Reasons, motivations, and ambitions for learning R(oR) [reposted from statecollegeruby.org]

[Andrew Shindyapin]

Since most of the members are still using google groups, I thought I'd
repost here.

I'd like to make a thread that lets each one of us members talk about
their reasons and motivations for learning Ruby (on Rails). Here are
mine:

After leaving my last startup (i-conserve.com), I have been working on
an idea for a learning website. The idea is this: a website for
learning, the Wikipedia of lessons, classes, and tutorials, with all
lessons being user-generated and -moderated.

This is the url of the demo: http://projects.shindyapin.com/wikinstitute/v1/index.html.

To give a bit more detail on how the site will work: all users,
subjects, lessons, comments, and other elements will be user-moderated
(think digg.com or reddit.com), and each user will have increasing
amounts of permissions based on one's karma, or rating. Each course
will offer clear, concise lessons consisting of text with
illustrations, questions & answers, video lectures, and interactive
"sandbox" widgets to let users try what they are learning.

To attract users willing to make the lessons, revenue will be shared
with the author for each particular course/lecture/widget created.
Also, a split-screen capability will be provided to enable users to
choose and see two formats simultaneously; e.g. the lecture and the
notes, or the notes and the sandbox, etc (still working on that last
bit).

I came up with this idea at the end of June, and started relearning
html and teaching myself css and javascript at that time. Now that I
have the interface demo somewhat completed, I want to start learning
the back-end stuff (RoR) to make it functional, even if only with
limited functionality.

Here's my problem: when I was learning the front-end technologies, I
had an idea, a mental model, as to how it will look like in the end.
Now, when faced with making the back-end, I have no idea what my
"mental model" should be. So before I dive into RoR with both feet, so
to speak, I want to learn how active websites work (such as the
statecollegeruby.org forum, for example). If I knew what I need to
learn to understand this, I could google for the tutorial; but I'm not
sure what to google for.

So I guess if anyone knows a site or tutorial that explains how active
websites, or apps, work (preferably with lots of diagrams :~) ), I
would really appreciate a link. Also, (and I hope this is not
inappropriate) if anyone likes this idea and maybe wants to be
involved, let me know.

Andrew

[Matt Swayne]

Hey Andrew and all--

Thanks for posting this here. I'm having trouble with the log-in on the SC Ruby site. I can't seem to figure out the OpenID log-in.
So, that may not bode well for my ambitions to become more tech savvy...

Anyway.

My ambitions for learning RoR are similar to yours, although I am really coming at this as an absolute beginning. Not even close to your level. I'm more of a writer, PR, marketing, idea guy. (what a skill set...)

As I mentioned in the meeting I have a couple ideas that I am interested in exploring, my problem is I really don't have any technological skills and really haven't located a tech partner to sync with. So, I am hoping either I:

a) can gradually pick up skills to initiate my own business ideas.

b) find a tech partner within the community to collaborate with.

c) die trying.

Not necessarily in that order.

Andrew--I really LIKE what you have going on there. It looks and sounds interesting.

The ideas I am persuing:

Politmus. Kind of a digg for media bias.

www.politmus.com

 

I also am toying with two ideas: a ajax start page... like netvibes or schmedley... that shares revenue with members and, another idea, a map mashup game.

I can probably use help by just figuring out what the first steps would be with something like that.

Again.
Thanks for starting this thread, Andrew.

 

Matt

[Andrew Shindyapin]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for the feedback!

I also had trouble with the OpenID login, I think maybe there's
something wrong with the way myopenid.org and statecollegeruby.org
talk to each other. I'm just using my own login for now.

Don't be discouraged about not being tech savvy; the good news is that
it's really easy to achieve that savviness. As I found out, you can do
something that at least looks real in about 40-50 hours of learning
(and doing) web app progamming :~).

Andrew

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