Is AWDwR Still Useful?

rubyonrails-talk
1

I'm sure this is becoming an FAQ and I apologize. I haven't quite found the answers I'm looking for yet and hope you can help.

As a relative noob to Rails I'm trying to figure out how best to approach my learning of it. I wanted to try to work my way thru Agile Web Development with Rails and figure out how to create the Depot application in Rails 2.0. I know people have recommended to not do that and just work through the book with Rails 1.2.5 instead, but I don't really want to spend a lot of time learning methods and practices that have been deprecated. I was able to get past a few hurdles but have hit a wall on trying to figure out how to convert a dynamic scaffold to a static scaffold for an existing model that has a different controller name (e.g. the old "script/generate scaffold product admin") step.

Is working thru the book with an old version of Rails really the best approach? Then what steps should be followed to retrain my brain to use the 2.0 methods? Is there a better way to learn Rails 2.0?

2

If you already have the book and are trying to learn from that, I would stick to 1.2.5. I haven't read the second edition but I'm assuming they don't use many deprecated features that have been removed in rails 2.0. The new features of rails 2.0 aren't very drastic changes if you've been using best practices from 1.2.5, so updating the depot application after you've finished the book shouldn't be too difficult. Just keep an eye out for any deprecation warnings and follow the suggestions. After going through the book, you can learn the new 2.0 features from:

The peepcode pdf: http://peepcode.com/products/rails2-pdf

Ryan's scraps: http://ryandaigle.com/articles/2007/12/7/rails-2-0-final-released-summary-of-features

The official release post:

And when you've got a good grasp on the basics, you could check out Advanced Rails Recipes which covers rails 2.0 (but as far as I know is not a good introductory tutorial): http://pragprog.com/titles/fr_arr

That's my recommendation anyway. Good luck!

3

Thanks for the advice, but I am following the Second Edition and it seems to be pretty much incompatible with Rails 2.0.

4

I too have the second edition.

I started working with it in october. By now I am working on my own app, reading the part of the book that is not related to the depot app and doing coding in my free time. I actually never finished the depot app (not that the guide is useless or flawed or anything, it was mostly because of how I learn things).

I've started converting my app to 2.0 in baby steps. Everything new I create is RESTful, but I'm not in a hurry to refactor the "old" code. I think it is easier to "learn" 2.0 if you know 1.2, but thats my opinion.

I would advise you to go trough and create the depot app using 1.2.6. After you are done, you will be more prepared to start creating your own app using 2.0.

5

I've relented and am taking your advice. It's much easier to just go with the flow. Thanks.

6

I got the same situation, but I think wiki is helpful, like change of using scaffold.

7

I have created a screencast that is updated version of onlamp.com Rolling With Rails for Rails 2.0, check it out: http://www.rubyplus.org/episodes/17-Rolling-with-Ruby-on-Rails-Revised-Rails-2-.html

8

I have created a screencast that is updated version of onlamp.com Rolling With Rails for Rails 2.0, check it out: Join Collage

What does this 200MB! download include?

9

It is the pimped up Rails 2.0 version of this article: http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/01/20/rails.html

10

You can check out mine:

And a 2 part tutorial:

http://www.akitaonrails.com/2007/12/12/rolling-with-rails-2-0-the-first-full-tutorial-part-2

Best Regards

11

Here is the Pimped up version of AWDwR depot app:

http://www.rubyplus.org/episodes/19-AWDR-Depot-App-using-Rails-2-version.html

with lot of cool Rails 2.0 features.