From: cmdjackryan@...
Date: 2007-03-17T10:05:45+09:00
Subject: Re: Beginner learning Object in Ruby

Chang Tian wrote:

> I tried to read the 2nd edition of "Programming Ruby" but I found that
> the book only has words & codes. It is too dry for me. I wonder if
> anyone can recommend me any book or guide that can explain OO in Ruby in
> a more visual or graphical way.

Two good resources that helped me a lot, are Chris Pine's Learn to 
Program[0], which introduces many concepts of programming, including 
OOP, using Ruby, and Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby[1] (with foxes!), 
which uses an odd approach to the whole tutorial thing, but is readable 
and quite thorough in what it covers.
I find the Pickaxe (Programming Ruby) very valuable to look things up, 
rathr than learning Ruby itself.

> Or is it possible for a beginner like me to ever like a language like
> Ruby in the first place? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Yes, it is possible. I have only meager exposure to other languages, and 
all of that is years past, too. Ruby is the only language that I can 
keep interest in, and constantly learn about it. The nice thing about 
Ruby is, that it stays out of your way: You write code as you need it, 
and the Ruby Way of things comes quite naturally, when you learn more 
and more.

And advice I have, is to take a problem, and write a solution. You can 
work from there, building your program as you need it, and constantly 
are encouraged to learn new things. The downside is, that you can get 
lost in side tracks, and try to learn too much at a time.

Links:
[0] http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/
[1] http://qa.poignantguide.net/

--
Phillip Gawlowski