Table of Contents
Head First Rails
-
- Release: December, 2008
- Pages: 462
- ISBN 10: 0-596-51577-4 | ISBN 13: 9780596515775
- Ready to transport your web applications into the Web 2.0 era? Head First Rails takes your programming – and productivity – to the max. You'll learn everything from the fundamentals of Rails scaffolding to building customized interactive web apps using Rails' rich set of tools and the MVC framework. Head First Rails uses a visually rich format designed to take advantage of the way your brain really works.
by Will
- Summary: Very Good
- * * * _ _
- This is an excellent tutorial and workbook for someone ready to try-out Rails and wanting to learn how to make web sites for web2. This is a “let's DO it” style that moves along at a good place.
- The target reader will have some web experience and may be a little bit of programming. Most of the book is by example so you should be able to type in the examples and make them work.
- “Head First Rails” follows the Head Frist style of get down to using Rails to address a real world problem or example. The book walks through a few good solid example web applications that could be used to gain experience with Rails and give you ideas how you might put your first web site together.
- Evaluation / Opinion
- Didn't like …
- “Head First Rails” is a fast-paced book, so there's not a lot of explainating of the reasons behind the 'why' sometimes. That's OK, I'd like to see pointers to other resources where I can find out more at the end of the chapter or as footnotes. A couple of times I needed to go to Google and do some hunting. It is possible that this is intetional.
- There's good material in the preface area before the main book begins. I'm not sure if many poeple look in there. I think the first chapter might be a good place say (“read page (vii) or whatever”).
- A pointer to some tools would be good, things like Eclipse or Netbeans that will help people get going faster.
- Any errors and corrections
- The next version of Rails will merge Rails and Merb frameworks.
- Like …
- The fast pace of the book lets you see what you are doing fairly quickly
- The 'extra work' sections challenging you to expand upon the examples and exercises.
- Really greate simple explainations for things like AJAX, RESTful, XML without getting bogged down. At the same time, there could be more detail on some things. It is a good balance over all.
- What is interesting.
- There are quirky layout and clever devices to keep your attention focused. If you like that it is cool if not it migh tbe distracting(??).
- The example applications showed imagination. I am totally over-it with web and computer programming books showing me how to do yet another CD catalogue or address book.
- Summary of review & conclusion/recommendation
- I'd recommend this for anyone needing a quick hands-on introduction to Rails. If you want to learn Ruby, get this book second for interest, or if you decide you want to be on the web. It is not really a book for people not interested in coding for the web.
- A modest level of programming experience or exposure (like having read some programs even) is recommended. If you know what web pages do and have looked at HTML, you will get the basics and “Head First Rails” will probably get the beginner ther along with a HTML and the Web and a Ruby book and a book on just programming.
- Want to make a web site or three at home over a weekend or two? This is a book that will entertain you and give you lots of things to learn.
(12-Jul-2009) O'Reilly Book Reviews
by [Reviewer = your name]
- Overall impression /summary
- Rating
- Audience or experience level suitable for
- Outline of book and content
- Evaluation / Opinion
- What you didn't like and why
- Any errors and corrections
- What you like and why
- What is interesting.
- Other comments
- Summary of review & conclusion/recommendation
(the date reviewed)
