Skip to main content

Official documentation

These are the definitive references. When you need to look something up, go here first.

JavaScript

MDN Web Docs — The single best JavaScript reference. Written by Mozilla, used by everyone.
  • JavaScript Guide: developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide
  • Array methods: developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array
  • Fetch API: developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Fetch_API
When you Google a JavaScript question, add “MDN” to your search. The MDN result is almost always the most accurate and well-explained answer. Example: “array map MDN”.

React

React docs — Completely rewritten in 2023 with interactive examples and modern patterns.
  • Quick Start: react.dev/learn
  • Hooks reference: react.dev/reference/react
  • Thinking in React: react.dev/learn/thinking-in-react

FastAPI

FastAPI docs — Excellent documentation with a tutorial-first approach.
  • Tutorial: fastapi.tiangolo.com/tutorial
  • Deployment: fastapi.tiangolo.com/deployment

What to learn next

You’ve learned the essentials. Here’s what to add to your toolkit, in order of usefulness:

1. TypeScript

TypeScript adds types to JavaScript. It catches bugs before your code runs — especially data shape mismatches between frontend and backend.
  • Why: Catch undefined errors, get autocomplete, document your code automatically
  • When: Once you’re comfortable with JavaScript (after 1-2 projects)
  • Where to start: typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook

2. React Router

Add multiple pages to your React app. Right now you have one page — React Router gives you /users, /users/3, /settings, etc.
  • Why: Every real app needs multiple pages/routes
  • When: Your next project
  • Where to start: reactrouter.com/start/framework/installation

3. TanStack Query (React Query)

Replaces your manual useState + useEffect + loading/error pattern for data fetching with a single hook.
  • Why: Automatic caching, background refetching, loading/error states handled for you
  • When: When you’re tired of writing the loading/error/data pattern manually
  • Where to start: tanstack.com/query

4. Tailwind CSS

Utility-first CSS framework. Instead of writing CSS files, you add classes directly to your JSX.
  • Why: Build UIs faster without switching between CSS and JSX files
  • When: Anytime — it’s just CSS
  • Where to start: tailwindcss.com/docs

5. Testing

Learn to test your components and API calls. Start with Vitest (test runner) and React Testing Library.
  • Why: Confidence that your code works, catch regressions
  • When: Once you have a project worth maintaining
  • Where to start: vitest.dev and testing-library.com/docs/react-testing-library

Practice platforms

Build things. Reading tutorials only gets you 20% of the way — building gets you the other 80%.
The best project to build is one you’ll actually use. A personal budget tracker, a recipe organizer, a reading list app — something you care about. Motivation matters more than complexity.

Project ideas

Start small, then grow:
  1. Todo app — The classic. CRUD with localStorage, then upgrade to a FastAPI backend.
  2. Weather dashboard — Fetch from a public API, display with React.
  3. Personal bookmarks — Save links with tags, search and filter them.
  4. Expense tracker — Forms, calculations, charts. Full-stack with FastAPI.
  5. Blog platform — Markdown posts, categories, admin panel.
Each project reinforces different skills from this course. Pick one and build it this week.

Deployment basics

Get your full-stack application live on the internet