Ruby on Rails Tutorial: Learn Web Development with Rails

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Learn web development with Rails by building a complete sample app

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Open Source

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About Ruby on Rails Tutorial: Learn Web Development with Rails

The Ruby on Rails Tutorial by Michael Hartl is a comprehensive, project-based guide for learning web development with Ruby on Rails. The book walks readers through building a complete sample application (a Twitter-like social network) while covering essential technologies and modern Rails features. Topics include Twitter Bootstrap for design, the asset pipeline (Sprockets and Sass), behavior-driven development (BDD) with Capybara and RSpec, automated testing using Guard and Spork, custom authentication with has_secure_password, and an introduction to Gherkin and Cucumber. Integrated tutorials also cover Ruby, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL skills. The second edition updates content with new techniques and tools used in professional Rails development.

Key Features

Build a complete sample application (Twitter clone)

Covers modern Rails features: asset pipeline, Sprockets, Sass

Behavior-driven development with Capybara and RSpec

Automated testing with Guard and Spork

Roll your own authentication with has_secure_password

Introduction to Gherkin and Cucumber

Integrated tutorials for Ruby, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL

Uses Twitter Bootstrap for design

Step-by-step bite-sized code examples

Pros & Cons

Pros

Learn-by-doing approach with a real project
Covers both Rails and essential web technologies in one place
Uses professional development tools (Git, Heroku, RSpec, Cucumber)
Detailed explanations of why each technique is used
Exercises reinforce learning
Highly rated by readers for clarity and completeness

Cons

May assume no prior web development knowledge, which can be slow for experienced developers
The sample app (Twitter clone) may not cover all real-world scenarios
Content can become outdated as Rails and dependencies evolve (e.g., older version covered in second edition)
Some readers find the book lengthy (600 pages)

Best For

Learning Ruby on Rails web development from scratchBuilding a realistic, full-stack web applicationMastering Rails testing and behavior-driven developmentUnderstanding modern Rails features like asset pipeline and authenticationGaining practical web development skills including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL

FAQ

What does the Ruby on Rails Tutorial cover?

The book covers building a complete sample application using Ruby on Rails, including Twitter Bootstrap, asset pipeline, behavior-driven development, automated testing, authentication, and integrated tutorials for Ruby, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL.

Who is the author of the Ruby on Rails Tutorial?

The author is Michael Hartl, a best-selling author and leading Rails developer.

Is this book suitable for beginners?

Yes, the book is designed to guide readers with no prior web development experience through all aspects of building a Rails application, though some advanced topics are covered quickly.