Where to start with Ruby?

[Borkil]

i'm starting an internship soon and sounds like i will be using ruby. where is the best place to start? any good books or websites you guys recommend? i mostly use python and know a little perl

 

[Ken g6]

Perl will help. Alot.

Personally, I learn a new language by working on a task I'd like to accomplish, extensively using a reference. Everyone else seems to like Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby. D:

But is this just Ruby, or Ruby on Rails?

 

[Borkil]

just ruby. whats a good task to accomplish? haha

 

[Ken g6]

just ruby. whats a good task to accomplish? haha

If I could answer that, I'd be fluent in a lot more languages. 😛

Seriously, only you know what you'd like to work on. But Ruby's good at what Perl does, and generally fairly good at what Python does. Got anything in either language that you think really needs a complete rewrite?

 

[PCTC2]

There's also Learn Ruby the Hard Way and if you want a hard book, Pragmatic Programmers have a few good books on development, including a Ruby 1.9 book.

Otherwise, I'd just say download Ruby, load up irb (Interactive Ruby Shell) and screw around with it.

 

[blipblop]

Just decided to start learning this as well as a side project. Goodness some of this stuff is dense. I can't even figure out what type of programs I need to start! Going to get a couple of the recommended books

 

[Subyman]

It can be involved to set up on windows, I believe it is native to Mac though. I messed around with ruby for awhile. I usually start just making a short text adventure. You have to learn input, output, and basic logical structures, so that's a good place to start.