From: Reg <reg@...>
Date: 2009-04-13T13:00:04+09:00
Subject: newbie confusion and dejection

Over the years I have taught myself to program in C, C++, and VB to
build apps to run in WIndows, along with the scripting languages
necessary to set up a website
I have built websites using PHP, Ajax, and MySql  but am just a
hobbyist and my basic knowledge of how systems work is very patchy.
I have limited experience of linux, enough to get me by with what I
need to use SSH when necessary on my website's shared server.

Now, for my sins,  I am trying to learn RoR.

I have no problem following the language tutorials but I am lost when
it comes actually running a ruby app or script in windows (or anywhere
else for that matter). I had been hoping to use RoR on my website.
I can create a Rails framework on the server but decided I needed to
learn more about Ruby before I did any more work there.

I have installed the following:
InstantRails
Cygwin

The Ruby directory has ruby.exe which opens a command line window and
rubyw.exe which does nothing when I click it.

 I am using the Pragmatic Programmers Guide and Simply Rails2 by
Patrick Lenz as my learning tools.

I am wallowing about in irb and the Ruby console opened from  the
Rails control panel playing about with classes etc and learning the
syntax of the language but achieving nothing else. The console seems
to be a very limited playground when it comes to trying out things
quickly. e.g. in irb I cannot paste anything into the console.
Am I missing something here?

 When I learn a language I usually manage to cobble together a simple
hello world type of executable app or script and build on my mistakes
from there. but I cannot work out how to do this or get a ruby script
running. Given time I guess i will work it out but woud be grateful if
someone here could advise me what I should be doing next to master
ruby and RoR.

Thanks
Reg