# Learning rails (and programming) from scratch **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [February 2, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227 "2007-02-02T15:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/1 "2007-02-02T15:24:05Z")
Hi, I would really like to learn Rails. Problem is that I don’t know any programming, besides average HTML and CSS. I’ve had to start from scratch but most RoR-resources out there assumes you have at least prior experience from PHP, Python, Perl or whatever. I’ve done +10 online tutorials on Ruby and Rails, gone thru Prag. progs “Learn to program”, made it halfway thru Agile Web D. with Rails and Beginning Ruby on Rails. I’ve also finished “Ruby for Rails”. Still it seems that I lack the fundamentals to really take it all in. Scaffolding, eRB, etc. is neat, but I would really like to be able to have more control and understand what’s actually happening. Does anyone have any tips on how I could get better programming fundamentals? Should I attack a beginners-book for say Java or PHP and then move over to Ruby or is there an easier way? Best regards, Gustav ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/2 "2007-02-02T15:27:39Z")
You could try this book: [http://www.pragmaticprogrammer.com/titles/fr\_ltp/](http://www.pragmaticprogrammer.com/titles/fr_ltp/) It’s also learning you to program through examples of Ruby. I wish you the best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/3 "2007-02-02T16:22:45Z")
Gustav, I’ve written a tutorial that doesn’t presume a lot of prior programming. I walk you through the basics of Ruby, the basics of Rails, and the basics of MySQL. I try to focus on the fundamentals and the big picture concepts. Familiarity with computers and HTML is probably the only thing you need. I posted a full announcement to the mailing list here: [http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk/browse\_thread/thread/7e63dbc44eec28e0/](http://groups.google.com/group/rubyonrails-talk/browse_thread/thread/7e63dbc44eec28e0/) HTH, Kevin S. ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/4 "2007-02-02T17:08:50Z")
Definitely start with Ruby and not Rails. You need to learn programming first (with Ruby in this case) before you tackle Rails and web programming. This book will help you immensely: [http://www.rubycentral.com/book/](http://www.rubycentral.com/book/) Enjoy Ruby and programming in general! Jason ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/5 "2007-02-02T17:05:22Z")
Petar: I’ve already gone thru LTP, but the step to “real” programming feels a bit to big. Kevin: Thanks! I’ll be sure to send you feedback when I’m done with the classes. ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 6:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/6 "2007-02-02T18:16:37Z")
I’m with Anthony you obviously arn’t getting it by reading books. Personaly I would say stop asking questions, go pick an application type (ie. shop, forum, webmail, blog, etc.) that you haven’t done before and plan one out. Don’t look at any textbook expecting it to tell you how to do it. Get as far as you can on your own; then ask what do I still need? Then go find an answer. Simple fact of modern society/science you will never know it all so just learn what you HAVE TO KNOW. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/7 "2007-02-02T18:05:56Z")
Gustav: To answer your second question about learning Java or PHP first, I would say that you don’t need to do that. You might pick up some bad habits! 🙂 To learn programming fundamentals, you have to ask yourself about the way that you learn. If you learn best by listening to others, then take a class or watch videos. If you learn best by reading books, then read the books that people have already recommended. To really learn, though, most people agree that you have to actually write programs. Take the concepts from the tutorials you’ve done and re-use them. Don’t cut and paste; take the time to put them into your own programs. Keep asking questions because there are lots of super-friendly people on this list. Keep watching this list and try to answer other people’s questions. Besides giving something back, when you can explain something, you’ll know that you know it. If you’re a perfectionist (be honest to yourself), don’t try to write the perfect program the first time out. It takes many repetitions to get there. Finally, if you know HTML and CSS, then focus on views first so you can quickly see the results of your code changes. While learning rhtml, you can learn a lot about basic things like loops and helper methods. I have a proviso: don’t try to do lots of complicated stuff in views-- you’ll learn later that more substantive work is done in models. Good luck, -Anthony ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/8 "2007-02-02T18:27:00Z")
I don’t really get what you don’t understand. I was going to suggest Ruby for Rails, but if you’ve finished that, you should have a rather firm grasp on both Ruby and Rails. What _precisely_ dont you feel like you understand? Basic concepts like variables and flow control? Or more advanced concepts like object-oriented design and metaprogramming? Well, let me ask you this: can you read others’ code? Put _writing_ code aside for a second, pick up some Ruby, and then try to figure out what’s going on. Can’t do it? OK, pick up one of your many Ruby/Rails books and look it up. 🙂 They should explain the mechanics behind it and you should be able to learn things for the future that way. –Jeremy On 2/2/07, Gustav [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ## Still it seems that I lack the fundamentals to really take it all in. > > Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/). > > > – [http://www.jeremymcanally.com/](http://www.jeremymcanally.com/) My free Ruby e-book: [http://www.humblelittlerubybook.com/book/](http://www.humblelittlerubybook.com/book/) My blogs: > **[Site not found · DreamHost](http://www.mrneighborly.com/)** > > The owner of this domain has not yet uploaded their website. [http://www.rubyinpractice.com/](http://www.rubyinpractice.com/) ---
**Author:** ![gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@gustav](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/learning-rails-and-programming-from-scratch/84227/9 "2007-02-03T00:45:58Z")
I think my fault has probably been wanting too much, too soon =) It’s probably better if I try to get a more firm grasp of Ruby… I’ve ordered the Pickaxe and will attack it during next week. In the meantime I’ll give your humble little book a try Jeremy! Thanks a million guys, the Ruby/Rails-community certainly lives up to it’s friendly reputation. I’ll try to pull my weight, once I know how =) Cheers!