# New to RoR. Where to begin?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-to-ror-where-to-begin/177662>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [October 21, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-to-ror-where-to-begin/177662 "2009-10-21T18:37:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e36b37/32.png) [@Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Rox)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-to-ror-where-to-begin/177662/1 "2009-10-21T18:37:53Z")

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I’m doing contract work for a company whose site is developed in RoR.  
I have never used RoR but do have years of experience with html, etc.  
via GUI based software like Dreamweaver. What is the best way to get  
started with RoR?

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**Author:** ![Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e36b37/32.png) [@Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Rox)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-to-ror-where-to-begin/177662/2 "2009-10-21T19:00:44Z")

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[lynda.com](http://lynda.com)? – this is a paid subscription site, but has helpful  
screencasts for starting out.

> **[Ruby on Rails Guides](https://guides.rubyonrails.org)**
>
> Ruby on Rails Guides

[api.rubyonrails.org](http://api.rubyonrails.org)

> **[Ruby on Rails Screencasts - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com)**
>
> Short Ruby on Rails screencasts containing tips, tricks and tutorials. Great for both novice and experienced web developers.

I’d highly recommend studying Ruby as well. You can use Rails without  
really knowing Ruby too well, but the more you know the easier it is.

[http://poignantguide.net/ruby/](http://poignantguide.net/ruby/) – this doesn’t seem to be loading for  
me, but if you can find a copy of Why’s (Poignant) Guide to Ruby  
somewhere else it’s a helpful starting point.  
[Programming Ruby: The Pragmatic Programmer's Guide](http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/ProgrammingRuby/)  
[http://www.ruby-doc.org/](http://www.ruby-doc.org/)

You should probably also study HTML, if all you’ve ever used is a GUI  
to generate it.

I don’t envy you your learning curve.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e36b37/32.png) [@Rox](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Rox)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-to-ror-where-to-begin/177662/3 "2009-10-21T23:50:57Z")

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sax wrote:

> [lynda.com](http://lynda.com)? – this is a paid subscription site, but has helpful  
> screencasts for starting out.
> 
> [guides.rubyonrails.org](http://guides.rubyonrails.org)  
> [api.rubyonrails.org](http://api.rubyonrails.org)  
> [railscasts.com](http://railscasts.com)
> 
> I’d highly recommend studying Ruby as well. You can use Rails without  
> really knowing Ruby too well, but the more you know the easier it is.
> 
> [http://poignantguide.net/ruby/](http://poignantguide.net/ruby/) – this doesn’t seem to be loading for  
> me, but if you can find a copy of Why’s (Poignant) Guide to Ruby  
> somewhere else it’s a helpful starting point.

Umm. That’s no loading for anyone. \_why is no more… Look for the why  
mirror at GitHub.

> [Programming Ruby: The Pragmatic Programmer's Guide](http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/ProgrammingRuby/)  
> [http://www.ruby-doc.org/](http://www.ruby-doc.org/)

Here’s a good place to start. Look over these guides to figure out of  
you up for the challenge.:

> **[Ruby on Rails Guides](https://guides.rubyonrails.org/)**
>
> Ruby on Rails Guides

> You should probably also study HTML, if all you’ve ever used is a GUI  
> to generate it.

+1

> I don’t envy you your learning curve.

+1

And here’s hoping you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew.