I gotchu. So it's like this: they'll want you to know React/Redux/Mobx/Vue/Nuxt/Angular/Git/Grunt/Gulp/WebPack/etc. because front end developers are super expensive and startups are starving to save money wherever possible.

Don't fall for it. Know JUST enough JavaScript, I'm talking DOM manipulation, jQuery, how to work with localStorage, and that's it. Don't go any further, and I'll tell you why:

• The minute you do, they'll expect it from you as a condition of your employment.

You want to make it super clear that you know how to spec components and prototype, but that you are absolutely not a front-end developer.

Take it from a designer that got roped in and regrets every minute of it.