A Little Ruby
I got a nice note today complimenting me on my never-finished A Little Ruby, a Lot of Objects. I get those every once in a while. It’s a Ruby book modeled after The Little Lisper.
I’ve been considering what to do with this, my second midlife crisis. (The first was at 28.) Having bought the Porsche, gotten fit, and gotten divorced in the first one, the customary responses are out. Been there, done that. So, instead, I’ve been thinking that finishing A Little Ruby might be a good use of pent-up frustration and legacy idealism.
Besides being fodder for language geeks, it would also have a practical purpose: I think of it as becoming the best book for those wanting a gentle introduction to extreme metaclass hackery.
Also: having just gotten a royalty check for Everyday Scripting, the idea of publishing the results appeals.
Would you buy such a book? Do you think other people would?
October 8th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I think this is a great idea.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I had forgotten all about that (and I had forgotten it was you who wrote it). I remember the parts you had written were helpful to me at the time because I had no clue about OO programming. I hope you will finish it.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
> Would you buy such a book? Do you think other people would?
yes and yes
October 25th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
+1
October 26th, 2007 at 5:57 am
Yes.
October 26th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Yes please. The Socratic method of learning is powerful, but hard on the teacher. The questions must be practiced and “tuned” just right. I wish you luck and godspeed, the little lisper set a very high bar.
October 26th, 2007 at 6:50 am
I’ll buy it. I’ll even pre-order it !
October 26th, 2007 at 6:57 am
+1
I believe, as lisa points out above, the book would be great for those coming to Ruby (or programming) with limited OO experience. Or even those with OO experience coming to Ruby without an appreciation for what Ruby’s open class and message passing approach can do.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Yes, I would definitely buy. Your pdf was one of the best things I read to get really understand the ruby object model.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:37 am
+1
Think of the children — they will need this!
October 26th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Yes and yes. I’d love it for myself and to pass on to others. (Or, rather, to encourage them to buy it, of course.)
October 26th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I love The Little Schemer beyond words. If I were more adept at Ruby, I’d help you with this project in a millisecond. Would other people want it? Ruby is the chic thing, and this book would be the tres chic :) We’ll all hype up the hype and buzz the buzz, promise! Right everyone?
October 26th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I’d buy it in a heartbeat
October 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I just read the three chapters available (thanks Dave). I would definitely buy it.
October 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am
[…] 5. “A little Ruby” is a nice book for experienced Ruby developers who are looking to learn metaprogramming with Ruby. The sad part is, its not complete. Now, with growing interest in Ruby, the author wonders whether he should revive the project and complete the book. Vote for completion here […]
October 27th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Please, oh please continue working on it!
October 27th, 2007 at 6:33 am
+1
It was first ruby book and I loved it.
Ate a lot of parsley Ice-cream after reading it ;)
October 29th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Yes!! I’ll take two, if that helps!
October 30th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Can’t wait till its published. Do it!
October 31st, 2007 at 6:10 am
Count me in for a copy. There’s definitely a need for more black-belt material.
November 1st, 2007 at 11:02 am
Yes, I’d buy it. I’ve been reading what you’ve done so far, and love the approach.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:12 am
Please go for it! We need more good books and more beautiful books. This would be both.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I loved the 3 chapters that you originally published and have been checking ever since reading them about news on a full book. Please write a complete book - I’d definitely buy a copy.
November 4th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Please do it!
November 8th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Please do finish the book! I’ll happily buy (and buzz) when you do.
November 12th, 2007 at 3:34 am
I’ve been buzzing the first 3 chapters since I came across them a couple of months back. I’d love to buy a complete book!
November 12th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I’ve been buzzing the first three chapters among my programming buddies. I’d definitely buy the complete book!
November 14th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
In a heartbeat.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Yes, I’d buy it as well.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Go for it.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
A BIG Yes.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Go for it! I will buy a copy.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Hells yeah I would buy it.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I would most certainly buy it!
August 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Absolutely yes!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Yes, please.
March 26th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Oh please do. Working with another person on the “little books” makes doing them a lot more fun.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Would it be a beta book? A(nother) introduction to meta programming is something I would buy very likely.