Javascript is really starting to move into the realm of software/application developer. Currently a bleeding edge javascript programmer has to have extensive knowledge of the entire 'web platform'. This includes: server/datastore programming, sound understanding of client/server architecture, standards compliant content delivery, client end compatibility, event driven and accessible user interface design/implementation. And the list goes on...
Now, frankly thats a kick-ass javascript programmer. More than likely, you don't need him - let alone can afford him or can hire him as he's hired already by Yahoo or Google or something... You want someone who knows how to implement a graphic designers ideas into a static, browser compatible and hopefully standard semantic markup with a good separtion of presentation from logic. Anything else is a bonus - a bit of experience with javascript (especially use of a framework like Prototype or Mootools), some experience with Flash is also nice if you are into that sort of thing too. Thats about the level of javascript I believe you need to from a front-end developer. I think though, eventually your front-end developer isn't going to need to know Javascript inside and out. They probably won't need to have such an extensive knowledge of the 'web platform' either. Instead, all the work of on frameworks and libraries will reduce the requirement to know 'everything'. The datastore/backend guys will just make sure the data is in a nice format (JSON or something) and that its accessible from a url - their job is done my friends. User interfaces will probably be designed using IDE's (Check out Tibco if you don't believe me) They will be accessible by default due to the use of better mark-up languages with richer widgets and components. Browsers will be compliant to standards and code will be portable between browser and desktop (We can dream can't we?!) In fact, it will be just like Windows application programming - man how boring! Karl ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************
