Beginner, non-programmer - where do I start?

Rails
1

I’m a experienced web designer, fluent in XHTML & CSS, however,
scripting languages like javascript and php tend to elude me. I’ve read
a good bit on RoR and it seems that it might be a better place for me to
get my feet wet in the server-side scripting realm. Does anyone have any
suggestions on where I should start?
I seriously have no scripting experience beyond plugging in others’
scripts (that I do well), but the actually writing of a script … has
just been something I’ve not been able to grasp.
Any suggestions on where to start, a book, tutorial, examples that I
could enact that would give a good foothold on learning RoR? I’m very
good with practical examples that help me to see what happens as a
result of a code/script.

Dawn

2

On Mar 23, 2007, at 2:13 PM, Dawn H. wrote:

Any suggestions on where to start, a book, tutorial, examples that I
could enact that would give a good foothold on learning RoR? I’m very
good with practical examples that help me to see what happens as a
result of a code/script.

Everyone will tell you to get AWDwR, but if you have little or no
programming experience then I’d suggest also getting Pine’s “Learn to
Program”, which will give you beginner’s introduction to Ruby.

-faisal

3

Faisal N Jawdat wrote:

Everyone will tell you to get AWDwR, but if you have little or no
programming experience then I’d suggest also getting Pine’s “Learn to
Program”, which will give you beginner’s introduction to Ruby.

-faisal

Thank you, Faisal. I’ll take a look at those books.

Yes, I do not have any experience with programming really. I’ve tried
but most of the books I’ve gotten seem to be written from the standpoint
that the reader knows at least one language (usually javascript) and
I’ve gotten lost within the first few pages of each book I’ve tried. I
need a ground up instruction with practical examples so that I can see
what’s happening, do you know what I mean? I learn best and retain what
I learn better by doing.
Any other suggestions to putting me on the road to learn RoR are
appreciated.

4

It is a good idea to learn the basics of OO also. Check out the material
at
: http://guide.zepho.com/version1

You can ignore the UML related stuff and just focus on the basics.

5

I would say Learn to Program then David Black’s book called Ruby for
Rails then AWDWR. There is a steep learning curve but the pay off is in
programming power and efficiency.

Bill

6

Depending on the kind of person you are, you might enjoy Why’s
(Poignant) Guide to Ruby. Whether you (or anyone) could learn to
program from it is a different question, but I’d be curious to find
out. It’s at

http://poignantguide.net/ruby/

-Colin

On 3/23/07, Dawn H. [email protected] wrote:

could enact that would give a good foothold on learning RoR? I’m very
good with practical examples that help me to see what happens as a
result of a code/script.

Dawn

–
Colin Strasser
Union Square Internet Development
917.723.6930 (m)
646.219.0332 (f)

7

Greetings Dawn -

On Mar 23 2007, 1:13 pm, Dawn H. <rails-mailing-l…@andreas-
s.net> wrote:

good with practical examples that help me to see what happens as a
result of a code/script.

Dawn

I’m the CTO for homestars.com - I hope you don’t mind me contacting
you directly.

I’m very active in rails community, not a head hunter, and am looking
for design talent - someone that can produce great technical valid,
html/css, table-less layouts, etc. Someone who can use the rails view
helpers would be golden.

If so, are you avail? Where are you located?

thanx for your thoughts Dawn,
Jodi