For the last few years, the idea of learning programming has interested me. The first language I tried to pick up was PHP. I now have snippets of code here and there I can paste and reuse, but I don’t know the language. PHP has a lot of syntax, and trying to pick it up as a “side thing” just wasn’t working for me. Not to mention the level of discipline one has to have to learn a language.

Enter Ruby on Rails. About a month ago, I decided to digg into the language that is so hot right now. Why not? I’m a HUGE follower. Actually I saw Michael Buffington give a presentation at WebVisions 2006 here in Portland.

This will be the first of many posts describing my struggle to learn RoR.

I have a three pronged attack to pick up Ruby on Rails. First off, there is an application which I have been tasked to build for the agency I work for. Second, I have purchased two books which I am reading through concurrently. Third, the web and IRC.

Application - As I have stated before, I work for a marketing agency in Portland. We currently have no way to upload comp reviews in a way that anyone can do it. I have been tasked to build a comp review manager where there are client levels and admin levels. The admin level is a bird’s eye view of what is going on within the company and what work is going out. So far I have a working version that is a bit buggy.

Books - Michael Buffington showed off a few games he had made in his learning process. He also flashed the cover of a book called, “Ruby for Rails.” I have been reading and quickly realized it’s a broader overview of how Ruby works, and a little bit how Rails works. Kind of like the title suggests.

The second book I picked up was just released called, “Ruby on Rails: Up and Running.” The second one is thinner and more approachable, but I’m quickly learning if I want to pick up this language, I need to take the road less travelled.

Web - The tutorials online have been great. I blogged about the two Curt Hibbs tutorials that got me started on my application and helped me wrap my head around the basic building blocks of RoR. Curt Hibbs also wrote the second Ruby on Rails book mentioned above.

For some reason, I never really got into IRC. I couldn’t tell you why, maybe it’s because I never needed to. However with trying to pickup Rails and not knowing a single soul who is also learning Rails, the IRC room has been essential to some of my biggest stumbling blocks. The people in there are incredibly helpful. It’s good to see the thriving community behind such a clean language.

I will get into the grittier parts soon, but wanted to intro where I am coming from to forwarn those who think they actually might be reading something by an “expert.”

I’m just a dummy with a blog.

Cheers.

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