Best book for getting up-to-speed on Ruby on Rails

Question

I am planning to travel this weekend (long 23 hour flight) so my mission is that by the time I get off that plane I want to be able to start developing on ROR.

I am very well versed in PHP/.NET/Java so I don't think picking up Ruby would be that hard. However, I would like to get some input from those who made the transit from PHP/Java world to ROR.

So please recommend me a book that can help me achieve this goal.

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Related questions:

• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/83784/rails-books
• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/55574/learning-ruby-on-rails
• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/149060/what-are-your-favorite-ruby-on-rails-books-and-why
• http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1386469/best-ruby-and-ruby-on-rails-books
• And a few others

Answer 1

Can't go wrong with Agile Web Development with Rails

Once you do a little reading to learn the basics you also can't but love Ryan Bates' RailsCasts site. Let your podcast downloader of choice do the walking so you can have them for the flight.

See these questions as well:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/55574/learning-ruby-on-rails
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1574588/book-about-rails-recommendation

Answer 2

I couldn't live without these two books:

Agile web development with rails: http://www.pragprog.com/titles/rails3/agile-web-development-with-rails-third-edition

The Rails Way http://www.amazon.com/Rails-Way-Obie-Fernandez/dp/0321445619

I would start with the first one as a beginner to Rails as it takes you straight into building a solid application from the ground up.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I'd advise before you leave to take a copy of the current API (2.3.4) with you, you'll need it and it will probably (in the later few hours) be of more help than any book.

For a ruby book I would recommend The Ruby Way by Hal Fulton over the Pickaxe simply because I think the Pickaxe doesn't go into as much detail and is nowhere near as fun as The Ruby Way.

Paired with a good Rails book (The Rails Way over AWDWROR), you should be set to do simple stuff with Rails when you get off your plane.

Answer 4

Agile Web Development With Rails - It's the best book I have come across for Rails. It answers all of my questions I come across with rails development.