Should web developers still learn JavaScript?

gwt, java, javascript, morfik

Solution

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.

Problem

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

Original source