Question about 2nd edition of AWDWR

rubyonrails-talk
1

I just got the Programming Ruby 2nd edition which I have just peaked at and have done the online tutorial for Rails. Is the 2nd edition of AWDWR for beginners or more for advanced developers?

Rae

2

The AWDWR book is the defacto "bible" for rails and is not just recommended for beginners... it's practically essential.

b

Rae wrote:

3

I wasn't sure if it would be over my head at this point or if I should get some more basic rails book. Thanks

4

The second edition is sort of 3 books in one:

- an introductory tutorial - an overview of the framework - a pile of supplementary material (brief intro to ruby, details on configuration, security, deployment, resources, etc.)

-faisal

5

I don't think you could get more "basic"... about rails at least. If you aren't too solid on general programming principles, object-oriented programming theory, and particularly, web application stuff (http, html, css, javascript, etc.), then you should really learn some of that stuff first.

b

Rae wrote:

6

Faisal N Jawdat said the following on 02/10/2007 04:13 PM:

The second edition is sort of 3 books in one:

- an introductory tutorial - an overview of the framework - a pile of supplementary material (brief intro to ruby, details on
  configuration, security, deployment, resources, etc.)

How different is that from the first edition?

7

Hi, the new edition supports and covers Rails 1.2. The previous edition does not and there have been changes across the Rails framwork since the first edition. Thus, if you plan to implement and deploy Rails 1.2 apps, then it's highly recommended to get the most recent edition.

Good luck,

-Conrad

8

Subjectively, the second edition is more thorough and better organized. YMMV.

-faisal

9

I think that the author's goal was to describe Rails as clearly as possible without regard to a particular experience level. Some topics can't help but be advanced; others are fairly simple. The best thing that you could probably do is focus on Ruby. David Black has an awesome book for beginners; after that really give the Pickaxe plenty of time. Ruby, Ruby, Ruby...then Rails will be much easier.

Jim W.

10

Thanks. I'll probably end up getting both. I'm not a programmer so this one sounds like it may be a good one for me.

Rae