| name | resource-curator |
| description | Find, evaluate, and maintain high-quality external resources for JavaScript concept documentation, including auditing for broken and outdated links |
Skill: Resource Curator for Concept Pages
Use this skill to find, evaluate, add, and maintain high-quality external resources (articles, videos, courses) for concept documentation pages. This includes auditing existing resources for broken links and outdated content.
When to Use
- Adding resources to a new concept page
- Refreshing resources on existing pages
- Auditing for broken or outdated links
- Reviewing community-contributed resources
- Periodic link maintenance
Resource Curation Methodology
Follow these five phases for comprehensive resource curation.
Phase 1: Audit Existing Resources
Before adding new resources, audit what's already there:
- Check link accessibility — Does each link return 200?
- Verify content accuracy — Is the content still correct?
- Check publication dates — Is it too old for the topic?
- Identify outdated content — Does it use old syntax/patterns?
- Review descriptions — Are they specific or generic?
Phase 2: Identify Resource Gaps
Compare current resources against targets:
| Section | Target Count | Icon |
|---|---|---|
| Reference | 2-4 MDN links | book |
| Articles | 4-6 articles | newspaper |
| Videos | 3-4 videos | video |
| Courses | 1-3 (optional) | graduation-cap |
| Books | 1-2 (optional) | book |
Ask:
- Are there enough resources for beginners AND advanced learners?
- Is there visual content (diagrams, animations)?
- Are official references (MDN) included?
- Is there diversity in teaching styles?
Phase 3: Find New Resources
Search trusted sources using targeted queries:
For Articles:
[concept] javascript tutorial site:javascript.info
[concept] javascript explained site:freecodecamp.org
[concept] javascript site:dev.to
[concept] javascript deep dive site:2ality.com
[concept] javascript guide site:css-tricks.com
For Videos:
YouTube: [concept] javascript explained
YouTube: [concept] javascript tutorial
YouTube: jsconf [concept]
YouTube: [concept] javascript fireship
YouTube: [concept] javascript web dev simplified
For MDN:
[concept] site:developer.mozilla.org
[API name] MDN
Phase 4: Write Descriptions
Every resource needs a specific, valuable description:
Formula:
Sentence 1: What makes this resource unique OR what it specifically covers
Sentence 2: Why reader should click (what they'll gain, who it's best for)
Phase 5: Format and Organize
- Use correct Card syntax with proper icons
- Order resources logically (foundational first, advanced later)
- Ensure consistent formatting
Trusted Sources
Reference Sources (Priority Order)
| Priority | Source | URL | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MDN Web Docs | developer.mozilla.org | API docs, guides, compatibility |
| 2 | ECMAScript Spec | tc39.es/ecma262 | Authoritative behavior |
| 3 | Node.js Docs | nodejs.org/docs | Node-specific APIs |
| 4 | Web.dev | web.dev | Performance, best practices |
| 5 | Can I Use | caniuse.com | Browser compatibility |
Article Sources (Priority Order)
| Priority | Source | Why Trusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | javascript.info | Comprehensive, exercises, well-maintained |
| 2 | MDN Guides | Official, accurate, regularly updated |
| 3 | freeCodeCamp | Beginner-friendly, practical |
| 4 | 2ality (Dr. Axel) | Deep technical dives, spec-focused |
| 5 | CSS-Tricks | DOM, visual topics, well-written |
| 6 | dev.to (Lydia Hallie) | Visual explanations, animations |
| 7 | LogRocket Blog | Practical tutorials, real-world |
| 8 | Smashing Magazine | In-depth, well-researched |
| 9 | Digital Ocean | Clear tutorials, examples |
| 10 | Kent C. Dodds | Testing, React, best practices |
Video Creators (Priority Order)
| Priority | Creator | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fireship | Fast, modern, entertaining | Quick overviews, modern JS |
| 2 | Web Dev Simplified | Clear, beginner-friendly | Beginners, fundamentals |
| 3 | Fun Fun Function | Deep-dives, personality | Understanding "why" |
| 4 | Traversy Media | Comprehensive crash courses | Full topic coverage |
| 5 | JSConf/dotJS | Expert conference talks | Advanced, in-depth |
| 6 | Academind | Thorough explanations | Complete understanding |
| 7 | The Coding Train | Creative, visual | Visual learners |
| 8 | Wes Bos | Practical, real-world | Applied learning |
| 9 | The Net Ninja | Step-by-step tutorials | Following along |
| 10 | Programming with Mosh | Professional, clear | Career-focused |
Course Sources
| Source | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| javascript.info | Free | Comprehensive, exercises |
| Piccalilli | Free | Well-written, modern |
| freeCodeCamp | Free | Project-based |
| Frontend Masters | Paid | Expert instructors |
| Egghead.io | Paid | Short, focused lessons |
| Udemy (top-rated) | Paid | Check reviews carefully |
| Codecademy | Freemium | Interactive |
Quality Criteria
Must Have (Required)
- Link works — Returns 200 (not 404, 301, 5xx)
- JavaScript-focused — Not primarily about C#, Python, Java, etc.
- Technically accurate — No factual errors or anti-patterns
- Accessible — Free or has meaningful free preview
Should Have (Preferred)
- Recent enough — See publication date guidelines below
- Reputable source — From trusted sources list or well-known creator
- Unique perspective — Not duplicate of existing resources
- Appropriate depth — Matches concept complexity
- Good engagement — Positive comments, high views (for videos)
Red Flags (Reject)
| Red Flag | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
Uses var everywhere |
Outdated for ES6+ topics |
| Teaches anti-patterns | Harmful to learners |
| Primarily other languages | Wrong focus |
| Hard paywall (no preview) | Inaccessible |
| Pre-2015 for modern topics | Likely outdated |
| Low quality comments | Often indicates issues |
| Factual errors | Spreads misinformation |
| Clickbait title, thin content | Wastes reader time |
Publication Date Guidelines
| Topic Category | Minimum Year | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| ES6+ Features | 2015+ | ES6 released June 2015 |
| Promises | 2015+ | Native Promises in ES6 |
| async/await | 2017+ | ES2017 feature |
| ES Modules | 2018+ | Stable browser support |
| Optional chaining (?.) | 2020+ | ES2020 feature |
| Nullish coalescing (??) | 2020+ | ES2020 feature |
| Top-level await | 2022+ | ES2022 feature |
| Fundamentals (closures, scope, this) | Any | Core concepts don't change |
| DOM manipulation | 2018+ | Modern APIs preferred |
| Fetch API | 2017+ | Widespread support |
Rule of thumb: For time-sensitive topics, prefer content from the last 3-5 years. For fundamentals, older classic content is often excellent.
Description Writing Guide
The Formula
Sentence 1: What makes this resource unique OR what it specifically covers
Sentence 2: Why reader should click (what they'll gain, who it's best for)
Good Examples
<Card title="JavaScript Visualized: Promises & Async/Await — Lydia Hallie" icon="newspaper" href="https://dev.to/lydiahallie/javascript-visualized-promises-async-await-5gke">
Animated GIFs showing the call stack, microtask queue, and event loop in action.
The visuals make Promise execution order finally click for visual learners.
</Card>
<Card title="What the heck is the event loop anyway? — Philip Roberts" icon="video" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aGhZQkoFbQ">
The legendary JSConf talk that made the event loop click for millions of developers.
Philip Roberts' live visualizations are the gold standard — a must-watch.
</Card>
<Card title="You Don't Know JS: Scope & Closures — Kyle Simpson" icon="book" href="https://github.com/getify/You-Dont-Know-JS/blob/2nd-ed/scope-closures/README.md">
Kyle Simpson's deep dive into JavaScript's scope mechanics and closure behavior.
Goes beyond the basics into edge cases and mental models for truly understanding scope.
</Card>
<Card title="JavaScript Promises in 10 Minutes — Web Dev Simplified" icon="video" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHvZLI7Db8E">
Quick, clear explanation covering Promise creation, chaining, and error handling.
Perfect starting point if you're new to async JavaScript.
</Card>
<Card title="How to Escape Async/Await Hell — Aditya Agarwal" icon="newspaper" href="https://medium.com/free-code-camp/avoiding-the-async-await-hell-c77a0fb71c4c">
The pizza-and-drinks ordering analogy makes parallel vs sequential execution crystal clear.
Essential reading once you know async/await basics but want to write faster code.
</Card>
Bad Examples (Avoid)
<!-- TOO GENERIC -->
<Card title="Promises Tutorial" icon="newspaper" href="...">
A comprehensive guide to Promises in JavaScript.
</Card>
<!-- NO VALUE PROPOSITION -->
<Card title="Learn Closures" icon="video" href="...">
This video explains closures in JavaScript.
</Card>
<!-- VAGUE, NO SPECIFICS -->
<Card title="JavaScript Guide" icon="newspaper" href="...">
Everything you need to know about JavaScript.
</Card>
<!-- JUST RESTATING THE TITLE -->
<Card title="Understanding the Event Loop" icon="video" href="...">
A video about understanding the event loop.
</Card>
Words and Phrases to Avoid
| Avoid | Why | Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| "comprehensive guide to..." | Vague, overused | Specify what's covered |
| "learn all about..." | Generic | What specifically will they learn? |
| "everything you need to know..." | Hyperbolic | Be specific |
| "great tutorial on..." | Subjective filler | Why is it great? |
| "explains X" | Too basic | How does it explain? What's unique? |
| "in-depth look at..." | Vague | What depth? What aspect? |
Words and Phrases That Work
| Good Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| "step-by-step walkthrough" | "Step-by-step walkthrough of building a Promise from scratch" |
| "visual explanation" | "Visual explanation with animated diagrams" |
| "deep dive into" | "Deep dive into V8's optimization strategies" |
| "practical examples of" | "Practical examples of closures in React hooks" |
| "the go-to reference for" | "The go-to reference for array method signatures" |
| "finally makes X click" | "Finally makes prototype chains click" |
| "perfect for beginners" | "Perfect for beginners new to async code" |
| "covers X, Y, and Z" | "Covers creation, chaining, and error handling" |
Link Audit Process
Step 1: Check Each Link
For each resource in the concept page:
- Click the link — Does it load?
- Note the HTTP status:
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | Keep, continue to content check |
| 301/302 | Redirect | Update to final URL |
| 404 | Not Found | Remove or find replacement |
| 403 | Forbidden | Check manually, may be geo-blocked |
| 5xx | Server Error | Retry later, may be temporary |
Step 2: Content Verification
For each accessible link:
- Skim the content — Is it still accurate?
- Check the date — When was it published/updated?
- Verify JavaScript focus — Is it primarily about JS?
- Look for red flags — Anti-patterns, errors, outdated syntax
Step 3: Description Review
For each resource:
- Read current description — Is it specific?
- Compare to actual content — Does it match?
- Check for generic phrases — "comprehensive guide", etc.
- Identify improvements — How can it be more specific?
Step 4: Gap Analysis
After auditing all resources:
- Count by section — Do we meet targets?
- Check diversity — Beginner AND advanced? Visual AND text?
- Identify missing types — No MDN? No videos?
- Note recommendations — What should we add?
Resource Section Templates
Reference Section
## Reference
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="[Main Topic] — MDN" icon="book" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/...">
Official MDN documentation covering [specific aspects].
The authoritative reference for [what it's best for].
</Card>
<Card title="[Related API/Concept] — MDN" icon="book" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/...">
[What this reference covers].
Essential reading for understanding [specific aspect].
</Card>
</CardGroup>
Articles Section
## Articles
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="[Article Title]" icon="newspaper" href="...">
[What makes it unique/what it covers].
[Why read this one/who it's for].
</Card>
<Card title="[Article Title]" icon="newspaper" href="...">
[Specific coverage].
[Value proposition].
</Card>
<Card title="[Article Title]" icon="newspaper" href="...">
[Unique angle].
[Why it's worth reading].
</Card>
<Card title="[Article Title]" icon="newspaper" href="...">
[What it covers].
[Best for whom].
</Card>
</CardGroup>
Videos Section
## Videos
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="[Video Title] — [Creator]" icon="video" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...">
[What it covers/unique approach].
[Why watch/who it's for].
</Card>
<Card title="[Video Title] — [Creator]" icon="video" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...">
[Specific focus].
[What makes it stand out].
</Card>
<Card title="[Video Title] — [Creator]" icon="video" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...">
[Coverage].
[Value].
</Card>
</CardGroup>
Books Section (Optional)
<Card title="[Book Title] — [Author]" icon="book" href="...">
[What the book covers and its approach].
[Who should read it and what they'll gain].
</Card>
Courses Section (Optional)
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="[Course Title] — [Platform]" icon="graduation-cap" href="...">
[What the course covers].
[Format and who it's best for].
</Card>
</CardGroup>
Resource Audit Report Template
Use this template to document audit findings.
# Resource Audit Report: [Concept Name]
**File:** `/docs/concepts/[slug].mdx`
**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Auditor:** [Name/Claude]
---
## Summary
| Metric | Count |
|--------|-------|
| Total Resources | XX |
| Working Links (200) | XX |
| Broken Links (404) | XX |
| Redirects (301/302) | XX |
| Outdated Content | XX |
| Generic Descriptions | XX |
## Resource Count vs Targets
| Section | Current | Target | Status |
|---------|---------|--------|--------|
| Reference (MDN) | X | 2-4 | ✅/⚠️/❌ |
| Articles | X | 4-6 | ✅/⚠️/❌ |
| Videos | X | 3-4 | ✅/⚠️/❌ |
| Courses | X | 0-3 | ✅/⚠️/❌ |
---
## Broken Links (Remove or Replace)
| Resource | Line | URL | Status | Action |
|----------|------|-----|--------|--------|
| [Title] | XX | [URL] | 404 | Remove |
| [Title] | XX | [URL] | 404 | Replace with [alternative] |
---
## Redirects (Update URLs)
| Resource | Line | Old URL | New URL |
|----------|------|---------|---------|
| [Title] | XX | [old] | [new] |
---
## Outdated Resources (Consider Replacing)
| Resource | Line | Issue | Recommendation |
|----------|------|-------|----------------|
| [Title] | XX | Published 2014, uses var throughout | Replace with [modern alternative] |
| [Title] | XX | Pre-ES6, no mention of let/const | Find updated version or replace |
---
## Description Improvements Needed
| Resource | Line | Current | Suggested |
|----------|------|---------|-----------|
| [Title] | XX | "A guide to closures" | "[Specific description with value prop]" |
| [Title] | XX | "Learn about promises" | "[What makes it unique]. [Why read it]." |
---
## Missing Resources (Recommendations)
| Type | Gap | Suggested Resource | URL |
|------|-----|-------------------|-----|
| Reference | No main MDN link | [Topic] — MDN | [URL] |
| Article | No beginner guide | [Title] — javascript.info | [URL] |
| Video | No visual explanation | [Title] — [Creator] | [URL] |
| Article | No advanced deep-dive | [Title] — 2ality | [URL] |
---
## Non-JavaScript Resources (Remove)
| Resource | Line | Issue |
|----------|------|-------|
| [Title] | XX | Primarily about C#, not JavaScript |
---
## Action Items
### High Priority (Do First)
1. **Remove broken link:** [Title] (line XX)
2. **Add missing MDN reference:** [Topic]
3. **Replace outdated resource:** [Title] with [alternative]
### Medium Priority
1. **Update redirect URL:** [Title] (line XX)
2. **Improve description:** [Title] (line XX)
3. **Add beginner-friendly article**
### Low Priority
1. **Add additional video resource**
2. **Consider adding course section**
---
## Verification Checklist
After making changes:
- [ ] All broken links removed or replaced
- [ ] All redirect URLs updated
- [ ] Outdated resources replaced
- [ ] Generic descriptions rewritten
- [ ] Missing resource types added
- [ ] Resource counts meet targets
- [ ] All new links verified working
- [ ] All descriptions are specific and valuable
Quick Reference
Icon Reference
| Content Type | Icon Value |
|---|---|
| MDN/Official docs | book |
| Articles/Blog posts | newspaper |
| Videos | video |
| Courses | graduation-cap |
| Books | book |
| Related concepts | Context-appropriate |
Character Guidelines
| Element | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Card title | Keep concise, include creator for videos |
| Description sentence 1 | What it covers / what's unique |
| Description sentence 2 | Why read/watch / who it's for |
Resource Ordering
Within each section, order resources:
- Most foundational/beginner-friendly first
- Official references before community content
- Most highly recommended prominently placed
- Advanced/niche content last
Quality Checklist
Link Verification
- All links return 200 (not 404, 301)
- No redirect chains
- No hard paywalls without notice
- All URLs are HTTPS where available
Content Quality
- All resources are JavaScript-focused
- No resources teaching anti-patterns
- Publication dates appropriate for topic
- Mix of beginner and advanced content
- Visual and text resources included
Description Quality
- All descriptions are specific (not generic)
- Descriptions explain unique value
- No "comprehensive guide to..." phrases
- Each description is 2 sentences
- Descriptions match actual content
Completeness
- 2-4 MDN/official references
- 4-6 quality articles
- 3-4 quality videos
- Resources ordered logically
- Diversity in teaching styles
Summary
When curating resources for a concept page:
- Audit first — Check all existing links and content
- Identify gaps — Compare against targets (2-4 refs, 4-6 articles, 3-4 videos)
- Find quality resources — Search trusted sources
- Write specific descriptions — What's unique + why read/watch
- Format correctly — Proper Card syntax, icons, ordering
- Document changes — Use the audit report template
Remember: Resources should enhance learning, not pad the page. Every link should offer genuine value. Quality over quantity — a few excellent resources beat many mediocre ones.