From: Hal Fulton <hal9000@...>
Date: 2004-01-23T08:48:03+09:00
Subject: Re: Very basic Ruby docs/books/tutorial?

Michael Vondung wrote:
> On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 21:39:04 +0900, Robert Feldt
> <feldt@ce.chalmers.se> wrote:
> 
> 
>>I got a question from someone who wants to learn Ruby but are not very
>>experienced in programming at all. I pointed them to the Ruby Book (Thomas
>>and Hunt) but the person wanted something even more basic.
> 
> 
> Definitely "Teach yourself Ruby in 21 days" by Mark Slagell, Sams
> Publishing. Despite its rather poor title, it's an excellent book that
> begins with the very basics and doesn't require any previous knowledge
> (i.e. it does explain what a variable is). The Pickaxe book was too
> advanced for me also, but Mark's book helped me greatly to get
> started. It does get more advanced eventually, but not in a way that
> leaves real beginners in the dust. I highly recommend it.

I will second that. Mark's book is excellent.

The "21 days" books are of course a Sams series (explaining the poor
title). These are very inconsistent in quality. One of them which I
won't name is suitable IMO only to line bird cages or start fires. Some
are better. This one is among the best. (FWIW I made a minor
contribution to the material myself.)

I will also say that even if you are a little more experienced than 
Michael, this is still a good book. It won't insult your intelligence
even if Ruby is your third or fourth language.

> Hal's "The Ruby Way" makes a good choice for the time after Mark's
> book, I've found. (I bought it long time before I felt ready for it,
> but I was a bit afraid that it might go out of print before I pick up
> the Ruby basics, so I imported it just to be on the safe side.)

Thank you for that purchase. ;) It was designed almost as a reference
work. So you can't really buy it "too early." Many things in it are
very elementary. I added the disclaimer that it was not for beginners,
first of all, to avoid direct competition with the pickaxe. I wanted
to complement Dave and Andy's book, not compete.

Second of all, I wanted to skip the most elementary discussions such as
"what is a variable?" I started in a little higher, with "what is an
object?"

BTW, in the front of the Pickaxe, I am quoted as saying, "This is the
first Ruby book anyone should buy." And when I submitted that quote to
them, the book deal was in progress. So I was already thinking: "And
I already know what your SECOND Ruby book should be..."  :)


Cheers,
Hal