Should I learn JavaScript?

Hey Kandice! My short answer is "Yes!" Even if it's just the basics. Knowing the vocabulary can give you the edge when using a LLM like ChatGPT or Claude to write custom Javascript for you.

It's a really powerful tool for handling lots of variables at once, which in Storyline can open up complex calculations and simulations. The possibilities are pretty endless.

It's a great tools to have on hand, even if you use it only on rare occasions. Just a small amount of very simple script can save you tons of time and complexity when developing certain types of interactions in Storyline.

One thing to consider: If primarily you're interested in data manipulation, then it's as Jonathan suggested; some basic JavaScript knowledge and help from a LLM will cover many of your needs. However, if you're interested in more visual/graphical manipulations, then you might need to learn a bit about some related areas as well to get the job done. These may include HTML, CSS, and Storyline itself.

This ELH site has some good resources, including those related to JavaScript, in its learning resources. Look at Storyline Skill Builders | Articulate - Community , particularly under Guest Webinars for some info about using JavaScript in Storyline.

Hello Kandice, I recently completed Jeff Batt’s course, and it was a great experience. With the new code blocks in Rise - along with the support of tools like Claude.ai, Gemini, ChatGPT, Devv.ai, and others - I’ve found it surprisingly easy and efficient to get more comfortable with coding. The opportunities this opens up are truly exciting! Best wishes, Hilla

Hi Kandice, 

You may also wish to consider the FreeCodeCamp.org full stack developer course. This will give you some practice in HTML, CSS and JavaScript and it all runs in the browser. No need to do the whole course unless you want to. This course won't show you how to use JavaScript in Articulate but as mentioned by others you can use Nathan Hilliard's course along with ChatGPT or Claude as recommended by Jonathan Hill. 

Hilla mentioned Gemini and I've not used it for Articulate, it's on my to do list. Have used it for voice and screen reading, it works very well.

One last tip, remember to give yourself time to learn something new and remember to have fun :-)

These two courses on linkedin learning helped me feel so much more comfortable, but I still have so much to learn. With vibe coding now, I do feel like understanding what you are looking at and how it functions makes a world of difference.