understand it.
I hope this resonates with someone.