# Just need help on what book to buy for ruby

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [October 2, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128 "2007-10-02T17:31:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/1 "2007-10-02T17:31:45Z")

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Guys

Im trying to do some ruby on rails stuff for interfaceing with some  
unix commands from a ui. Im using the streamlined framework and it  
creates everything i need for the ui side but im having problems trying  
to capture data that is added to tables so i can create commands to  
execute. What would be a decent ruby book to buy? i already have the  
rails cookbook but im looking for something that covers more of the  
command side and describes the methods available in ruby. Off to the  
bookstore when i get a response. Thanks

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**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/2 "2007-10-02T17:42:40Z")

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Agile Web D. with Rails 2nd Ed

> **[Agile Web Development with Rails 3.2: Ruby, Sam, Thomas, Dave, Hansson, David...](https://www.amazon.com/Agile-Development-Rails-Pragmatic-Programmers/dp/1934356549)**
>
> Agile Web Development with Rails 3.2 \[Ruby, Sam, Thomas, Dave, Hansson, David Heinemeier\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Agile Web Development with Rails 3.2

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/3 "2007-10-02T18:06:07Z")

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And of course ‘Programming ruby’ if it’s the ruby bits rather than  
the rails stuff you want.  
[http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Ruby-Pragmatic-Programmers-Second/](http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Ruby-Pragmatic-Programmers-Second/)  
dp/0974514055

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/4 "2007-10-03T00:40:14Z")

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Brent B. wrote:  
i already have the

> rails cookbook but im looking for something that covers more of the  
> command side and describes the methods available in ruby. Off to the  
> bookstore when i get a response. Thanks

Here’s a way to run a shell command in Ruby:

ouput = %x(‘pwd’)

The Ruby Way by Hal F. has more details running external commands.  
It’s a really good book.

Ruby Cookbook by Lucas Carlson is also really good.

Eeby

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**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/5 "2007-10-02T20:14:31Z")

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Given what you specified. I would also recommend “Programming Ruby”

On Oct 2, 11:04 am, Frederick C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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**Author:** ![newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@newrubyuser](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/newrubyuser)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/just-need-help-on-what-book-to-buy-for-ruby/116128/6 "2007-10-03T03:02:44Z")

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I subscribe to Safari on [oreilly.com](http://oreilly.com), which lets you have 10  
electronic books at one time for $9.95 / month. You can switch books  
out after you’ve had them for awhile. What’s good about that is that  
after you’ve learned something, you can switch those books out for  
something new you’re learning.

I found the $9.95 option hard to find when I signed up – they really  
want you to do the $19.95 / month option. 10 books has been enough  
for me though.

Charlie

On Oct 2, 3:40 pm, Jarrod M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)