> As someone who just decided to learn React (and modern javascript, after 1.5 decades or so of not programming in javascript at all
Sorry you're experiencing this. It's not "just React" though, it's pretty much all Javascript (or Typescript) now. Especially front-end, but I swear, JS/TS on the front or back is like trying to learn to drive a car in heavy traffic while also repairing the brake lines which are malfunctioning