# Newb, how to start coding question - and - flash & ruby? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [January 18, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newb-how-to-start-coding-question-and-flash-ruby/52729 "2006-01-18T14:35:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tdellaringa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newb-how-to-start-coding-question-and-flash-ruby/52729/1 "2006-01-18T14:35:52Z")
Hi there, I’m a web developer (mainly front end) of 10 years but am new to Ruby. I got the pickaxe book and really have been enjoying it (although things are getting hairy for me now halfway through!) Ruby seems like a really really cool language. Anyway, my idea was to build an online game, and my first question really is can Ruby on Rails/Ruby “talk to” Flash? I’ve been poking around for info on this but have come up with zippo. I originally wanted to use xHTML for the presentation layer, but I require an isometric grid for one thing, and it’s impossible to get it implemented correctly in HTML. Secondly, I could use some advice on how to start coding my objects - how to organize them and what to tackle first. Here is the premise: You have a ship in space. There are X types of ships (merchant, pirate, etc) that determines what kind of player you are. You move along the isometric grid, turn based (for now at least). You have a bank account with credits, an inventory of goods and some personal information. As you move you encounter locations (such as a space station, a mining resupply depot, a friendly planet) that are very basic (say they have 1-4 rooms). There’s more, but that’s a start. I’m thinking my objects are: player ship location zone (the current view of “space” they are in in a 10x10 isogrid) To begin with, but I could use any general suggestions before I get started. Am I correct in assuming I can get started on coding these things before I get the whole front end issues worked out? (I assume talking to Flash/web page, whatever involves other objects). Thanks for any tips! Tom ---
**Author:** ![tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tdellaringa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newb-how-to-start-coding-question-and-flash-ruby/52729/2 "2006-01-18T14:58:23Z")
On 18/01/06, Tom D. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Anyway, my idea was to build an online game, and my first question > really is can Ruby on Rails/Ruby “talk to” Flash? I’ve been poking > around for info on this but have come up with zippo. I originally wanted > to use xHTML for the presentation layer, but I require an isometric grid > for one thing, and it’s impossible to get it implemented correctly in > HTML. I don’t have any particular recommendation on the organisation of your particular project, except perhaps being flexible. I monitor the Rails list, however, and I seem to recall seeing some topics recently on the subject of Flash integration with Ruby on Rails. You may want to check that out at: [http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails](http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails) -austin ---
**Author:** ![tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tdellaringa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newb-how-to-start-coding-question-and-flash-ruby/52729/3 "2006-01-18T15:45:58Z")
Tom D. wrote: > Anyway, my idea was to build an online game, and my first question > really is can Ruby on Rails/Ruby “talk to” Flash? I’ve been poking > around for info on this but have come up with zippo. I originally wanted > to use xHTML for the presentation layer, but I require an isometric grid > for one thing, and it’s impossible to get it implemented correctly in > HTML. Don’t know if this is what you have in mind, but you should check out Rich Kilmer’s stuff at [http://richkilmer.blogs.com/](http://richkilmer.blogs.com/). – – Jim W. ---
**Author:** ![tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@tdellaringa](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tdellaringa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newb-how-to-start-coding-question-and-flash-ruby/52729/4 "2006-01-18T16:33:39Z")
> Don’t know if this is what you have in mind, but you should check out > Rich Kilmer’s stuff at [http://richkilmer.blogs.com/](http://richkilmer.blogs.com/). Hmm… well this the only thing I have seen that is remotely close. It’s slightly over my head, at least without fully reading it all. I’ll have to contact him and see what he thinks. Thanks for the link! Anyone have any comments on getting started on my code?