Beginning Ruby: From Novice to Professional, 3rd Edition

Learn the principles behind object-oriented programming and within a few chapters create a fully functional Ruby application. You’ll also gain a basic understanding of many ancillary technologies such as databases, XML, web frameworks, and networking – some of which are needed as part of a fully functioning Ruby application.

Based on the bestselling first and second editions, Beginning Ruby, Third Edition is a leading guide to learn Ruby from the ground up. The new edition of this book provides the same excellent introduction to Ruby as the previous editions plus updates for the newest version of Ruby 2.3. This book can also be used as a textbook or companion to a textbook on beginning Ruby programming.

The light and agile Ruby programming language remains a very popular open source scripting option for developers building today’s web and even some enterprise applications. And, now, Ruby also has applications using the Raspberry Pi, popular among hobbyists and makers. Many former Java developers still use Ruby on Rails today, the most popular framework for building Ruby applications.

What You’ll Learn

• What are the fundamentals of Ruby and its object-oriented building blocks
• How to work with Ruby libraries, gems, and documentation
• How to work with files and databases
• How to write and deploy Ruby applications
• What are the various Ruby web frameworks and how to use them
• How to do network programming with Ruby and more

Who This Book Is For

This book is for beginning programmers, programmers new to Ruby, and web developers interested in learning and knowing the foundations of the Ruby programming language.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Foundations and Scaffolding
Chapter 1: Let’s Get It Started: Installing Ruby
Chapter 2: Programming == Joy: A Whistle-Stop Tour of Ruby and Object Orientation
Chapter 3: Ruby’s Building Blocks: Data, Expressions, and Flow Control
Chapter 4: Developing Your First Ruby Application
Chapter 5: The Ruby Ecosystem

Part 2: The Core of Ruby
Chapter 6: Classes, Objects, and Modules
Chapter 7: Projects and Libraries
Chapter 8: Documentation, Error Handling, Debugging, and Testing
Chapter 9: Files and Databases
Chapter 10: Distributing Ruby Code and Libraries
Chapter 11: Advanced Ruby Features
Chapter 12: Tying It Together: Developing a Larger Ruby Application

Part 3: Ruby Online
Chapter 13: Two Web Application Approaches: Rails and Sinatra
Chapter 14: Ruby and the Internet
Chapter 15: Networking and Sockets
Chapter 16: Useful Ruby Libraries

Appendix A: Ruby Primer and Review for Developers
Appendix B: Useful Resources