Ruby is a language designed in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. It was designed with the needs of coders – not computers – in mind, and aims to be a joy to work with.
Ruby has gained recent popularity through a web application framework called Ruby on Rails. Learning Ruby on Rails is a good choice because it enables you to build powerful and well-designed web applications with cutting-edge technologies.
Plus, the Ruby language is fun to work with and being able to write it opens up many more possibilities beyond just web coding. It’s a great modern language to train yourself in.
Here are 8 of Code Conquest’s top Ruby training recommendations. There’s something from every category – free and premium, online and offline, basic and extensive, hands-on and theoretical. Guaranteed, one is the perfect training for you.
We also offer a free ruby tutorial of our own, so check it out.
Jump to recommendation:
- Treehouse – Rails Development
- Code School – Ruby Path
- Codecademy – Ruby Track
- Book – Agile Web Development with Rails 4
- Book – Eloquent Ruby
- Book – Ruby on Rails Tutorial
- Book – Learn Ruby the Hard Way
- Book – The Ruby Programming Language
Treehouse – Rails Development
The Rails Development Track, from Treehouse, provides you with all the essential training you need to be a Rails developer. In fact, it explores much more than just Rails. It starts off by giving you a solid grounding in HTML, CSS and JavaScript – and also gives you a chance to closely examine the Ruby language itself.
The great thing about Rails Development is that it provides all the preliminary training you need in HTML, CSS and JavaScript – which are all very relevant in Rails. On the other hand, you can choose to skip these parts if you only want to learn Ruby.
Click here and try Treehouse for free...
Click here for our in-depth Treehouse review
Code School – Ruby Path
The Ruby Path, from Code School, starts with the free and interactive Try Ruby course by Why The Lucky Stiff. After this introduction to Ruby, the Path splits into two choices:
- Continue to study the Ruby language, or
- Learn how to create web apps with Rails.
If you choose option 1, you’ll study the core of the Ruby language in the two-part course Ruby Bits. This is for you if you want to gain a firm grasp of fundamental Ruby concepts like classes, modules and Domain Specific Languages.
If you choose option 2, you’ll take the Rails courses. These cover concepts like security, test-driven development and best practices, and are for you if you want to learn to make real web apps. Of course, you can also choose both option 1 and 2!
Click here for our in-depth Code School review
Codecademy – Ruby Track
The Ruby Track, from Codecademy, is a free and gentle-paced introduction to the fundamentals of the Ruby language.
This track comprises 10 stages, covering concepts like control flow, refactoring and object-oriented programming. Each stage finishes with a very simple project that you can complete in a single sitting – which is perfect if you’re pressed for time.
Click here to start for free…
Check out our full Codecademy Review
Book – Agile Web Development with Rails 4
By Sam Ruby, Dave Thomas and David Heinemeier Hansson
This award-winning paperback book, updated for Rails 4, gives you a tour of the Ruby on Rails framework and all its useful features. It’s recommended by the Rails team and was co-written by the creator of Rails, David Heinemeier Hansson.
Agile Web Development with Rails 4 is the book for you if you’d like an up-to-date, accurate tour of Rails that’s endorsed by the team behind it.
Click here to get it from Amazon.com...Book – Eloquent Ruby
By Russ Olsen
Most Ruby books teach you how to write Ruby code that works. Eloquent Ruby goes one step further and teaches you to truly understand the language and adopt the Ruby way of thinking.
This is a more advanced Ruby book that’s for you if you’re comfortable working with Ruby and you’re ready to fine-tune your skills. It’s available in paperback and Kindle editions.
Click here to get it from Amazon.com...Book – Ruby on Rails Tutorial
By Michael Hartl
Ruby On Rails Tutorial is a complete guide to building your first Rails application from scratch, and it’s one of the most well-known and well-liked resources for learning the ins and outs of this framework.
This book is for you if you have a basic knowledge of front-end web development and it’s Rails you want to learn next. It’s available in paperback and Kindle editions.
Click here to get it from Amazon.com...Book – Learn Ruby the Hard Way
By Zed Shaw
Learn Ruby The Hard Way is the training for you if you like to take the hard and fast approach. The package includes a paperback book of coding exercises, and even a CD with 5+ hours of video training.
Zed Shaw promises that anyone can successfully learn Ruby through this book and CD, no matter how little coding experience you have. It may be a bit less leisurely than other training, but the benefit is you’ll master Ruby faster.
Click here to get it from Amazon.com...Book – The Ruby Programming Language
By David Flanagan and Yukihiro Matsumoto
The Ruby Programming Language, part of the O’Reilly series, is the definitive guide to Ruby 1.8 and 1.9. It’s co-written by the creator of Ruby, Yukihiro Matsumoto, and the author of multiple other coding language ‘bibles’, David Flanagan.
This reference book includes illustrations by Ruby legend Why The Lucky Stiff, and is available in paperback and Kindle editions. It’s good if you’re already learning Ruby and you want to take your understanding to the next level.
Click here to get it from Amazon.com...Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
