# Ruby On Rails For Dummies

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [May 25, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591 "2008-05-25T11:32:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/1 "2008-05-25T11:32:06Z")

</div>

As I’m a dummy, I got this book out of the library as a first step to  
learning ROR. After I followed the instructions for installing the  
interpreter, then rails, then java I went to install the authors’  
custom version of radrails. I was about 10% through the download when  
I read on the authors blog \<[Best Online Casino in Australia | Top Licensed Casinos for Gamblers](http://www.jroller.com/bburd/entry/)  
error\_another\_migration\_is\_already\> that ROR for dummies was written  
for Rails 1X & that I should uninstall V2 & downgrade to 1X, using  
that to follow the book & then upgrade when I’m finished the book.  
Frankly, I think this could be BS. Why doesn’t the author just release  
an up-to-date version of ROR for dummies? Am I right or wrong? Anyway,  
I’ve abandoned the install of the ‘custom’ version of radrails & am  
downloading the Community Edition of Aptana Studio (at least that’s  
what I think I’m downloading). After I’ve downloading & installed the  
Community Edition of Aptana Studio (I’m currently 26% through the  
100meg download) I’m a bit unsure of my next move. Should I proceed  
per the book & download MySQL database & administrator? Can’t I just  
use MS Office Access 2007, which is installed on my PC but which I’ve  
never even started, the thoughts of the community would be greatly  
appreciated.  
Also, can anyone point me to a good online source of information re:  
ROR for absolute idiot’s? Tanku. Steve.

[![Shamrock]()](http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p110/nzcalling/?%0Aaction=view&current=a_SHAMROCK.gif)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/2 "2008-05-25T13:34:50Z")

</div>

On 25 May 2008, at 10:31, Young Ben wrote:

> an up-to-date version of ROR for dummies? Am I right or wrong?  
> Because it’s a non trivial amount of work (especially as one of the  
> things that changed the most in rails 2 is scaffolding which books and  
> tutorials tended to use a lot.

> Anyway,  
> I’ve abandoned the install of the ‘custom’ version of radrails & am  
> downloading the Community Edition of Aptana Studio (at least that’s  
> what I think I’m downloading). After I’ve downloading & installed the  
> Community Edition of Aptana Studio (I’m currently 26% through the  
> 100meg download) I’m a bit unsure of my next move. Should I proceed  
> per the book & download MySQL database & administrator? Can’t I just  
> use MS Office Access 2007, which is installed on my PC but which I’ve  
> never even started, the thoughts of the community would be greatly  
> appreciated.  
> Even if rails could use access, you’d definitely be off the beaten  
> path, which is not the best place to be if you’re starting up. With  
> rails 2.x you might find that the default of sqlite is handier as  
> there is less setp and messing around to do.

Fred

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 1:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/3 "2008-05-25T13:43:43Z")

</div>

Welcome Ben,

Rails has a learning curb (it’s steeper than a curve). depending on  
your past experience, it may take a while to figure it all out. I have  
been pounding hell out of rails for a year now and I am just starting  
to get it, but I had to start a scratch and learn css and JS etc  
first.  
One of the biggest problems with Rails is that it is evolving so fast  
that books are not keeping up. Most authors are scrambling to get out  
a 2.0 rails book and 2.1 release candidate 1 is available today.  
Your best bet is online, but that too is frustrating because most of  
what is out there is also old. Take everything you read with a grain  
of salt in that it might be outdated.  
I would take your Rails for Dummies book back to the library and look  
online for 2.0.2 Rails tutorials  
My first Rails book was “Beginning Ruby on Rails” and It was a very  
good first book. Most of what is in there will not be changed by new  
versions of Rails.  
[http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0470069155.html](http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0470069155.html)

Next read Agile web Development with Rails

> **[Pragmatic Bookshelf: By Developers, For Developers](https://pragprog.com)**
>
> We improve the lives of professional developers. We create timely, practical books on classic and cutting-edge topics to help you learn and practice your craft, and accelerate your career. Come learn with us.

If you bounce around a bit, the older version is free online. Do the  
sample ONE TIME and then move on. I did it like 5 times, but the  
underlying magic of Rails is not really explained (and is beyond the  
scope of the book) so doing the sample a lot just makes you able to do  
the sample faster.

also you might try Peepcode, Rails from scratch one and two, which  
might be a good start for today. Buy at least the $40 pack as you will  
be addicted  
[http://peepcode.com/](http://peepcode.com/)

That will get you started.

Here are free railscasts, but they are for later  
[http://railscasts.com/episodes;archive](http://railscasts.com/episodes;archive)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/4 "2008-05-25T15:15:26Z")

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that book is for rails 1.2 not very up to date. also only 4 chapters  
seem to be free.  
AWDOR is still a very good book even if it’s a bit out of date. Sure,  
scaffolding has changed, routing is improved, but you can still get  
plenty of starting tips about activerecord and and i still use it to  
look up stuff.

If you just skip the bit where they do the auto-scaffold (useless in  
the long run anyway) you can still do fine with AWD. Read lots, follow  
rails blogs, and you’ll quickly pick it up…

[www.railsenvy.com](http://www.railsenvy.com)

> **[A smattering of engineering, technology, and related stuffs](https://www.ryandaigle.com/)**
>
> A smattering of engineering, technology, and related stuffs

[http://blog.codefront.net/2008/05/18/living-on-the-edge-of-rails-21/](http://blog.codefront.net/2008/05/18/living-on-the-edge-of-rails-21/)  
[http://www.therailsway.com/](http://www.therailsway.com/)  
[www.gotapi.com/rubyrails](http://www.gotapi.com/rubyrails) is also a blinder once you know roughtly what  
you’re looking for in the Ruby/Rails APIs

MS Access should not ever be considered for web db it just can’t cut  
it. Rails 2x uses SQLite by default so no separate DB install is  
needed for getting started (though i’d recommned MySQL or Postgres)

Enjoy rails!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/5 "2008-05-25T14:04:50Z")

</div>

This looks up to date (new version May 2008)

> **[Jump Start Rails | SitePoint Premium](https://www.sitepoint.com/premium/books/jump-start-rails/)**
>
> Learn Rails and you'll write better code, faster, spend less time setting up and maintaining code and more time building. Consider this book an investment in your career. There's a huge and growing demand for developers with Rails skills, just look...

and it is free

Good luck

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/6 "2008-05-25T16:06:00Z")

</div>

that book is for rails 1.2 not very up to date. also only 4 chapters  
seem to be free.  
AWDOR is still a very good book even if it’s a bit out of date. Sure,  
scaffolding has changed, routing is improved, but you can still get  
plenty of starting tips about activerecord and and i still use it to  
look up stuff.

If you just skip the bit where they do the auto-scaffold (useless in  
the long run anyway) you can still do fine with AWD. Read lots, follow  
rails blogs, and you’ll quickly pick it up…

[www.railsenvy.com](http://www.railsenvy.com)

> **[A smattering of engineering, technology, and related stuffs](https://www.ryandaigle.com/)**
>
> A smattering of engineering, technology, and related stuffs

[http://blog.codefront.net/2008/05/18/living-on-the-edge-of-rails-21/](http://blog.codefront.net/2008/05/18/living-on-the-edge-of-rails-21/)  
[http://www.therailsway.com/](http://www.therailsway.com/)  
[www.gotapi.com/rubyrails](http://www.gotapi.com/rubyrails) is also a blinder once you know roughtly what  
you’re looking for in the Ruby/Rails APIs

MS Access should not ever be considered for web db it just can’t cut  
it. Rails 2x uses SQLite by default so no separate DB install is  
needed for getting started (though i’d recommned MySQL or Postgres)

Enjoy rails!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/7 "2008-05-25T16:37:07Z")

</div>

WildTangent,  
You are correct, I thought the whole thing was free. (he says that,  
damn false advertising)  
He does have a good online tutorial here.

[http://www.sitepoint.com/article/learn-ruby-on-rails](http://www.sitepoint.com/article/learn-ruby-on-rails)

lotsa stuff on the web.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/8 "2008-05-25T16:33:01Z")

</div>

> AWDOR is still a very good book even if it’s a bit out of date.

Surely you don’t mean the 3rd edition, popped recently, is _already_ out  
of  
date??

Sorry. I’ll try not to do it again.

(-:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/y/49beb7/32.png) [@Young\_Ben](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Young_Ben)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-on-rails-for-dummies/138591/9 "2008-05-26T10:13:01Z")

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Thanks everyone, I will soldier on & check back in when I get stuck.  
Steve.