React for Web Developers

March 17: Introduction to React for Web Developers

In this first course, Jonathan will introduce you to the most important parts of React, including the thinking behind it and core concepts. You’ll explore the new virtual DOM paradigm and learn how React differs from other JS libraries and when you’d want to use it. Then Jonathan will take you through each of the steps in creating a simple web app using ReactJS. At the end of this course, you’ll have a thorough understanding of React and a solid foundation for the more advanced topics that come later in this course series.

Create your first component using React.createClass

Learn about the virtual DOM (the JavaScript version of the actual DOM)

Learn how to organize components into an application

Learn about JSX, React’s new language that allows you to write HTML as syntax, which is transformed to lightweight JavaScript objects

Get an introduction to state by rendering and re-rendering the virtual DOM

March 24: Building a Web App with React

This course extends the simple web app built in the first class into a more advanced application using React.JS. You’ll review key takeaways from the last course, and then go deeper into React’s specific properties and functions that make creating a web app so easy. You’ll see how to organize your application around your components and learn more about how components behave and what they can do.

Learn how to structure your components for a more sophisticated web app

Dive deep into component hierarchy, state, and representation

See how your data flow communicates and interacts with React components

Learn about view navigation and other React features

March 31: Building a Native iOS App with React

In this course you’ll discover how React Native makes the creation of native apps a breeze. You’ll see how React uses native iOS components, and then bring about changes to the UI through a JavaScript thread running in the background. The resulting application is surprisingly smooth and feels altogether native. Jonathan will demonstrate the process through examples and then you will work hands-on with your own app.

Apply your knowledge of React JS to the creation of a native iOS app using React Native

Understand UI components, styling, touch handling, and more

See how React simplifies debugging and reduces errors

Learn about finalizing and optimizing performance for app

See how to submit your native iOS to the App Store

April 7: Building a Real-time App with React and Firebase

Firebase is the perfect complement to React as it provides a easy-to-use, real-time data source for populating the state of React components. In this course, you’ll learn the key concepts behind Firebase and how it interacts with React. Jonathan will walk you through several examples, then have you work with React and Firebase on your own.

Get a hands-on introduction to Firebase

See how Firebase adds real-time data capabilities to a React app

Learn about data synchronization, streaming data, and more

Cover off-line support, debugging, and optimization

April 14: Using External Plugins with React

In this session, Jonathan will extend the core features of a React app using external plugins. React is very flexible and provides internal hooks so you can interface easily with other libraries and frameworks. Jonathan walks you through several examples of the options available to you and has you explore the way you can use them to add features to your app.

Animation

Class name manipulation

Testing utilities

Performance tools, and more