Should web developers still learn JavaScript? [closed]

Question

Now that frameworks like GWT, Morfik etc exist which compile Java client side code into major JavaScript dialects, is it still worth learning JavaScript?

Answer 1

In my book, yes.

I'm a strong believer in understanding the underlying technology beneath whatever toolkits you're using.

Abstractions are leaky - you'll run into trouble down the line if you try to get away with only understanding a high-level toolkit, and not the underlying technology. Sooner or later you'll need to debug your project at the JavaScript (or whatever) level.

Answer 2

Understanding the technology behind your framework reduces the time spending on debugging the things you do with your framework. so in my opinion it's always good to know whats going on behind the scene.

Answer 3

Yes,

...and I speak with experience: I've never learned javascript and only used parts of it, when I encountered it in google searches for questions.

Now that I'm building a Web application, I notice that not all abstractions away from javascript have the desired functionality, and I need to go into javascript to solve it.

I notice that I miss the fundamental knowledge I have with other languages, just like I miss the 'javascript programming language' book (I'm not sure it exists but I have similar copies for C, C++ and Java). So today I ordered Javascript:The good parts and I will learn it...

Answer 4

ABSOLUTELY. In my opinion, abstraction is important, but knowing how that abstraction works is equally as important.

I've seen developers who live and die by their frameworks (javascript: jquery, yui, etc... or php: zend, cake, etc...), but have no clue how to do anything productive without them.

Who would you rather be (or hire)? The guy who knows how everything works, but improves his productivity by using frameworks and libraries... or the guy who uses these resources with no idea how they actually work?