Calling all ABAP developers who need/want to learn JavaScript...
In Kevin Small's excellent blog he informed ABAP developers that:
a) Its OK to take other programming languages seriously :-)
b) JavaScript is one such language
c) You really need to learn this language
So for those ABAPers who now want to take the next step and plunge into the low-level details of the language, I have revamped and released some training slides I wrote about a year ago.
One of the main conceptual differences ABAPers will need to understand is that fact that JavaScript is a highly dynamic language! This then requires you to think in a completely different manner about how you construct your software. I attempt to explain the differences in a step-by-step manner, without asking you to make any leaps of understanding.
These slides cover the JavaScript language from the ground up and have been designed with the assumption that the reader has no prior knowledge of the language. You will be guided in gradual steps from the simplest concepts of language syntax and data types, right up to advanced topics such as creating prototype chains and the use of the functional programming style (as opposed to the more familiar imperative programming style used by ABAP)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Data Types
Chapter 3: Syntax
Chapter 4: Scope
Chapter 5: Functions
Chapter 6: Inheritance
Chapter 7: Functional Programming
Since these slides are focused only on the JavaScript language itself, they do not cover the use of JavaScript within the specific context of a browser (E.G. DOM programming and event handling are not covered); neither are JavaScript frameworks such as jQuery, Sencha or SAPUI5 covered. These subsequent topics should be addressed only after you have built a solid foundation in the language itself. For instance, once you have gone through these slides, you will be completely ready to start SAPUI5 training.
All seven chapters are contained in this ZIP file in PowerPoint SlideShare format. Because the low level details of learning a language can be rather dry, I've taken a somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach and thrown in a few amusing comments and asides just to lighten things up. :-)
Unfortunately, I have had no time to create any exercises to accompany these slides; however, if you open the Chrome or Firefox browser and then open the Developer Tools, you will have access to a JavaScript console in which you can execute JavaScript commands and create simple objects.
Alternatively, if you're feeling somewhat more adventurous, you could install NodeJS and then have a JavaScript runtime environment that does not require a browser (server-side JavaScript).
Hope that helps!
Chris W