Agile Web Development with Rails by Dave Thomas and David Heinemeier Hansson
Tuesday January 17, 2006 / 10 CommentsAgile Web Development with Rails is one of those books I don’t think I could live without. This book has helped me along at each step as I’ve gotten more deeply involved in Rails development. Along with a copy of Programming Ruby
A Solid Foundation
It covers everything from the basics of understanding how the framework is organized, to some of the details surrounding deployment of a Rails app. It goes beyond blindly showing you how to implement something and explains why to do it. To this end, there are wonderful “David says” tidbits throughout the book that explain some of the logic behind how Rails is designed and why some decisions were made the way they were.
It clearly illustrates the basics of Rails as well as the best practices by showing you examples and covering all of the major beneifts. While you won’t be a Rails expert at the end of the book, you’ll certainly know where to start and have a good breadth of knowledge about the framework. If you’re even remotely interested in giving Rails a chance, this book should be the absolute starting point.
Summary
Agile Web Development with Rails won’t make you an expert overnight, but it will get you started on the right foot and get you up to a light jog in a relatively short period of time. The examples are simple and appropriate, and the authors do a wonderful job of covering the breadth of options at your disposal with Rails. I highly recommend this book, and plan on keeping it within reach for the near future.
Bought it and loved it! The step by step tutorial is especially good.
But dare I say you don’t need the Programming Ruby book? I think this one is enough (I’ve bought both), unless your aiming to become an expert. The Programming Ruby book is also availiable as a free pdf..
Olav Frihagen BjørkøyI’ve also used both books. The programming Ruby book is a necessity if you’re actually making something of any complexity. Plus using blocks is just damn sexy and cuts down some serious lines of code (I’ve had 2/3 less lines in a common function as compared to PHP, all because of blocks).
I find that there is a serious gap between beginner and advanced. After starting with the RoR book, you need a second step before you can stare straight at the API and figure your own way around with things. Luckily the IRC channel served that purpose for me :)
JohnOI’ve read this book, and found it very straight-forward, and even funny at times. These guys know how to write very well. I guess I’m preaching to the choir, since all the commenters thus far have already read it.
Nathan SmithYou guys are giving me way too much to read. lol I am just kidding. I am actually thinking of learning more about RoR, so thanks for the review Garrett.
YannickReading them now…I’m still using ASP (not .NET) and SQL Server and am SOOO behind the curve. So I’m getting a new Mac, learning AMP and Rails as well.
I also can recommend Why’s Poignant Guide to Ruby, available as a free download
Talk about sense of humor!
Chuck CHeezeHi, where I can download free PDF Agile Web Development with Rails ? Olav Frihagen Bjørkøy wrotten that Agile Web Development is in PDF free.
Pitrsonek from Czech Republic
PitrsonekThere isn’t a free PDF of Agile Web Development, buying it is the only option.
GarrettPitrsonek, Garrett:
http://www.rubycentral.com/book/
(It’s the first edition)
Olav Frihagen BjørkøyOlav; that’s the first edition of the Pickaxe ( Programming Ruby ). The Second (most recent) edition and Agile Web Development with Rails are not available for free.
Adam KeysI know, Adam. To clarify:
The rails book is great. But concerning the Pickaxe book, I think the pdf-version (yes, the first edition), takes you a long way, and that you don’t need to buy both the Rails book AND the newest Pickaxe.
Buy the Rails book, and learn Ruby on the net. Cheaper, aye? :)
OlavComments are closed for this entry.