Beginning Rails: From Novice to Professional

Description:

Beginning Rails is the practical starting point for anyone wanting to learn how to build dynamic web applications using the Rails framework for Ruby. You?ll learn how all of the components of Rails fit together and how you can leverage them to create sophisticated web applications with less code and more joy.

This book is particularly well suited to those with little or no experience with web application development, or who have some experience but are new to Rails. Beginning Rails assumes basic familiarity with web terms and technologies, but doesn't require you to be an expert.

Topics include:

A gentle introduction to the Ruby programming language Installing Ruby and Rails on a Mac, Linux, or Windows system The philosophy behind Rails and why it matters The Model-View-Controller architecture The basics of relational databases and SQL Setting up a MySQL database and creating a schema with migrations Experimenting with your live application in the Rails console Creating rich relationships between your models Using controllers and templates properly Leveraging helpers to keep your templates clean and logic free Adding Ajax and visual effects to enrich your user interfaces JavaScript with Prototype and script.aculo.us How to send and receive mail from your application Using and creating your own plug-ins Ensuring your code against Murphy?s Law through writing tests Using Capistrano to deploy your application

Rather than delving into the arcane details of Rails, the focus is on the aspects of the framework that will become your pick, shovel, and axe. Part history lesson, part introduction to object-oriented programming, and part dissertation on open source software, Beginning Rails doesn?t just explain how to do something in Rails, it explains why.

Every programmer fondly remembers the book that helped them get started. The goal of Beginning Rails is to become that book for you, today.



User review
Great start
I've got no programming experience and was a bit afraid of getting over my head, but this book has broken the process down nicely so far.

My only complaint is that the information is outdated. This isn't the fault of the book, it's simply a result of its being several years old now. I can't wait for the next version to come out.

User review
Don't buy this book!!!
If you are considering this book, please check out the books website (I don't know if you can insert hyperlinks but the website URL is the books title dot com) and look at the errata which is a section devoted to errors.

There are soooo many errors that they have to categorize them into three sections!!! 22 PAGES OF ERRORS.

It gets to the point where you can't find mistakes and you don't know if it is your fault, the books fault, or changes in rails itself.

BOTTOM LINE - DON`T BUY!!!

User review
This book is not enough
I was looking for a way to make websites faster, and Ruby on Rails is it. However, this book is not the best to get you off the ground. The whole second chapter is on getting set up, yet there was not enough good information there to get you set up on Windows, Mac or Ubuntu. I have all three, and tried and failed on all three. I spent a lot of time working with Google, as the book assumes too much.

The other issue I have is that the book is geared towards MySQL, which is fine, I use MySQL, but Rails now comes set up for SQLight by default and this book is command line only, with no instructions on how to set rails to create the right database files, as it is creating for SQLight. The book states you do not need to know about databases, that is incorrect the way it is set up. It would be true if set up better.

This book all-in-all is TOO command line heavy. You can set up Aptana or Netbeans to work in, and they are much easier to use. I would say that this is for the intermediate to professional. The book stated that if you have not made a website before, you will learn how. That is only true if Google becomes your new best friend. I have spent more time with it that with the book.

Lastly, get another book to learn Ruby. You WILL need to learn Ruby if you really want to make websites. This is NOT the only book you will need to get started.

If another addition comes out, it should be twice a big, with more information for new users and way more on Ruby and data bases. It should also give the reader an option (via directions) on GUI or the command line. I would recommend the author use command lines and Netbeans in future writings, as both are free and can be used for a lot more later on. Aptana would be my next choice, as it is for web languages. However, it is my second choice as the reader should no be in that mind set, as this is a different (and faster) animal.

Over all, if you are a web programmer, learn Rail, learn Ruby, but learn it with a better book.

User review
Good High-level Intro to rails -- Pooooor editing
I just finished going through the book and I agree with other reviewers that the editing of this book is horrible,,. The best way to deal with it is to ensure you review the books errata site ([,,.]) and mark the pages they show as having errors, Glitches, & typos. Doing this to begin with will save you a couple hours of problem solving.

If you're a newbie to programming i wouldn't recommend this book because:
- # of editing errors will frustrate you and possibly leave you with a negative impression of programing
- because of the breadth of topics covered they aren't able to dive into particular areas to teach core topics

I suggest the book if you want an intro to rails and you don't mind working with an older version of rails (book covers 1.2.3 and the current version is 2.x) and dealing with horrible editing.

Apress you should be embarrassed with the editing you provided for this book. Jeff, Cloves & Hampton - great job covering a very broad scope in less than 350 pages.

User review
buggy, unimpressive
I'm a couple of chapters in and am pretty disappointed. The set up guide doesn't work for Windows XP and there are several errors in code and commands. Thus far, I have spent more time googling how to do what the examples are suggesting than reading the book. Further, the author has spent a decent about of time talking about the philosophies and views of Ruby on Rails, but offer little explanation, examples, or insight. I'd recommend passing on this book.


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