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Learn Ruby

kickstarter.com

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Re: Learn Ruby

#31

Post by tomku »

pc86 wrote: post #28
jamesgeck0 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The end result is going to be free, isn't it? He's just asking for money so he can devote more of his time to it.

The end result will be $100.

There are actually two components that the author is promising. The interactive learning environment and website will be free and open source, but the author is also planning on selling a premium, paid month-long course with extra content. The premium course is what's promised in the $50 tier, and what will cost $100 after the Kickstarter ends.

Edit: As the responses indicate, the premium course is probably against Kickstarter's rules. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

Re: Learn Ruby

#32

Post by bdcravens »

eliben wrote: post #26
ilink wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a litte hyperbolic, this is the first I have seen of something like that on Kickstarter.

Not at all. I withheld this reaction N times before finally posting it. The project mentioned in an earlier comment ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1397300529/railsapp ) is another example. I'm talking about programming projects in general (tutorials, new apps, libraries, toolchains) and not specifically how-to tutorials. Why participate in open-source if you can try to get real money for it on Kickstarter?

With all due respect, the idea that open source projects are always the result of free, volunteer work is a bit of a sheltered and idealistic view.

Open source projects with the most tractions are either sponsored, or someone is writing open source code as part of a job they're paid for. (a few examples: Rails, node.js, Linux, Vagrant ....)

For projects where that's not an option, crowdfunding is a good alternative.

Most "involved" in open source are consumers. Crowdfunding allows for involvement and support at a different level, and is totally consistent with the open source ethos. Open source is about freedom, not money.

Re: Learn Ruby

#33

Post by bdcravens »

tomku wrote: post #31
pc86 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The end result will be $100.

There are actually two components that the author is promising. The interactive learning environment and website will be free and open source, but the author is also planning on selling a premium, paid month-long course with extra content. The premium course is what's promised in the $50 tier, and what will cost $100 after the Kickstarter ends. Edit: As the responses indicate, the premium course is probably against K…

Any kind of membership site is against Kickstarter rules.

Re: Learn Ruby

#34

Post by tomku »

bdcravens wrote: post #16

This violates Kickstarter rules. See the $50 pledge: The price will jump to $100 after the Kickstarter, so sign up now!" Kickstarter project guidelines: Kickstarter cannot be used to fund e-commerce, business, and social networking websites or apps. ( http://www.kickstarter.com/help/guidelines#prohibited ) No matter if you throw the "education" label on it, it's still a paid membership site. A business website. Even…

The local learning environment gem is "Open source (license TBD)" according to the page.

Edit: Since you responded to my other comment - I'm not claiming that what they're doing is allowed by the rules, just responding to that particular point.

Re: Learn Ruby

#35

Post by pc86 »

tomku wrote: post #31
pc86 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The end result will be $100.

There are actually two components that the author is promising. The interactive learning environment and website will be free and open source, but the author is also planning on selling a premium, paid month-long course with extra content. The premium course is what's promised in the $50 tier, and what will cost $100 after the Kickstarter ends. Edit: As the responses indicate, the premium course is probably against K…

The point is that people are trying to use Kickstarter to eliminate risk in a business venture. If you're good enough o charge $100 for membership for one of your website, do it. Take a risk. Be entrepreneurial. Don't be that guy trying to get other people to provide you back-door seed funding so you can just bolt if it all falls apart with an extra $10k to boot.

From the KS: "Launching a Kickstarter campaign is the best way I can think of to get the word out and see if there's real interest in this. I always try to focus my time and energy on things people want (easier said than done), and this campaign will help me figure that out. So if you want this to exist, cast your vote by pledging!"

I try to be civil and calm here but that is complete and utter bullshit. Kickstarter does not exist so people like this guy can get a few months rent while trying out his latest business venture.

Re: Learn Ruby

#36

Post by gary4gar »

bdcravens wrote: post #23
eliben wrote: post #14

There used to be a time where people created programming tutorials just for the heck of it: to learn the language better themselves, to do something good, to get some rep, to make a name for themselves. I wrote quite a few myself - enjoyed every minute of it - both the process of writing (writing stuff down forces you to be honest about knowing it well) and the feedback afterwards. Without asking for $10K on Kickstar…

It won't harm open source. Perhaps it'll harm future crowdfunding endeavors, as the trust level will be low. However, I think open source software that was funded on Kickstarter, but never delivered ( http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1397300529/railsapp ) is far more of a threat than courseware.

Rails.app which is now called Tokaido is not dead, see this:

Kickstart Update: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1397300529/railsapp/post...

Source Code: https://github.com/tokaido/tokaidoapp

Re: Learn Ruby

#37

Post by glitchdout »

swatkat wrote: post #19
programminggeek wrote: post #13

I wonder if this project will be as poignant as other ruby learning projects.

I think I see what you did there :) Why's (poignant) Guide to Ruby : http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/

And don't forget his interactive course! http://www.codeschool.com/courses/try-ruby

Re: Learn Ruby

#38

Post by briandear »

I actually know and have worked with Tom Black extensively. He was an instructor with me at General Assembly in NYC and, after being in the Ruby education space, it's clear there is a market for great developer education courses. The target market isn't the typical hacker news reader, it's the job seeker looking to expand their marketability. There are plenty of 'free' resources to learn cooking, yet there is still a huge demand for cooking schools. Many of us don't think twice about paying for Railscasts or CodeSchool because they provide value to the user. I don't think there is anything wrong with selling a high quality instructional product to people who make be overwhelmed by the variety of free and occasionally dubious offerings. When I was getting started, the Rails Tutorial was a bargain at around $100. I can't speak for the quality of Tom's product (yet,) but there is certainly a demand and a need for quality programs for new developers. Given some of the utter nonsense I've seen on kickstarter, this is a worthy project.

Re: Learn Ruby

#39

Post by briandear »

pc86 wrote: post #35
tomku wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are actually two components that the author is promising. The interactive learning environment and website will be free and open source, but the author is also planning on selling a premium, paid month-long course with extra content. The premium course is what's promised in the $50 tier, and what will cost $100 after the Kickstarter ends. Edit: As the responses indicate, the premium course is probably against K…

The point is that people are trying to use Kickstarter to eliminate risk in a business venture. If you're good enough o charge $100 for membership for one of your website, do it. Take a risk. Be entrepreneurial. Don't be that guy trying to get other people to provide you back-door seed funding so you can just bolt if it all falls apart with an extra $10k to boot. From the KS: "Launching a Kickstarter campaign is the…

Lol. Tell that to every SilVal wannabe startup begging for seed funding. Being entrepreneurial IS about gathering reasorces to make your idea happen.

Kickstarter shouldn't exist so some guy can raise money to sell 3d printers either, but that happens all the time.

Re: Learn Ruby

#40

Post by pc86 »

briandear wrote: post #39
pc86 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is that people are trying to use Kickstarter to eliminate risk in a business venture. If you're good enough o charge $100 for membership for one of your website, do it. Take a risk. Be entrepreneurial. Don't be that guy trying to get other people to provide you back-door seed funding so you can just bolt if it all falls apart with an extra $10k to boot. From the KS: "Launching a Kickstarter campaign is the…

Lol. Tell that to every SilVal wannabe startup begging for seed funding. Being entrepreneurial IS about gathering reasorces to make your idea happen. Kickstarter shouldn't exist so some guy can raise money to sell 3d printers either, but that happens all the time.

You've got a point there, but let's be honest: that 3d pen was pretty cool.
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