Most fitting Javascript framework for C# developers? [closed]

Most of the JavaScript frameworks take after the Ruby on Rails approach to MVC framework, but that does not mean you cannot follow the same principals of SOLID and TDD.

As I am familiar with .NET to JavaScript integration here is the JavaScript technology stack I use that should be easy enough to integrate for you.

On the front end:

• JQuery - The standard of many a JavaScript web page and robust but can be tricky (also note QUnit for testing)
• BackboneJS - Structure for JavaScript for MVC and also Single Page Application framework
• EmberJS - This is my new personal favorite for front end JavaScript web design and worth looking into. It is well structured
• Knockout JS - Included for all the reasons given in the comments. It is a stellar framework and I should have mentioned it prior.

For TDD:

• Jasmine - TDD/BDD framework for JavaScript. I love this framework and it can be automated from within TFS and Visual Studio
• SinonJS - Tests, Spies, Subs and Mocks that can be integrated into Jasmine all for JavaScript

The above frameworks should get you on your way and be fairly easy to understand given your background.

Consider the platform that you are going to be working on. Some of the frameworks have issues with performance that only become apparent on older browsers (IE8 + knockout.js is notorious)

I would like to say a word of warning: Do not try to approach JavaScript identically to how you approach C#. They have a bit of significant differences, especially in their inheritance schemes and general object modeling approaches. To do so would be to dismiss what JavaScript's benefits are over C# and more dangerously it would be dismissing the cons it has compared to C#.

Treat JavaScript like JavaScript, and write it in the way it wants to be written and you will be better off. Avoid the frameworks that try to give you C#'s inheritance models as they're antithetical to JavaScript to begin with.

That said, by all means if you know SOLID well you can apply the principles in what you're doing, the ways you avoid breaking them just may be different.

Now then, as for Frameworks, personally as another C# dev I have found JQuery to be hands down the best to work with and feels most similar to working with the .NET framework to me in that it gives you tools but doesn't force your model in any way.

I would personally say if like me you're a back-end guy which I'm guessing to be the case considering you're now asking about what front-end framework to work with: Stay away from the large frameworks that try to force an object model structure onto you. Stick with JQuery and other utilitarian ones like it, I can suggest Handlebars for templating. Other than those (and similar ones you'll find, oh yeah moment.js is a great utility) I would say avoid the overarching "you must use this pattern" frameworks, as it's uncomfortable to a C# developer used to making the pattern and system model that fits their problem rather than the one that fits their technology stack.

Go read a little lisp/scheme and try to pick that up a bit if you're not familiar with it on the side while you're starting on this project and it should help you to get closer in mind with some of the techniques and approaches that are more rational to JavaScript but which C# doesn't really present so much.

JS and C# are completely different worlds. Do not try to be C# developer while you are coding with JS. With JS we have no compiler error, no type, no class concept (as we have it in C#).

Change your mind and think like a JS programmer, with many helpful frameworks and libraries.

You can find many design patterns, OO approaches, tools and documentations. Here you can find a very useful resource.

I recommend you to first specify what you want and how you want to do, then find proper tools. Do you want to develop a MVVM UI or MVC, or you want OO UI development? Then you can mix libraries and frameworks: jQuery with Knockout (MVVM), CanJs(MVVM and MVC), Backbone and jQuery(MVC), prototype.js (OO) and so on.