From: Bill Guindon <agorilla@...>
Date: 2007-05-14T00:37:38+09:00
Subject: Re: Absolute Beginner - Where to run program?

On 5/13/07, John Joyce <dangerwillrobinsondanger@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On May 13, 2007, at 7:35 AM, mully wrote:
>
> > On May 12, 5:20 pm, MichaelCucul...@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> >> when creating these ruby files, is there a specific place that you
> >> should put them and/pr run them from?  in other words, when i create
> >> this sample ruby program, should i just put it in the C:/ruby folder?
> >> or is it better "form" to create a folder for them, etc.?  just
> >> wondering...
> >> in any case, thanks! :)
> >
>
> It's not only a Ruby issue, but organizing files is an interesting
> issue. There are many approaches. Notice how files are organized in
> the operating system. Windows and various *nix's organize things in
> various ways. Web sites as well tend to have a few different ways
> that files are commonly organized.
> So you may want to create a directory (folder) that holds all or most
> of the stuff you create for one language (such as RubyStuff).
> Then another for each grouping. So if you start working through
> exercises in a book on Ruby, create a directory just for that book's
> exercises. Directory tree structure is as important as anything else
> in planning a program. Rails for example has its own directory tree
> structure. It is a pretty well thought out one too. There are a few
> directories in Rails that are legacy things from older versions, but
> most of it makes a lot of sense once you start to get familiar with
> it. The environment (the OS and the way it is structured and the way
> it works) is as much a part of your programs as anything else!
> Just something to think about. It becomes more clear as you go along.
> Different kinds of projects demand different sensibilities in
> organization.

I completely agree with John.  Over time, you'll probably end up with
not only a Ruby directory, but subdirectories below it.  Of course,
you don't have to do that immediately, but you might want to.

Personally, I like to have at least one 'junk' directory, a place
where I drop small experiments that may one day become something
useful, or that I can turn back to when I get hit with the same
question months later.  In the past, I've called it 'sandbox', or
'playground', my current one is called 'anarchy' - it's where
'anything goes' ;-)

Some ideas:
ruby\learning # 'primitive' stuff that beginners write.
ruby\sandbox # useful examples, or test scripts.
ruby\apps\someapp # when you actually have working apps
ruby\quiz # if you do the quizes, you should group them, with a dir for each.

-- 
Bill Guindon (aka aGorilla)
The best answer to most questions is "it depends".