# Question on Getting back in the swing of things & Time Manag **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [June 16, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-on-getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things-time-manag/106981 "2007-06-16T02:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Samantha)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-on-getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things-time-manag/106981/1 "2007-06-16T02:04:32Z")
Hello all, It’s been a substantial length of time since I’ve posted here, let alone did anything in the realms of learning Ruby. While I was out of work, I was spending a serious amount of time diving into Ruby and Rails. For the past couple of months, I’ve not touched Ruby more than a few hours total. My question is this: Is it possible to get anywhere when you only have about an hour per evening, and a couple of hours on the weekends, to devote to learning and advancing in the language? If so, what would you focus on? I’m pretty sure I remember much of what I learned over the last 6+ months, but I’m hoping that a “Slow but Steady” approach can work. I’d love to hear your comments and feedback. ## Thanks, Samantha [http://www.babygeek.org/](http://www.babygeek.org/) “Beware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet. Then all things are at risk.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson ---
**Author:** ![Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Samantha)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-on-getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things-time-manag/106981/2 "2007-06-16T17:12:53Z")
quoth the Samantha: > I’m pretty sure I remember much of what I learned over the last 6+ months, > but I’m hoping that a “Slow but Steady” approach can work. Sure it is possible. I am no professional programmer, in fact, I don’t even use a computer in my line of work. However, I do have a pretty large interest in computers and programming, so I treat it like a hobby. I do basically exactly what you describe, ie: invest about an hour a day and more on weekends. My advice: spend your time a) reading code, and b) writing code. Simply the best way to learn. Books and tutorials et al are great, but I find the best way to learn is to be active and write code, not to passively read words on a page. Also: take part in the Ruby quiz each week. I have found that to be a fantastic resource. > I’d love to hear your comments and feedback. > > Thanks, > Samantha -d ---
**Author:** ![Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Samantha)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-on-getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things-time-manag/106981/3 "2007-06-16T18:19:06Z")
On 6/16/07, darren kirby [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ## My advice: spend your time a) reading code, and b) writing code. Simply > > darren kirby :: Part of the problem since 1976 :: [http://badcomputer.org](http://badcomputer.org) > “…the number of UNIX installations has grown to 10, with more > expected…” > > - Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson, June 1972 Thanks for the feedback, Darren. It’s good to hear the encouragement and see that you don’t have to spend 10 hours a day obsessing, er focusing on stuff to be able to learn. 🙂 (Which is essentially what I was doing months ago.) It’s very different to go from constant immersion to having limited time. ## Thanks, Samantha [http://www.babygeek.org/](http://www.babygeek.org/) “Beware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet. Then all things are at risk.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson ---
**Author:** ![Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Samantha](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Samantha)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/question-on-getting-back-in-the-swing-of-things-time-manag/106981/4 "2007-06-16T18:51:10Z")
Samantha wrote: > > My question is this: Is it possible to get anywhere when you only have > > about an hour per evening, and a couple of hours on the weekends, to devote > > to learning and advancing in the language? If so, what would you focus on? > > I’m pretty sure I remember much of what I learned over the last 6+ months, > > but I’m hoping that a “Slow but Steady” approach can work. Darren wrote: > My advice: spend your time a) reading code, and b) writing code. Simply the > best way to learn. Books and tutorials et al are great, but I find the best > way to learn is to be active and write code, not to passively read words on a > page. Also: take part in the Ruby quiz each week. I have found that to be a > fantastic resource. Darren is right - as long as you know Ruby and Rails somewhat then you don’t need to start with books. Start working on something that is interesting and if you have an hour a day you’ll be fine. I only have that much and I found if I can actually spend it coding then I can be really productive. One suggestion is to work on projects that are slightly out of the comfort zone of Rails. In working on a Rails plugin and a Ruby based blog recently I’ve learned a lot more than when I was coding in the strictly Rails framework. His suggestion of working on RubyQuiz puzzles is also good. One thing that I also do is maximize the productivity of coding time by having problems at least mostly solved in my head when I start working. I have little time on the computer but I have 2 hours a day on the train so I spend that time thinking a problem out as completely as I can so that when I sit down it’s more or less typing and running tests. I’ve found this to be an extremely productive way to work. - Byron