# Re: Just a question to throw out there **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 10:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-just-a-question-to-throw-out-there/74772 "2006-11-07T10:55:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-just-a-question-to-throw-out-there/74772/1 "2006-11-07T10:55:58Z")
Quoting S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): > Or is there something else I should know first BEFORE going to Ruby? I’d suggest a ‘Computers & Networking for Dummies’ type book that gives a broad overview of how computers and networks work. Get one of those and experiment a bit with your home computer. Develop a basic understanding of concepts such as tcp/ip, localhost, dns, bytes, bits, files, etc. You do not need to master these things… just understand them enough so that you can explain them to yourself or someone else on a very basic level. Then come back to programming and it will all make much more sense to you. Programming is not an island unto itself. People try to begin programming without having much knowledge about computers and networks in general and become frustrated. This is like attempting to work on a car when you have no real concept of what a car is… how to drive it or how it should interact with the road and other cars, etc. I don’t say this to discourage you and I don’t mean it in a negative way. I only mean to suggest that you look beyond Ruby and programming in general and gain a better understanding of the foundations of computing. Doing so will help you put all the pieces together. Best of luck, Brad ---
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-just-a-question-to-throw-out-there/74772/2 "2006-11-07T10:56:00Z")
Yah, see that’s what I figured it’s more than just “me learn to program, me learn good.” I don’t really have a general knowledge of computer functions, and part of the problem is i’m always too afraid to mess with that stuff. I know how to do the very basic of things like restarting a web service and IP address but that’s about it. It would probably have been more helpful had I actually started sooner and paid attention to these kinds of things. Anyways you all have been really really nice and helpful and I’ll be sure to check some of these links out. I can’t thank you all enough. Webpage ([www.freewebs.com/scottygiveshighfives](http://www.freewebs.com/scottygiveshighfives)) Email: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (That’s a mario reference.) You sing a new song, unsung. ----- Original Message ----- From: “Brad T.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) To: “ruby-talk ML” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 11:58 AM Subject: Re: Just a question to throw out there… ---
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-just-a-question-to-throw-out-there/74772/3 "2006-11-07T10:56:33Z")
On Nov 2, 2006, at 3:07 PM, Skotty wrote: > I don’t really have a general knowledge of computer functions, and > part of the problem is i’m always too afraid to mess with that stuff. If you really want to learn how computers work, your probably going to need to break a few things…and then fix them. You certainly can’t be too scared of getting your hands dirty. Obviously you should do this in a controlled manner(back up stuff, use a crappy old machine etc). Also the best advice so far has probably been to just hack out some program you want. You wont retain anything with out using it. And most easy stuff is pretty easy to look up, if you need a refresher. Don’t get caught up with trying to remember anything too specific. Focus on solving problems, and learning the general ways in which you can approach them. I’ve always found that to be both more satisfying and more effective. William ---
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-just-a-question-to-throw-out-there/74772/4 "2006-11-07T10:56:11Z")
One thing i haven’t seen anyone mention yet (maybe I just missed it) is to perhaps stop with the “hello world” programs and spend some time thinking of a program you _want_, that would be useful to you. That will give you an incentive. Then just hack your way through it. When you get stuck, look things up. Yes, the first version will be horrific, but it will work and you’ll learn some things. Then you can go back and fix it. Or not. Pick another project that interests you and do that one. When I was learning Ruby (along with Rails) coming from PHP that what I did. I can’t stand the “Let’s build a shopping cart” examples 🙂