Get on the train while you still can
NOTE: This is my entry for Obie Fernandez awesome contest (http://blog.obiefernandez.com/content/2011/01/the-rails-up-and-comers-contest.html?utm_source=rubyinside&utm_medium=twitter#idc-cover)
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If you have an academic background in software engineering, Rails will take you out of your comfort zone. It takes a whole different approach than the one you learnt in your programming class. It’s based on ruby, who puts down the conventions and best practices you’re used to.
Heck! If you want to learn about Rails, you need to learn a new programming language, a new set of practices and, cherry on top, a new framework. So why bother? Here’s my story.
My name is Michael, and I’ve had this classical engineering studies. I am currently finishing my degree. The first time I tried ruby was about 5 month ago, and in my case, it was incredibly frustrating. The reason? The language simply wouldn’t fit my brain.
I believe the shift in technology was too big. Anyway, It was too different, I just dropped. Yet, the language never ceased to fascinate me. Why? Exactly, Why. Why The Lucky Stiff. His comics-strips programming book is a strong metaphor of ruby: at first, you hate it. You don’t write a programming book using comics! Still, I found myself reading it days and nights. That’s when I understand that ruby isn’t just about technics. It’s also about fun. That’s when I started to understand ruby.
Rails uses ruby philosophy, and what a joy when you see the beautiful constructs of the language. Both are made to be friend with the developer.
You start talking about it to your colleagues (or in my case, that’s what I did) at the university who really don’t get it. They see you as a sort of programming-hipster, yet you’re a happy hipster because now, everything seems so much easier for you, and more fun. You really start to love what you’re doing. You’re so happy you tell your grandma about Rails, and start teaching your girlfriend ruby!
So what’s the moral of this? Don’t judge a book by its cover. Try something new, embrace the difference. Be rock & roll! You won’t regret it.
Speaking of programming hipster… :-)
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