# Would like to learn ruby step by step

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [February 5, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186 "2008-02-05T17:53:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jsudhi)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186/1 "2008-02-05T17:53:34Z")

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Hi,

Sorry if I am spamming your inbox. Actually since 2 months I have been  
working with Watir[Web Application Testing Tool Using Ruby]. But I am  
unable to focus on Ruby that much. So please suggest me some ways in  
which I can develop Ruby skills and fundamentals of Ruby.

Thanks  
Sudhindra

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**Author:** ![jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jsudhi)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186/2 "2008-02-06T00:23:18Z")

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Sudhindra Joshi wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Sorry if I am spamming your inbox. Actually since 2 months I have been  
> working with Watir[Web Application Testing Tool Using Ruby]. But I am  
> unable to focus on Ruby that much. So please suggest me some ways in  
> which I can develop Ruby skills and fundamentals of Ruby.
> 
> Thanks  
> Sudhindra

Hi Sudhindra!

Join the club. I too am also starting out. If you havent already done so  
I suggest getting C.Pines “Learning to Program” free ebook from his  
site (do a google). Its written assuming you are a total beginner to  
both ruby and programming. Its easy to read and has proglems for you to  
solve at the end of each chapter (a must i think for any book!). I have  
to say i wish they were more as they simply is a massive void after this  
book and the next availalble level. (Chris if your reading add more  
problems!!!)

After finishing that book most people say head over to the ruby quiz  
site that lists lots of challenges. I dont know your learning style but  
i prefer baby steps and i find going from the above book to ruby quiz  
just a massive leap. Ive solved one or two on there but mostly become  
demotivated when i find that i havent learnt the prerequisites to the  
other challenges e.g. running off command line, emailing, understanding  
reg expressions. I will be returning to that site though…thats for  
sure.

So what to do…well ive scoured the net for other end of chapter  
exercises so i can practice more on easier challenges. Do a search for  
“Ruby Exercises OR Challenge OR Practice” and see if you can find more  
basic stuff.

Try Unit Testing. Go to [ruby.about.com](http://ruby.about.com) and they have an introduction to  
this topic. This helps you get used to all those methods for strings and  
arrays.

hope that helps.

adam

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**Author:** ![jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jsudhi)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186/3 "2008-02-06T02:20:46Z")

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Adam A. wrote:

> 

After Chris P.s’ book, try Peter C.'s _Beginning\_Ruby_. I reviewed  
it for Slashdot:  
[Beginning Ruby - Slashdot](http://books.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/23/1429230).

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**Author:** ![jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jsudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jsudhi)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/would-like-to-learn-ruby-step-by-step/128186/4 "2008-02-06T04:21:55Z")

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Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. I will go through the book.

-Sudhi