# TOTAL noobie

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 23, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833 "2007-08-23T17:57:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833/1 "2007-08-23T17:57:50Z")

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If I were wanting to pursue a career in programming using Ruby on Rails,  
could someone take a minute and jot down a few suggestions for HOW a  
non-programmer might most successfully begin in this  
language/environment?

Are there books, websites, and/or podcasts that would make a good  
introduction for the complete first-time programmer?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833/2 "2007-08-23T19:39:27Z")

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Matt H. wrote:

> If I were wanting to pursue a career in programming using Ruby on Rails,  
> could someone take a minute and jot down a few suggestions for HOW a  
> non-programmer might most successfully begin in this  
> language/environment?
> 
> Are there books, websites, and/or podcasts that would make a good  
> introduction for the complete first-time programmer?
> 
> Thanks.

Just like anything else, if you want to because a RoR programmer you  
have to read as much as you can and start by doing some example  
applications. I have been programming in RoR for only about 3 months,  
but programming in general for ~6 years. I got my job programming in RoR  
not knowing anything about the language. The learning curve is pretty  
steep, but it’s real fun once you get going with it.

The books that I have found the most helpful are:

Build Your Own Ruby On Rails Web Applications by Patrick Lenz

Ruby For Rails by David Black

I have also found these references:

[http://blog.invisible.ch/files/rails-reference-1.1.html](http://blog.invisible.ch/files/rails-reference-1.1.html)

> **[Ruby on Rails - Quick Guide](http://www.tutorialspoint.com/ruby-on-rails/rails-quick-guide.htm)**
>
> Ruby on Rails Quick Guide - Before we ride on Rails, let us recapitulate a few points of Ruby, which is the base of Rails.

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

[http://blog.nanorails.com/pages/rails-1-1-cheat-sheet](http://blog.nanorails.com/pages/rails-1-1-cheat-sheet)

Shandy N.  
Polk Majestic Travel Group  
[http://www.polkmajestic.com](http://www.polkmajestic.com)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833/3 "2007-08-23T19:49:18Z")

</div>

> Just like anything else, if you want to because a RoR programmer you  
> have to read as much as you can and start by doing some example  
> applications. I have been programming in RoR for only about 3 months,  
> but programming in general for ~6 years. I got my job programming in RoR  
> not knowing anything about the language. The learning curve is pretty  
> steep, but it’s real fun once you get going with it.
> 
> The books that I have found the most helpful are:
> 
> Build Your Own Ruby On Rails Web Applications by Patrick Lenz
> 
> Ruby For Rails by David Black
> 
> I have also found these references:
> 
> [http://blog.invisible.ch/files/rails-reference-1.1.html](http://blog.invisible.ch/files/rails-reference-1.1.html)
> 
> [Ruby on Rails - Quick Guide](http://www.tutorialspoint.com/ruby-on-rails/rails-quick-guide.htm)
> 
> [http://www.ahoyhere.com/](http://www.ahoyhere.com/)
> 
> [Rails 1.1 Cheat Sheet – nanoRAILS](http://blog.nanorails.com/pages/rails-1-1-cheat-sheet)
> 
> Shandy N.  
> Polk Majestic Travel Group  
> [http://www.polkmajestic.com](http://www.polkmajestic.com)

Shandy,  
Thank you so much. I appreciate the info. I’m going to dive into it all  
right away.  
Matt

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@bouldr-matt](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bouldr-matt)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/total-noobie/112833/4 "2007-08-23T20:10:30Z")

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If you’re a non-programmer, first pick up Chris P.'s “How to  
Program.” It uses Ruby to teach you the basics. Then you may want to  
step into something like the other suggested material…

–Jeremy

On 8/23/07, Matt H. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> –  
> Posted via [http://www.ruby-forum.com/](http://www.ruby-forum.com/).
> 
> >

–  
[http://www.jeremymcanally.com/](http://www.jeremymcanally.com/)

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