From: Alec Ross <alec@...>
Date: 2008-05-16T09:05:03+09:00
Subject: Re: PickAxe tutorial (was What is the bes Ruby's book for beginners?)

In message <7DB48A4C-7FBB-45EC-A701-15F58EA85895@pragprog.com>, Dave 
Thomas <dave@pragprog.com> writes
>
>On May 15, 2008, at 4:52 PM, Rick DeNatale wrote:
>>
>> On the other hand, a lot of folks seem to like the tutorial parts of
>> the pickaxe, and the new O'Reilly "The Ruby Programming Language" has
>> very little in the way of a tutorial but is a GREAT reference.
>
>
>This is a topic that's been vexing me a lot in the last few weeks.
>
>I'm working on the third edition, and I keep going back and forth on
>the tutorial section. I personally like the quirkiness of doing things
>like describing classes before expressions, simply because it gives us
>a vocabulary to talk about things. But I know other people feel its
>the wrong way around--explanations should build bottom up.
>
>I've been trying it both ways, and I'm frankly stalled. I'd be
>interested to hear opinions. Keep as is (perhaps losing the jukebox,
>and adding a chapter on basic OO for people coming from procedural
>languages), or reorder it into something more conventional?
>
>
>
>
>Dave
>
>
...

People vary.  I guess that most readers - at least in the near future - 
would be cool w/ OO.  I'd suggest a pointer to an appendix for those 
that are not.

Thanks for the books, and Best Regards,

Alec
-- 
Alec Ross