# Beginning Programmer

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [April 7, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029 "2008-04-07T02:40:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/2acd7d/32.png) [@Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Qbert)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029/1 "2008-04-07T02:40:06Z")

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Hello. I am somewhat of a novice when it comes to programming. To  
begin programming in RoR, what other programming languages should I  
know, and what is the reading material I should study?

Thanks for any feedback

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**Author:** ![Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/2acd7d/32.png) [@Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Qbert)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029/2 "2008-04-07T03:23:56Z")

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You will find learning Ruby a very nice start. Don’t try and go back  
and learn something like C, or even C++.  
Here you can learn ruby [http://www.humblelittlerubybook.com/](http://www.humblelittlerubybook.com/)

Then start your first Rails project. I’d say do the demo in Agile Web  
Dev. with Rails and after that start your first application. Search  
google, especially the API for what you don’t know how to do, and go  
from there.

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**Author:** ![Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/2acd7d/32.png) [@Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Qbert)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029/3 "2008-04-07T14:12:57Z")

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I’d also take a look at “Learn To Program” my Chris P., that book  
helped solidify some of the concepts of object oriented programming  
(OOP) that I was a bit sketchy on. You can find it over at the  
pragmatic press.

> **[Pragmatic Bookshelf: By Developers, For Developers](https://pragprog.com)**
>
> We improve the lives of professional developers. We create timely, practical books on classic and cutting-edge topics to help you learn and practice your craft, and accelerate your career. Come learn with us.

The best part is it looks at all of the intro programming concepts  
with ruby!

-Jon

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**Author:** ![Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/2acd7d/32.png) [@Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Qbert)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029/4 "2008-04-07T21:28:10Z")

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I also began with “Learn to Program”, then Agile Web D., 2nd  
Ed. I’m now working through “Programming Ruby” (a.k.a. “Pickaxe”),  
and I wish that I had read it earlier. The more you know about Ruby,  
the better you will ultimately be in Rails. To make things even  
better, there’s a 3rd edition that’s now available for Ruby 1.9  
([Pragmatic Bookshelf: By Developers, For Developers](http://www.pragprog.com/titles/ruby3)).

Be patient. Rails is in an interesting place right now, and I know  
people who are frustrated with the lack of available resources for  
Rails 2.0. Search this list for some recommendations regarding the  
newest version of Rails, and don’t wait until you’ve pulled all of  
your hair out before you ask questions here, either.

-Kyle

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**Author:** ![Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/q/2acd7d/32.png) [@Qbert](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Qbert)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/beginning-programmer/134029/5 "2008-04-07T22:27:48Z")

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I found “Build Your Own Ruby on Rails Web Applications” by Patrick Lenz  
a very good start for a complete newbie.