Introduction to React.js

React is a popular front end framework developed by Facebook and used by companies like Netflix, Flipboard, and Khan Academy. It is efficient and flexible and helpful for building interactive user interfaces.

This workshop will introduce you to the basic concepts you need to understand and work with React.

You'll learn:

• What is React and why use it?
• Working with components and the component lifecycle
• JSX
• Props and state
• The virtual DOM

Prerequisites

HTML & CSS: You must have taken our Intro to HTML and CSS class or have equivalent knowledge of HTML and CSS. Review class materials (https://www.girldevelopit.com/materials/html-intro).

JavaScript: You must have taken our Intro to JavaScript class or have equivalent knowledge of JavaScript. Review class materials (https://www.girldevelopit.com/materials/intro-js).

You might also find it helpful to review a video of Natalie's talk with her business partner, Nathan, called Before you React which covers some of the basics of JavaScript you should brush up on and be familiar with. Video is here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiBK6-kKWvk) and slides are here (https://speakerdeck.com/nataliemac/before-you-react).

What to bring

Please bring a laptop* and charger to class. You may also wish to bring a notepad and pen/pencil for taking notes.

We'll be using be using Google Chrome (http://google.com/chrome) in class and we'll be using the Chrome ReactJS extension (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi). If you don't already have Chrome and the ReactJS extension installed, please install them before you come to class.

* No laptop? We have a limited number of laptops we can loan to students during class. Please fill out our Laptop Request form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-HHF9IB2VlYVRivz5Zn7LwkjQAYkJLZsuW0YM4hh60U/viewform) to let us know you need to borrow one!

Scholarships

If you are unable to afford the class fee, you can apply for a scholarship to attend this class. Complete our scholarship form (https://goo.gl/forms/ChgjqHSfvP2ILQJX2) to apply. Scholarships are awarded about 1 week before the first class session, so please be sure to apply by February 25.

You can also earn free classes by participating as a Teaching Assistant. Every hour you spend volunteering as a TA earns you a free hour of class time! Get more details and sign up to be a TA at our Get Involved page (http://gdila.org/get-involved/).

No Refunds

If you can no longer attend the class you signed up and paid for, your payment will be donated to the local chapter scholarship fund. You can help another woman in need! If the class is cancelled or rescheduled, we'll offer refunds to anyone who registered and paid.

Other Disclaimers

Our program and curriculum are geared toward adults over the age of 18; at this time we do not accept minors as students in our courses and workshops.

If you have any accessibility issues we should know about, please email us at losangeles [at] girldevelopit dot com. We want to make sure everyone can participate!

Sponsor

This workshop is sponsored and hosted by IndieDesk DTLA.

About the teacher

Natalie MacLees is a front-end web developer and UI designer and is founder + principal of the interactive agency, Purple Pen Productions (http://purplepen.com/). She's been coding and building websites since 1996. She is the author of jQuery for Designers, now in its second edition. She's also the co-founder and chapter leader for the Los Angeles chapter of Girl Develop It, bringing affordable and accessible coding classes to the community. She makes her online home at nataliemac.com (http://nataliemac.com/).

As always, anyone is welcome to attend our classes and events - we are women-inclusive, not women-exclusive. All attendees are expected to abide by our Girl Develop It Code of Conduct (https://www.girldevelopit.com/code-of-conduct).