poignantguide.net — Whether you code in Ruby or not, you have to check out this book. It was written by _Why (identity unknown), and is unusual among programming books in that it includes quite a lot of strange humor and narrative side tracks that don't necessarily have anything to do with the topic.
May 26, 2007 View in Crawl 4
kamaelMay 27, 2007
He's my new hero.
asdfasdfMay 28, 2007Submitter
From the link you posted: "... Although his identity remains unknown ..."
shookitMay 28, 2007
This thing really creeped me out! In a Ren & Stimpy kinda way. But about ruby!
gfixlerMay 28, 2007
I'm reminded of "There Are No Electrons" - a good beginner book on electronics that simplifies it all, and manages to be absurd about concepts and theories of electronics, and electricity - though in a simpler, older-fashioned style of absurdity. Also, years ago I read "Assembly Language, Step-By-Step," for no particular reason, which while not attempting to be funny, spent 75% or more of its time explaining how a computer works at all the fundamental levels (electrons/diodes on up), such that by the time it did get to assembly language, everything about what went on under the hood made so much sense, the actual Assembly commands, and how they accomplished higher-level tasks seemed very obvious, and easily memorable. It does a good job of conversationally bridging the great divide between beginner and core-level programmer.<a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Electrons-Electronics-Earthlings/dp/0962781592">http://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Electrons-Electronics-Earthlings/dp/0962781592</a><a class="user" href="http://www.duntemann.com/assembly.htm">http://www.duntemann.com/assembly.htm</a>
thewumpMay 28, 2007
I've read it. While it's an interesting read, I think you'd have to smoke dope to acutally get into the same mind frame as the author and learn from it.
peburrowsMay 28, 2007
but i have to admit i love _why_ and this book is amazing
wheatixMay 28, 2007
@asdfasdfYes, Ruby is something like Perl. Ruby has borrowed a lot of elements from Perl:"I believe Ruby is an appropriate name for the next language after Perl." - Matz, Ruby creator.<a class="user" href="http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/29/ruby.html">http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/29/ruby.html</a>
javabetaMay 28, 2007
Well,the Head first series is the best ive seen
badkenMay 28, 2007
I guess I don't get it. It did nothing for me.Crossed the fine line between "wacky creativity" and "dumb rambling nonsense."
jasoncrussellMay 28, 2007
This is too good a book. I want it in print.
mistahrothMay 28, 2007
I may learn Ruby accidently because this book is so entertaining lol. Genius.
rhondapiperMay 29, 2007
Agreed. This book amused me for about a day before I wanted to throw it out the window. It's too unorganized and annoying to teach someone new to the language or to help someone who knows the language to write better code.