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Comprehensive Ruby Programming
Comprehensive Ruby Programming

Comprehensive Ruby Programming: From beginner to confident programmer

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Comprehensive Ruby Programming

Ruby Variables

Ruby variables are the building blocks of just about every Ruby program. In this chapter, you will learn how to work with variables in Ruby to store data and use the data throughout a program. This is a pretty easy chapter and if you're already familiar with Ruby development you can skip this one. After completing this chapter you will be able to do the following:

  • Use variables to store data
  • Demonstrate how to change variable values

Using variables in Ruby

Imagine that you want to send a letter to a friend across the country. Prior to the days of email you would write the letter and place it inside an envelope. Now, the envelope is not the letter itself, instead, envelopes simply hold the letters and allow them to be carried to their destination. In the same way, variables are like envelopes. They store the following:

  • Words (also called strings)
  • Integers
  • Methods
  • Collections

The variables themselves are the storage mechanisms for data in Ruby programs. They allow developers to store information in the code and then retrieve the information later on.

Variable code implementation

Now let's dive into the code. For a basic example, I'm going to...

Printing to the Ruby console

When you're learning a new programming language, it is important to see your program's output. This guide can be used in an online REPL environment (like our variable lesson) or in the Unix Terminal by typing irb, which will open an interactive Ruby session.

Using puts

In this lesson, we are going to learn the different options available to print messages to the Ruby console. The first way is to use the puts method. Consider this example:

puts "A string" 

The preceding line will display the content, A string.

Using p

Another...

Getting input from the Ruby console using gets and chomp

Now that you know how to print values to the console, the next logical step is to know how to get input from users. In this section, we'll walk through how to use the built-in gets and chomp methods in Ruby.

In a real-world application, you'll most likely use web forms or some tool like that to get an input. However, using console tools you'll be able to mimic what a user types into a program.

Code implementation

We're going to start by asking the question, What is your name? and print that out to the console:

puts "What is your name?"  
name = gets

This code will print the first line to ask the question. In the second line, we are creating...

Variable scope and variable types

In this section, we are going to talk about the five different types of variables in Ruby, including how and when they should be used, along with how variable scope works in the Ruby programming language. For this lesson, I will be using the Sublime Text editor instead of repl.it so that you can see how Ruby works using files (which is the standard way to build scripts).

The five different Ruby variable types are as follows:

  • Local variables
  • Global variables
  • Instance variables
  • Constants
  • Class variables

Let's take a look at each of these variable types in detail.

Local variables

Local variables are variables whose scope is limited to the area where they are declared. In other words, if...

Summary

Variables are one of the most fundamental building blocks of programming and after going through this chapter, you should now have a basic understanding of how to use variables in Ruby. We saw two ways to print data out to the Ruby console to see the output. We also looked at how to get user input so that it can be utilized in a program. Additionally, we analyzed how to clean the data by leveraging the chomp method. Lastly, we understood the concept of variable scope and its use.

In the next chapter, we'll dive into the string data type, which is what we use when working with data that contains characters, words, and sentences

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Key benefits

  • • Provides the core skills required to become a Ruby programmer
  • • Covers how to use the most popular Ruby Gem libraries
  • • Includes details on regular expressions

Description

Ruby is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that can be applied to any task. Whether you are an experienced developer who wants to learn a new language or you are new to programming, this book is your comprehensive Ruby coding guide. Starting with the foundational principles, such as syntax, and scaling up to advanced topics such as big data analysis, this book will give you all of the tools you need to be a professional Ruby developer. A few of the key topics are: object-oriented programming, built-in Ruby methods, core programming skills, and an introduction to the Ruby on Rails and Sinatra web frameworks. You will also build 10 practical Ruby programs. Created by an experienced Ruby developer, this book has been written to ensure it focuses on the skills you will need to be a professional Ruby developer. After you have read this book, you will be ready to start building real-world Ruby projects.

Who is this book for?

This is a complete course written from the ground up for beginners wanting to gain a solid understanding of the Ruby language. It starts at the beginning with how to install Ruby and work with it on multiple machines, so simply have a computer that's connected to the Internet and you'll be ready.

What you will learn

  • • Learn how to use Ruby code effectively, picking the right tool for the job and not duplicating built-in functionality
  • • Gain best software development practices, and how to identify and fix common errors
  • • Absorb core programming skills, such as variables, strings, loops, conditionals, and much more
  • • Explore object-oriented programming and learn to create modular, reusable code that you can use across projects
  • • Build 10 practical Ruby programs as you work through the book on topics such as big data analysis and solving Euler equations
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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 330 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787280649
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Product Details

Publication date : Jun 30, 2017
Length: 330 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781787280649
Category :
Languages :

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Table of Contents

19 Chapters
Introduction to the Ruby Programming Language Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Variables Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Strings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with Numbers in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Methods Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Iterators and Loops Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Collections Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Conditionals Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Object-Oriented Programming in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with the Filesystem in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Error Handling in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Regular Expressions in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Searching with grep in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Gems Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Metaprogramming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Web Frameworks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with APIs in Ruby Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Ruby Algorithms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Machine Learning Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
(3 Ratings)
5 star 33.3%
4 star 0%
3 star 33.3%
2 star 0%
1 star 33.3%
Gregory V. Pastorelli Aug 06, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Great book, having come from Python, it's an excellent way to add Ruby to my skill set. Unlike some technology books it's not dry and is an easy read
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Ryan Oct 08, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
The code examples are too brief and lack explanation.. In some parts the code samples do not run at all, and what is worse is when I feel I simply mistyping something and need to reference the books code from githut, half the chapters are missing. If you can muddle your way through it, perhaps you can learn some ruby code.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jerry P. Brook Jan 07, 2020
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
I am not new to computer programming; I enjoy learning new languages (new to me that is).That said, I find it infuriating when I come across a poorly written instruction manual. And I find that the vast majority of manuals are poorly written. Just because you can do, does not mean that you can teach.The fact that this book is authored by a person who claims to be a teacher is actually disturbing.I did not make it past the first thirty (30) pages of this book before putting it down in disgust.Let me explain; the author claims that this book is for beginners and yet at every step he uses terms that would be utterly unknown and confusing to the beginner.I am not a beginner and so I am familiar with the terms, however, such a poor writing style and confusing organization of the information and concepts indicates a true lack of knowledge of the educational process, and will lead the reader to frustration not education.In the second chapter entitled “Ruby Variables” he actually begins with output.There is nothing more than a single paragraph on what exactly variables are, why and how you would use them, he won’t tell you.In his second example of printing out to the console, again not an explanation of variables, he discusses arrays. Arrays is a topic supposedly not covered until chapter seven (7) of the book. Going into detail about a topic not yet covered, and so clearly not known to the reader shows a true lack of educational ability.For some unknown reason he focuses on the “puts” versus the “p” commands, why I do not know, because at this point the beginner still doesn’t even know what variables are.He then proceeds to the function of getting input from the user, again why? You haven’t learned about any of the basics at this point. He explains the “chomp” command with a few lines discussing the removal of the carriage return. We still haven’t even discussed variables, there use, there context, and he is off discussing items that no beginner will know anything about at this stage.His next code example uses the “if” statement, which won’t be covered until chapter 8. So, there is no way that the beginner will understand, or be able to truly follow, along – and I don’t know, learn something!But wait it gets worse, he then discusses scope (finally something relating to variables), except that he hasn’t explained program structure yet. So, scope is much to early, and of course he discusses; methods – not to be learned until chapter 5, loops – not to be learned until chapter 6, collections – not to be learned until chapter 7, and classes – not to be learned until chapter 9.Clearly, he is one of those people who does a brain dump, and simply regurgitates everything that he knows, or can say, all at once. With no context, and no iterative knowledge building. He doesn’t build a house from the ground up, in steps, each piece relying on the last in order to create a sound structure, a foundation.He has no concept that these principles themselves grew up and did not all appear at once. In other words, the very people who created these programming concepts had to slowly; add, modify, and improve them. Which means that they had to learn; why, how, when, and where, to use them. They didn't just happen all at once.It is safe to say that I do not recommend this book, and I would not recommend hiring this person to teach anyone, anything. If I could have given zero stars I would have.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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