Is rails something I should get into?

I am not a programmer to the level I am reading about here but I do construct the odd CSS based front end and the graphic design of sites. I would do the design, slice up the graphics, plan the front end template (HTML/CSS/JS) and build it without a WYSIWYG. So I saw what was possible with scriptaculous and moved onto what rails actually means and thus read more on the Rails wiki. Then there was talk of command lines and databases and realised that this is the point where I leave the picture. So my question is, as basically someone who builds the front ends and leaves the databases etc to someone else, is there anythigng I could get from rails or is this just something that my backend coder will one day say their going from php to ruby?

daniel wrote:

So I saw what was possible with scriptaculous and moved onto what rails actually means and thus read more on the Rails wiki. Then there was talk of command lines and databases and realised that this is the point where I leave the picture. So my question is, as basically someone who builds the front ends and leaves the databases etc to someone else, is there anythigng I could get from rails

It's always worth loarning new things - for fun, mental health, personal satisafction, and the option to move into different work areas as markets shift.

The fact that you're here means you're probably on top of your game as far as CSS and design goes, so you'll have room for something else. I'd say it's a good idea, if only because it will mean you'll be able to integrate your styles with Ruby projects much more easily in future.

I think web-based designers should know a bit about coding, and web-based coders should know a bit about design. It makes it easier to work... Designes can be put together with code in mind, and code can be made sensitive to design needs.

or is this just something that my backend coder will one day say their going from php to ruby?

Depends if your coder is of the 'tried, tested and works' mentality or the 'WOW! New thing! Must play!' mentality. I'm of the latter... ;^) (I wonder when I'll get bored of Ruby and Rails? It's taking longer than normal, I must say...)

There's nothing to be scared of. Get a PDF of this...

http://www.pragmaticprogrammer.com/title/rails/

...which takes you by the hands through from a virgin PC to having a shop application with cart and admin. If it's not for you, you haven't killed any trees finding out.

Ben

daniel wrote:

I am not a programmer to the level I am reading about here but I do construct the odd CSS based front end and the graphic design of sites. I would do the design, slice up the graphics, plan the front end template (HTML/CSS/JS) and build it without a WYSIWYG. So I saw what was possible with scriptaculous and moved onto what rails actually means and thus read more on the Rails wiki. Then there was

Hi,

I'm moving in from the opposite direction. I have lots of programming experience (though not Rails, so far) but almost no "non-programming" design experience.

Perhaps we can help each other get started. I'll help you get to know programming basics and object orientation principles and you teach me something about design, user interfaces and so on. I'm especially interested in all the subtle stuff that make the difference in the "Web 2.0" style guidelines.

I also have a live server available for experiments which we can use.

Interested? :slight_smile:

Jens

Using a plugin like MasterView with Rails allows one to use a designer to do the layout and styling while leaving the code to developers. This way each can focus on what they do best. And the designer can even update the xhtml friendly templates late in the project cycle rather than only at the beginning.

So that opens up many opions for pure non-developer web designers.

Of course if you would like to learn rails, do so, it is a fun way to develop web applications.

If I can answer any questions about MasterView I would be happy to.

Blessings,

Jeff Barczewski Founder of MasterView project http://masterview.org/ http://rubyforge.org/projects/masterview/

Daniel:

Even if you never master it, learning the database and web app backends behind your designs will help you immensly.

The first step is learning Ruby <http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/&gt;\. What other programming languages have you used before?

    * Learn to Program <http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/&gt;     * Ruby in Twenty Minutes <http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/quickstart/&gt;

Rails is a pretty big beast, so once you get the hang of Ruby, might I recommend a web framework called Camping <http://code.whytheluckystiff.net/camping/&gt;\. With Camping, you can create web applications in one file. Like Rails, it uses ActiveRecord to connect to the database, so many of the things you learn how to do in Camping will be applicable to Rails.

Thanks heaps for the responses (and offer) and I think I will have to delve into this a bit (my first aim is to look at the resources and links provided) and see where I go. Learning Ruby isn't really where I wanted to direct myself - I am taking myself down the front-end (IA/UX) pathway of webdesign but with the quality of knowing (X)HTML/CSS/JS enough to build a front end quite well. As I mentioned, i got to ruby via scriptaculous and that appealed to me because it was just .js's that I loaded to the server and then, just like CSS, referenced it in the HTML [1] - which fits exactly to my need to create engaging front end experiences. I will be looking into rails just to see if it can help that front end user experience but not really to be able to say to a client "I now build apps" - I don't think that's fair to all the great, dedicated programmers out there :slight_smile: Thanks again to all the replies and I will probably take you up Jens just so I can work out where I would like to put Rails in my bag of knowledge.

[1] damn I hate how there is nothing like the CSS reference table for finding out how to use all the scriptaculous features and when what syntax is to be used in what circumstance - I'm not able to 'read' complicated .js files too well.

I am a front end designer that has started learning Ruby to expand current skill set and also be able to do create some of the functions I need for my sites.

I have actually started a few learning courses, first starting with the Ruby language itself, which I actually did through this book: Sams Teach Yourself Ruby in 21 Days Mark Slagell Sams, 2002, 560 pages ISBN:0-672-32252-8 (via PDF)

Now I only made it to Day 15, but it gave me the foundation to start putting the pieces together. From there I went to:

Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby http://poignantguide.net/ruby/index.html

Which is a little goofy in approach but it again is helping to solitify the language pieces.

Then I picked up "Agile Web Development with Rails" from my local library, and WAH-LAH it is actually making sense to me.

I am just following along as suggested in the book, and I have found it to be easy to grasp and it is actually all starting to make sense. Hey, I can almost understand some of the post here in this forum LOL.

Anyways, those are just a few of my suggestions.

Jessica