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Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

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Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#2

Post by jsavimbi »

Your first stop should be to Rails for Zombies (http://railsforzombies.org/), buy Michael Hartl's book Ruby on Rails Tutorial (http://ruby.railstutorial.org/ruby-on-rails-tutorial-book), Learn to Program by Chris Pine (http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/) and also start learning Ruby (http://pragprog.com/titles/ruby/programming-ruby). Also, sign up to GitHub and Heroku, locate Ruby and/or Rails meetups close to you, follow the Ruby/Rails community via Twitter, podcasts, blogs. But most importantly, start building and deploying apps right away, no matter how small or trivial they may be.

Also, Sinatra (http://www.sinatrarb.com/)

Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#3

Post by thekevan »

This is sort of a link dump but with some clicking around you should find some good stuff. Good luck!

http://rubyonrails.org/screencasts

http://railsforzombies.org/

http://www.workingwithrails.com/

http://www.railsmentors.org/

http://blog.envylabs.com/2010/12/rails-3-cheat-sheets/

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/55574/learning-ruby-on-ra...

http://railstips.org/blog/archives/2010/10/14/stop-googling/

Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#5

Post by TheOnyx »

Ruby Koans is a great tool for learning Ruby in general as well as its quirks and differences with other languages.

http://rubykoans.com/

Basically, it presents you with a battery of broken tests. Your goal is to reach enlightenment by fixing them. The first ones are simple to fix and teach you simple concepts as you do so. As you go, complexity increases.

It's a great tool for someone new to Ruby and Rails as you will want a solid understanding of the language if you will be using a framework on which the language is based. Plus, it reinforces how automated testing can be a valuable tool.

Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#6

Post by Rhodee »

Same here. Thanks for the links. I am specifically interesting in learning Ruby THEN Rails. The other way feels backwards, but that might just be me.

I digress-I have a basic, I mean real basic question-what is a recommended environment to start coding ruby projects? I use XAMPP and Aptana for my front end coding (CSS/HTML) and then render in browser. How do I do replicate that work flow with Ruby source (and integrate it with my front-end code)?

Lame, I know. But hey stupid questions are the one's you don't ask.

UPDATE: rubykoans answered my editor question. Ruby resources still appreciated!

Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#7

Post by sane_delirium »

TheOnyx wrote: post #5

Ruby Koans is a great tool for learning Ruby in general as well as its quirks and differences with other languages. http://rubykoans.com/ Basically, it presents you with a battery of broken tests. Your goal is to reach enlightenment by fixing them. The first ones are simple to fix and teach you simple concepts as you do so. As you go, complexity increases. It's a great tool for someone new to Ruby and Rails as you wi…

This was interesting to try as someone who's never touched ruby before, it begins seemingly simple but gets quite complex. Does this really target beginners, or am I an idiot?

Re: Ask HN: learning Ruby/Rails

#8

Post by ayb »

If you're just starting out with Ruby I strongly recommend the book "Ruby for Rails" by David A. Black. It teaches you Ruby and shows you how Rubyisms work with Rails.
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