From: Chad Perrin <code@...>
Date: 2012-10-02T03:08:47+09:00
Subject: Re: Good book for getting started with Ruby? [I code Python!]

On Sat, Sep 29, 2012 at 02:09:49AM +0900, Brandon Weaver wrote:
> On Sep 28, 2012, at 10:45 AM, Chad Perrin wrote:
> > On Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 02:48:41PM +0900, Brandon Weaver wrote:
> >> The Elegant Rubyist
> >> The Ruby Way
> >> Eloquent Ruby
> > 
> > I haven't read The Elegant Rubyist, and have nothing substantive to say
> > about it.  I do think that, coming from Python, a great couple books to
> > quickly get up to speed are:
> > 
> > 1. Everyday Scripting with Ruby
> > 
> > 2. Eloquent Ruby
> > 
> > . . . in that order.  That's in order of reading them, and not in order
> > of how much I like them.  The Ruby Way is also a great book, but I'm not
> > sure it is exactly the book I'd recommend for the question asked in this
> > case.
> 
> Cripes, I meant the Well Grounded Rubyist. My mistake. 
> 
> I say the Ruby way because I came from a .NET background and didn't
> want a rehash of what a variable was. It is definitely on the list for
> more advanced programmers, as well as Metaprogramming Ruby. 

Metaprogramming Ruby is an awesome book, as is Ruby Best Practices.  I
kinda consider them something like sibling books, to be read at about the
same point in one's development as a Rubyist.  I'd set them later on the
path than Everyday Scripting with Ruby and Eloquent Ruby, though.

I think The Ruby Way is mostly useful to "have around" and thumb through
from time to time -- when stuck, bored, or curious -- rather than as an
instructional or introductory text, though.

I haven't read The Well-Grounded Rubyist, so I don't really have anything
to say about that, either.

-- 
Chad Perrin [ original content licensed OWL: http://owl.apotheon.org ]