Python is probably a better option than Ruby. If your main interest is the web tech scene, you should probably devote some time to JavaScript.
Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
91–100 of 112 posts
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, if you want rapid prototyping, you should look into a document store such as Mongo. Not having to write migrations (as you would with ActiveRecord + Mysql) is huge. Also, your models can be more flexible. You can add keys to your document as needed. With Mysql, you need to have a migration to add the column.
No offense, but this is absolutely bad advice to a newbie programmer. First, mongo_mapper is virtually undocumented, whereas ActiveRecord has oodles of documentation and examples. You'll spend a order of magnitude more time trying to learn to use both MongoDB and mongo_mapper effectively than you will writing a proper set of migrations. Second, I'm tired of all the NoSQL hype. I've worked on a project with MongoDB an…
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Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, if you want rapid prototyping, you should look into a document store such as Mongo. Not having to write migrations (as you would with ActiveRecord + Mysql) is huge. Also, your models can be more flexible. You can add keys to your document as needed. With Mysql, you need to have a migration to add the column.
No offense, but this is absolutely bad advice to a newbie programmer. First, mongo_mapper is virtually undocumented, whereas ActiveRecord has oodles of documentation and examples. You'll spend a order of magnitude more time trying to learn to use both MongoDB and mongo_mapper effectively than you will writing a proper set of migrations. Second, I'm tired of all the NoSQL hype. I've worked on a project with MongoDB an…
I'm sick of all of the hype (for the past 20+ years) that relational databases is the only data storage technology you need.
When all you have is a hammer...
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#94I'd answer "no". The great thing about ruby, for those people who like it (including myself), is that it's _fun_. You didn't list "fun" in your reasons above, so my answer is "no, you shouldn't learn ruby."
I believe it's almost impossible to get away without knowing CSS/HTML and JavaScript/jQuery/whatever. SQL is a big plus, not essential but almost.
Im from a Java shop and recently started to learn rails, had a good experience with grails. The good thing about web frameworks is that you can reapply what you learn to other frameworks (ie, if you choose Django you can later apply some of the knowledge to Rails or whatever). My only nitpick with the whole ruby/rails stuff is that most of the stuff is mostly semi-broken in windows. Some gems need patching, others need native code (sometimes this code has to be compiled), others just don't work with gem X. I don't know how it is in the Python/Django universe, but comparing Rails to Grails (or any other Java/maven based project) I'm amazed at the low "respect" gem/plugin developers have for windows users. Java is really write once run anywhere, Rails just seems write once run in linux.
If you choose Rails, I would strongly suggest you to install a linux.
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why Mercurial? Most Python projects I've used are on git.
Well, Mercurial is written in Python, so I guess it belongs on the right side lol.
Wow, somehow this was the first time I learned that...but then again, Mercurial has never really been on my radar screen as a tool to use. Of course, with your VCS, you get better network effects by picking one that other projects in your language use, not what the VCS is written in. So I guess it's unsurprising.
But now I want to go read through the Mercurial source as I've been curious about VCS internals, but my C-fu is very weak, and attempting to read through the Git source is quite a chore for me.
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah it's a hoot, especially coming from the guy who will kill people not using statistics, which is a great read btw. http://www.zedshaw.com/essays/programmer_stats.html I'm sure it's just an off-the-cuff remark. I've made plenty in my day.
I'm sure it's just an off-the-cuff remark. The guy weighs in on the opposite side of something that is common knowledge, then says you should check what I'm saying because I could be fibbing, oh and I'm famous for having a bias against the side I've just disfavoured — and you reach that conclusion? If I were a cynic I'd say both you and he were trolling, but I rather think he was just taking the mickey and it's turne…
> and you reach that conclusion?
I think Zed is a good guy. He is certainly civil in person and tends to have well thought out arguments. I was surprised by the claim without any data to back it up. I missed the whole implicit common knowledge part. I thought people were trying to defend his statement.
> it's turned into a rather droll black comedy.
I'll defer to you on this one. I wasn't intending on being a troll, so sorry if it turned out that way.
I'm just annoyed that I was getting downvoted over what I thought were valid questions.
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#97Do it. Ruby is the perfect scripting language, and you'll be surprised at the sheer utility of having something the ability to use something like this. Forget the web side of things; just he ability to whip up a quick throwaway script (to automate office tasks, calculate forecasts, do complex eng calculations etc) gives you a massive advantage over others in your field.
I'm also considering learning either Python or Ruby, but was leaning more towards Python due to its strong math libraries. Does Ruby have equivalent capabilities for math and science?
No SciPy is amazing and I wish ruby had something like it. Its also got a lot of C so its pretty fast though you interface with it in Python.
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah it's a hoot, especially coming from the guy who will kill people not using statistics, which is a great read btw. http://www.zedshaw.com/essays/programmer_stats.html I'm sure it's just an off-the-cuff remark. I've made plenty in my day.
I'm sure it's just an off-the-cuff remark. The guy weighs in on the opposite side of something that is common knowledge, then says you should check what I'm saying because I could be fibbing, oh and I'm famous for having a bias against the side I've just disfavoured — and you reach that conclusion? If I were a cynic I'd say both you and he were trolling, but I rather think he was just taking the mickey and it's turne…
aah, it was supposed to be humorous. Jeez, I guess the jokes on me.
> and you reach that conclusion?
The only conclusion I have reached so far is that you are a dick.
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#99I'd answer "no". The great thing about ruby, for those people who like it (including myself), is that it's _fun_. You didn't list "fun" in your reasons above, so my answer is "no, you shouldn't learn ruby."
I believe it's almost impossible to get away without knowing CSS/HTML and JavaScript/jQuery/whatever. SQL is a big plus, not essential but almost. Im from a Java shop and recently started to learn rails, had a good experience with grails. The good thing about web frameworks is that you can reapply what you learn to other frameworks (ie, if you choose Django you can later apply some of the knowledge to Rails or whatev…
[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Should I Learn Ruby?
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm sure it's just an off-the-cuff remark. The guy weighs in on the opposite side of something that is common knowledge, then says you should check what I'm saying because I could be fibbing, oh and I'm famous for having a bias against the side I've just disfavoured — and you reach that conclusion? If I were a cynic I'd say both you and he were trolling, but I rather think he was just taking the mickey and it's turne…
aah, it was supposed to be humorous. Jeez, I guess the jokes on me. > and you reach that conclusion? The only conclusion I have reached so far is that you are a dick.
I don't expect you'll respond, but, what happened in the 4 hours between your first civil response and this second rather uncouth one?