Once again I’m fooling with tools and documentation rather than JFDI.
I’ve borrowed Agile Web Development with Rails from the nice people at Hirethings, who host a cool little library of Rails books for people to borrow. And now I know where Creative HQ is, should I get around to attending any of the WellRailed meetups.
Anyway, it turns out this is the book I should always have bought. It seems to be a really practical step by step manual that explains reasonably fully as it goes, but in a light enough tone to keep you going.
In comparison, Ruby on Rails: Up and Running is perhaps a little too abbreviated for my use (but will suit some people because of this), and Ruby for Rails will come in handy later once I get over this initial hump of building something (anything! just JFDI!), and need to extend my knowledge of Ruby further.
I actually went ahead last night and bought the PDF from the publisher’s website. It is possible to get a 60% discount on the PDF if you own a copy of the paper book, and I admit I was tempted to commit a morally dodgy act. While I had the book in my possession, I did not own it… so after a short moment’s thought I reloaded the shopping cart at the full price. Then I added the PDF for the new TextMate: Power Editing for the Mac, which has already taught me more in an hour of reading than I’ve picked up in the last six months of using the application.
The latter I’ve printed at 4-up double sided at work (shhh – don’t tell my employers). It’s perfectly readable. I may well do the same for the Rails book. Not only do I get to save money (the PDF is well discounted), but I get to feel environmentally virtuous as well. Not that helps with getting some Working Code. And being Agile. And all that.
Of course, what will help is two weeks of holiday coming up next month, in which for much of it I’ll be holed up with the family in remotest Eastern Bay of Plenty. There’ll be time for this thing. And it’s gonna be good.
Meanwhile, if someone wants Ruby on Rails: Up and Running I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.