# So many languages/tools, so very confusing! **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [December 12, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/so-many-languages-tools-so-very-confusing/122851 "2007-12-12T18:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/so-many-languages-tools-so-very-confusing/122851/1 "2007-12-12T18:53:28Z")
Ruby, Ajax, Flex, CSS/HTML/PHP/ASP… I understand these are programming languages that are used to design database rich websites… however, are these all mutually exclusive? I know a while back, Cold Fusion was Hot, but now that is considered obsolete… Flex is the same thing as flash, but can be used on the desktop instead of on a webpage, is that correct? Ajax builds on CSS/HTML, but has since been replaced by Ruby? Is there a book recommend that gives a broad look at the current state of internet programming… which is best for what, etc? ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/so-many-languages-tools-so-very-confusing/122851/2 "2007-12-12T19:25:58Z")
removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > Ruby, Ajax, Flex, CSS/HTML/PHP/ASP… > > I understand these are programming languages No, but a few of them are. > Ajax builds on CSS/HTML, CSS/XHTML/DOM/XML and JavaScript. > but has since been replaced by Ruby? In what way? > Is there a book recommend that gives a broad look at the current state > of internet programming… which is best for what, etc? Try places like Google and Wikipedia first. Best regards, Jari W. ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/so-many-languages-tools-so-very-confusing/122851/3 "2007-12-12T20:48:47Z")
On Dec 10, 3:35 pm, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > Ruby, Ajax, Flex, CSS/HTML/PHP/ASP… > > I understand these are programming languages that are used to design > database rich websites… however, are these all mutually exclusive? Your understanding is, unfortunately, incorrect. HTML is the markup for a single web page. It describes the content (and to some extent its visual style). CSS is a markup for a single page, set of pages, or entire site. It describes how content should be visually presented. AJAX is a buzzword that describes using client-side JavaScript (running on the web browser of the host machine) to communicate with a web server, and (often) to modify the HTML page dynamically in turn. Often the JavaScript is sending dynamic queries to the web server, and receiving dynamic responses from some server-side technology. PHP is a server-side language for dynamically generating content. Generally you will be producing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. ASP is a server-side technology from Microsoft for dynamically generating content. While it’s often used to describe using VBScript to program ASP, you can also use other languages, such as JScript. Generally you will be producing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ruby is a general purpose programming language. You likely are confusing the word “Ruby” with “Ruby on Rails”, which is a server-side framework for developing dynamic websites using the Ruby language. Generally you will be producing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. (Ruby on Rails, or just “Rails”, has some convenient libraries it supplies for using AJAX style communication if you don’t know how to - or don’t want to - write JavaScript code.) I don’t know enough about “Flex” to speak intelligently about it. Instead, I link you to [http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/](http://www.adobe.com/products/flex/) for more information. > Is there a book recommend that gives a broad look at the current state > of internet programming… which is best for what, etc? There are probably very, very many. I don’t know of any to recommend. I recommend you read a lot of free tutorials on web sites.