From: Gregory Brown <gregory.t.brown@...>
Date: 2005-11-25T02:04:55+09:00
Subject: Re: Pickaxe tutorial section missing info on writing to files

On 11/24/05, Damphyr <damphyr@freemail.gr> wrote:
> Gregory Brown wrote:
> > But don't you think in the two sections of the pickaxe about 'writing'
> > this simple line should have been shown?
> Don't know. I was going to say "Since Pickaxe includes the core
> Reference, this is technically documented" but then I looked at the
> aforementioned Pickaxe and the above three lines of code seem to be
> spread over 5 pages of Pickaxe (v2, p128-132) text, while ::File has no
> such example :).

I think the Pickaxe is wonderful... in combination with some other
tutorials and in the company of a good friend, it'll help you start
writing ruby very quickly.

I didn't  notice this issue when I was learning, because I probably
googled how to do File I/O or I fired off an email to James Edward
Gray II (this was before I knew about this wonderful list).   I think
this is common practice for experienced programmers, to ask one of
their buddies that they know has skill in a certain area, or to google
for an answer, or hit the API references and dig right in, but for
someone who hasn't actively coded in a while or comes from a totally
different language conceptually (I came from perl, so it wasn't a
terrible ride, but I believe Mr. Gibson comes from C ), the Pickaxe
alone might be a bit misleading as it trys to be a tutorial, but
misses out on what are very simple but common concerns.

Maybe in the 3rd edition the tutorial section will be more complete. 
It's enormously difficult to put so many concepts in one book, and
they did a great job on most accounts.

Does anyone know a good book for people who grasp programming concepts
but really have no ruby experience whatsover (and possibly little
experience with OO).   I am in the position where I am teaching
several people who fit this category and would like to be able to
recommend a book that is up to date with 1.8.x that will be a more
gentle entry into the language.

Of course, I've already recommended W(p)GtR, so anything else would be
appreciated :)