Joshua Collins wrote:
> What about 'Programming Ruby 1.9: The Pragmatic Programmers' Guide' ?
>
> I know they have a 1.8 version of the book as well, but does the 1.9 version
> of the book go over 1.8 and 1.9 both?
>
> I also saw a book promoted here on the list called, 'The Well-Grounded
> Rubyist'. It mainly covers 1.9 as well.
>
> Have any of you read these two as well?
>
> I will take a look at that O'Reilly's book ... I have not seen that one yet.
>
> On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 1:13 PM, Michael J. I. Jackson <mjijackson / gmail.com
>   
>> wrote:
>>     
>
>   
>> If you're looking for a good book that covers both 1.8 and 1.9, I
>> highly recommend O'Reilly's "The Ruby Programming Language". It's the
>> most comprehensive and concise reference that I've found, and it
>> bridges the gap between 1.8 and 1.9 nicely, explaining the differences
>> between the two as you go.
>>
>> Michael
>>
>> On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 9:51 AM, Joshua Collins <kidguko / gmail.com> wrote:
>>     
>>> I was wondering the exact same thing!
>>>
>>> Before I knew 1.9 was coming out I got a 1.8 book, and I have gone
>>>       
>> through
>>     
>>> it. However, I am wondering if I should get a 1.9 book now and learn it.
>>>
>>> I have not started any major projects using Ruby just yet, and am curious
>>>       
>> if
>>     
>>> I should practice with 1.8 some before I learn 1.9 or just jump into 1.9
>>>       
>> and
>>     
>>> start using it for projects?
>>>
>>> My only concern is the lack of Gem support 1.9 might have right now. Is
>>>       
>> it
>>     
>>> something a new comer should worry with? Or, should I just forget the
>>>       
>> lack
>>     
>>> of Gem support and know that Gem's will eventually update to 1.9 and new
>>> Gems will be made for 1.9.
>>>
>>> Anyhow, I know that I will want to learn 1.9 at some point. I just do not
>>> want to jump in and be a bad position to progress in my learning because
>>>       
>> of
>>     
>>> 1.9 set backs because it is so new.
>>>
>>> On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 11:45 AM, Hooopo <hoooopo / gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> I think ,as a beginnner, to learn Ruby 1.8 is a good way,there are so
>>>> many lib .
>>>> and also, if he has learned 1.8 ,then to learn Ruby 1.9 will be easy
>>>> for him.
>>>>
>>>> ps: sorry for my poor English.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         
>>     
>
>   
Another perspective on this: I'm developing a major personal project 
(into my 4th month on it), and have been unable to use 1.9 due to key 
gems still not working in 1.9. However, due to moderate level of Ruby 
knowledge, I must rather often consult a reference. The one I have is 
Thomas' 3rd edition of "Programming Ruby". It focuses on 1.9, but seems 
to distinctly point out where 1.9 is different from 1.8.x.

What I want to emphasize is two things:

1. depending upon the gems you need, 1.9 may or may not be usable by 
you. For me, it's not yet.
2. my principal reference, nevertheless, is a book devoted to 1.9. I 
have yet to get in trouble using this book. Most of the time I don't 
worry at all about version differences, and my code just works (well, 
usually...er...eventually).

So, get a good, up-to-date reference book, and there are several I'd 
personally be happy with, and just start coding. As has been said before 
on this list, many times, the differences between 1.8 and 1.9 are 
meaningful but not earthshaking, at least not to me.

t.

-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom Cloyd, MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist
Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226
<< tc / tomcloyd.com >> (email)
<< TomCloyd.com >> (website) 
<< sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog)
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