ako... wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> one thing that might be difficult to learn with no programming
> experience is Ruby's meta programming. in this respect Java is easier.

On the contrary, if you start with a dynamic language such as Ruby, 
metaprogramming is much easier to pick up.  Java encourages the idea 
that message == method, whereas Ruby teaches you that the message a 
client sends to an object need not map to any actual object method, and 
how the object handles the message request is none of the client's business.

Metaprogaming *is* programming.  You just learn it as you would anything 
else in Ruby, and it should be a natural part of any program (albeit 
where appropriate). It only gets harder if you start off with 
misconceptions fostered by other languages.

> one of the languages that they use in academia to teach programming is
> lisp. you might want to take a look at that too. but just to learn
> because doing something real in lisp is painful. 

Is this true for people who learn Lisp as their first language?

James
-- 

http://www.ruby-doc.org       - Ruby Help & Documentation
http://www.artima.com/rubycs/ - Ruby Code & Style: Writers wanted
http://www.rubystuff.com      - The Ruby Store for Ruby Stuff
http://www.jamesbritt.com     - Playing with Better Toys
http://www.30secondrule.com   - Building Better Tools