Resources for learning Rails 3

[BasilAwad]

I just started learning RoR yesterday. Here is what I've done and what I'm planning to do. It would be great to get some validation.

My background: I took intro to C++ in high school six years ago. I wish there was more to say here...

Anyhow, here's what I've done: -TryRuby.org (This is suppose to be a 15-minute quick run to try Ruby in my browser. It took me a bit longer.)

Here's what I'm doing: -Railsforzombies.org (A longer in-browser interactive tutorial, also free)

Here's what I'm planning to do, in no particular order: -Mess around and try to build my rejected YCSummer2011 idea. -http://www.codeschool.com/courses/rails-best-practices (done by same people at RailforZombies, costs $45)

This is my first post to Hacker News. Howdy from Texas.

[rtdp]

It's not compulsion to spend some money and do the course. When i started rails, i was without even computer sciences background. The best way to learn rails is by doing and learning with application development itself. In this regard this may help - http://ruby.railstutorial.org/ruby-on-rails-tutorial-book

Keep in mind, the best way to go with rails is learn the conventions, once you get them you will start loving rails or else thing might frustrate you.

[dimmuborgir]

What? No mention of Michael Hartl's Ruby on Rails Tutorial? It should be the de facto recommendation for everyone new to Rails.

http://ruby.railstutorial.org/ruby-on-rails-tutorial-book

[andrewce]

I'm a few chapter's into Hartl's book now. I really appreciate how it explains most things on a few different levels, i.e. both the concrete and theoretical workings of a piece of code. I don't understand much yet, but instead of frustration (I've had a few programming books whose learning curves have turned vertical), I feel excitement.

If the start of the book is any indicator, it's a great resource.

[theBaba]

I'll second this... I just used Hartl's book to jumpstart my Rails knowledge and I found it to be an excellent resource.

[kajecounterhack]

Part of the reason I recommend it to people is that it includes a very good and gentle introduction to TDD or (if you don't buy agile) unit testing in general.

[geoffw8]

Yup, possibly the best tutorial I found.

[teopeurt]

There is no shortcut to knowledge - do, fail, rinse and repeat, until you understand. Until you have installed, understood and successfully ran a rails app, tutorials are just next to useless. Apply apply and apply some more. Follow this guide and http://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html, and don't slack.. Understand every line before you move on..

[mullr]

Agile Web Development With Rails simply cannot be oversold. The first editon of this book was pivotal for me - I just didn't know things could be that way. It should be recommended as a general horizon broadening book to any programmer, web or otherwise.