On 07/31/2013 07:19 PM, Tamara T. wrote:
to recreate the environment (ruby-1.8.7 etc.) in which the book’s code
was run.
If you absolutely must… but 1.8.7 is dead retired.
I’m well aware of this, but it IS the version used in the book, which we are
urged to use. I will be running the book’s code on Ruby 2.0.0 as well.
Well, they do say that, but that book was published in 2010, which means it was
finished in 2009, starting when (2005?) that old code was the leading edge.
It may hold true that you might understand the code better if you work in the
same versions, however, how long can that possibly hold true for? Hopefully, the
authors will come up with an update (it is needed for the code alone).
But I also think that admonition is false. You do not need to use their exact
same versions at all to get good learning from that book. The best way I’ve found
is to treat it not as a reference, but as a text book.
Here, really, lies the question: do you want to curtail your learning chances by
adhering strictly to a (strong) suggestion from a book that is out of date, or get
on with learning things using what is current?
Tamara,
Thanks for your thoughtful and useful response, which I only just now
saw. Much appreciated.
My root problem is that I’m a busy psychotherapist, with little time but
a strong desire to keep learning about programming and ruby. Having
watched ruby a lot, and used it very successfully for a few important
personal projects and explorations, I’m more than sold on its value to
me. Then, watching rspec and cucumber for a while, and having finally
become convinced that I need to learn test-driven development, I buy the
rspec book, as it appears to be the best way up the mountain.
But I labor always with the handicap of being a perpetual amateur in
this domain, so my judgment here is not what I would like. I’m grateful
to have access to this and other related discussion lists, for that
reason. I continue to marvel at the fact that people genuinely like
helping others. In my own field, I do a lot of free advising. Just can’t
resist, so I DO “get it”.
After some thought, I reached the same conclusion you advise above:
going ahead with current versions risks little, and the learning is
surely going to be more reliably relevant to the current state of
things. PLUS, if/when I’m bewildered by something, I can come here. And,
so far, there have been no problems.
I’m enjoy the book enormously. It’s far more valuable to me than I
anticipated. All in all, a great experience. Finding time to make
progress continues to be a problem. I just have to do a little at a
time.
Tom
–
Tom C., MS MA
Cedar City / St. George, Utah, U.S.A: (435) 272-3332
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