# Newbie Advice - Is ROR right for this project?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [May 13, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462 "2008-05-13T12:13:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mattr)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462/1 "2008-05-13T12:13:07Z")

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Hi

I have a project that I was thinking about using RoR for - before i  
start thought i would ask for some advice.

I have no programming experience - limited web design (joomla and  
frontpage - so “design” is probably pushing it … !)

I am looking to create a stock management system for use @ work. It  
will have the ability to keep track of equipment as it gets booked on  
to a project and then checking it back in to the store when it is  
finished. It will have the ability to look forward and see where any  
item will be and how many are left in stock.

I am happy to put time in to learn RoR but before i start:

Am I mad to attempt this - is something else more suitable ?  
From my (admittedly brief) description is this project achievable ?  
I am looking at getting the sitepoint book on learning RoR - anyone  
else recommend other sources - I have found stuff through google - but  
obviously personal recommendations can dig out some better stuff !

Thanks in advance

Matt

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**Author:** ![mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mattr)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462/2 "2008-05-13T12:17:15Z")

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On 13 May 2008, at 10:44, Mattr wrote:

> will have the ability to keep track of equipment as it gets booked on  
> to a project and then checking it back in to the store when it is  
> finished. It will have the ability to look forward and see where any  
> item will be and how many are left in stock.
> 
> I am happy to put time in to learn RoR but before i start:

That sounds perfectly doable, and there’s nothing like a concrete task  
to learn something like RoR. Especially for someone without previous  
programming experience, I would strongly recommend you make sure you  
are are happy with ruby and object oriented concepts in general before  
evening opening a book on Rails.

Fred

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**Author:** ![mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mattr)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462/3 "2008-05-13T12:59:39Z")

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Mattr wrote:

> Hi

> I am looking to create a stock management system for use @ work. It  
> will have the ability to keep track of equipment as it gets booked on  
> to a project and then checking it back in to the store when it is  
> finished. It will have the ability to look forward and see where any  
> item will be and how many are left in stock.
> 
> Thanks in advance
> 
> Matt

Perfectly doable.  
Just don’t fall into my trap of trying to be too clever too soon. Rails  
has a way of sparking your imagination, but my skills are struggling to  
keep up 🙂

Andrew

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**Author:** ![mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mattr)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462/4 "2008-05-13T15:07:01Z")

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Early on in the development, don’t stress too much about “keeping code  
DRY (Dont Repeat Yourself)”, or refactoring methods out of models into a  
mixin, or any of that intermediate to advanced stuff.

Get the basics up and running.

‘ruby script/generate scaffold modelname field:type field:type etc’

is your friend early on. As you build more pieces and parts, and your  
comfort level with RoR increases, you’ll begin to see points where you  
can apply additional RoR or M-V-C concepts.

The framework does a good job of steering you to the “right” answer, and  
if you find it really hard to do something, odds are there is an easier  
way you just don’t know yet. Sometimes doing it the wrong or long way  
first makes you appreciate the correct way later (and reinforces the  
lesson).

An application of 10,000 lines begins with but a single generate. 😉

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**Author:** ![mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mattr](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mattr)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/newbie-advice-is-ror-right-for-this-project/137462/5 "2008-05-14T02:02:21Z")

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Matt,  
I’m currently converting my Asset Tracker product written in Delphi to  
RonR. I expect to have it up and running in a few months.  
Kathleen