From: James Britt <james.britt@...>
Date: 2006-08-04T05:41:14+09:00
Subject: Re: I’m having a hard time learning ruby.

Mat Schaffer wrote:

> 
> 
> I share your frustration.  I have yet to find any really nice,  
> interactive ruby documentation.  I think part of the problem is that  
> the core of the language isn't even fully documented.  But ruby- doc.org 
> is doing a lot of work to fix this problem.

I'm always glad to hear when someone finds the site helpful.  But I do 
want to make clear that the actual documentation comes from a relatively 
small number of very smart, very dedicated Rubyists who volunteer to add 
and correct the documentation.

> 
> Contrary to a lot of people on this list, I don't recommend Pickaxe  for 
> introduction.  It is awesome reference, but I found it really dry  as an 
> introductory text.  If you have a good sense of humor and some  
> patience, I'd recommend The Poignant Guide http://poignantguide.net/ ruby/.

I'd highly recommend David A. Black's Ruby for Rails.  Doesn't matter if 
  you know or use Rails; you can look at the references to Rails as just 
an example application used to illustrate essential Ruby language 
features.  (Of course, if you do use Rails then the book is perhaps even 
more useful.)


-- 
James Britt

"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion 
of knowledge."
  - D. Boorstin