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Head First Series
Head First Rails: A Learner's Companion to Ruby on Rails
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. Please note this book covers Rails 2.
By the time you're finished, you'll have learned more than just another web framework. You'll master database interactions, integration with Ajax and XML, rich content, and even dynamic graphing of your data -- all in a fraction of the time it takes to build the same apps with Java, PHP, ASP.NET, or Perl. You'll even get comfortable and familiar with Ruby, the language that underpins Rails. But you'll do it in the context of web programming, and not through boring exercises such as "Hello, World!"
Your time is way too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Rails uses a visually rich format designed to take advantage of the way your brain really works.
By the time you're finished, you'll have learned more than just another web framework. You'll master database interactions, integration with Ajax and XML, rich content, and even dynamic graphing of your data -- all in a fraction of the time it takes to build the same apps with Java, PHP, ASP.NET, or Perl. You'll even get comfortable and familiar with Ruby, the language that underpins Rails. But you'll do it in the context of web programming, and not through boring exercises such as "Hello, World!"
Your time is way too valuable to waste struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Rails uses a visually rich format designed to take advantage of the way your brain really works.
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
David Griffiths
3 books1 followerDavid Griffiths began programming at age 12, when he saw a documentary on the work of Seymour Papert. At age 15, he wrote an implementation of Papert's computer language LOGO. After studying Pure Mathematics at University, he began writing code for computers and magazine articles for humans. He's worked as an agile coach, a developer, and a garage attendant, but not in that order. He can write code in over 10 languages and prose in just one, and when not writing, coding, or coaching, he spends much of his spare time travelling with his lovely wife and co-author Dawn.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 2, 2017
Outdated
August 28, 2009
After reading, I think, every ruby on rails book that currently exists, I think that this one is definitively the best one. This book succeeds in that it takes the "magic behind the scenes rules" that exist in ruby on rails and actually ... tells you what the rules are!
This is as opposed to most rails books that basically give you a list of API functions. In stable programming languages, this latter approach is fine, but not in rails, which changes so fast that virtually the moment a book is released, a portion of the code inside of it no longer works.
This is as opposed to most rails books that basically give you a list of API functions. In stable programming languages, this latter approach is fine, but not in rails, which changes so fast that virtually the moment a book is released, a portion of the code inside of it no longer works.
November 18, 2009
I was initially a bit skeptical about the Head First approach, due to the amount of space taken up with pictures, diagrams, imaginary dialogues between personified concepts and that sort of thing. However, I've found the book both educational and amusing. While it's not getting me through anywhere near as much material as other books like the iconic "camel book" of Perl, I find that I can remember and use what I have learned.
I'm now a fan of the Head First series.
I'm now a fan of the Head First series.
July 12, 2010
Great book. The Head First series really has this teaching thing figured out.
This book teaches far more than just Rails - I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking knowledge about the View Model Controller architecture, Ajax principles, and REST. I wouldn't have been upset if they explained more about Ruby though.
This book teaches far more than just Rails - I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking knowledge about the View Model Controller architecture, Ajax principles, and REST. I wouldn't have been upset if they explained more about Ruby though.
April 10, 2016
The basics of rails. If you are looking for a complete reference i advise Agile Web Development with Rails
"Head First" books have a particular way to explain information using a lot of draws, schemas etc.... enjoyable to read.
"Head First" books have a particular way to explain information using a lot of draws, schemas etc.... enjoyable to read.
July 21, 2010
Haven't finished book.
February 20, 2011
Good introduction to Rails. As usual the Head First way is quite different from your average technical book which makes it quite a pleasant read. Didn't go as much in depth as I hoped it would.
July 13, 2013
This book helped improve my Rails vocabulary and taught me some important things I had missed when learning the basics. It is very out of date but still worth the read.
August 10, 2009
Holy shit this line of books is good.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews