Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before buying or not.
Regards, Morton
Keep in mind it did *just* come out (I got mine in the mail yesterday) and it's over 900 pages. You'll probably need to wait a bit for full reviews.
Just glancing through it though I'm pretty jazzed up about reading it. There is a metric ton of content in there and it looks to cover just about everything to some degree. I could see it being a very helpful tool for most people, since your area of interest likely receives at least some coverage.
Also, the lost dinosaur example had me laughing out loud! 
Fair warning: I wrote six of the recipes in that book, so my opinions are probably biased. I also have done very little real reading yet. Buyer beware.
James Edward Gray II
···
On Aug 2, 2006, at 6:08 AM, Morton Goldberg wrote:
Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before buying or not.
I love it. It's very useful, helpful, accessible, and well organized.
It's one of the 4 books I've got open when I'm doing Ruby/Rails coding
(the others are Pickaxe, Rails/Agile, and Ruby for Rails.)
···
On 8/2/06, Morton Goldberg <m_goldberg@ameritech.net> wrote:
Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I
haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before
buying or not.Regards, Morton
--
--------
David Pollak's Ruby Playground
http://dppruby.com
Morton Goldberg wrote:
Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before buying or not.
Regards, Morton
I found the recipe for roast duck quite good. 
I've just received my paper copy. It looks very good.
As I hate transcribing code fragments, I looked at the
Safari site for a zip of the code (It's normal practice
to get that with other publishers).
Ok, I'm stumped. Does such a thing exist?
If not, why not here?
-- Mike Berrow
···
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
I just picked it up at the local bookstore yesterday afternoon, and so far it looks really good ... and big. I checked some of the recipes on things I already know and they seem proper, which just boosts my confidence in it :-).
I like the format of the recipes. The Problem statement is really concise, followed by a Solution section, then a Discussion of larger issues and consequences, and sometimes a See Also section. That works well, and in browsing so far I have found good incidental information that way. At my stage of Ruby usage (10-11 months of full-time development of several different projects in a commercial setting), knowing about all the incidental cool solutions that others have created is the next leap in productivity.
Also, in contrast to the GoF patterns format, I find this one easier to digest. We'll see how that holds up since one of the best usages of the GoF book was referring back to the Consequences section to make sure that my designs using a particular pattern didn't hold any forgotten gotchas.
Nice work on the Roman numeral recipe. That was really fun to read because we use simple Roman numeral math as a programming interview question.
All in all, I am looking forward to having this by my side I think it will be very useful. Good job guys.
Bob
···
On Aug 2, 2006, at 4:08 AM, Morton Goldberg wrote:
Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before buying or not.
Regards, Morton
The "Ruby Cookbook" by Lucas Carlson and Leonard Richardson has just
been made available in PDF form for 1/2 price of the printed copy.
This is an excellent 906 page reference covering all aspects of Ruby
development.
I already had the paper book, but I just purchased and downloaded the
PDF too.
I really like having the combination. Paper for the easy chair, PDF on
my laptop for weightless reference while I'm working at the coffee shop.
-- Mike Berrow
···
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
Stuart
···
On 8/2/06, James Edward Gray II <james@grayproductions.net> wrote:
On Aug 2, 2006, at 6:08 AM, Morton Goldberg wrote:
> Anyone care to post their first impressions on Ruby Cookbook? I
> haven't seen it yet. I'd like hear what others think of it before
> buying or not.Keep in mind it did *just* come out (I got mine in the mail
yesterday) and it's over 900 pages. You'll probably need to wait a
bit for full reviews.Just glancing through it though I'm pretty jazzed up about reading
it. There is a metric ton of content in there and it looks to cover
just about everything to some degree. I could see it being a very
helpful tool for most people, since your area of interest likely
receives at least some coverage.Also, the lost dinosaur example had me laughing out loud!
Fair warning: I wrote six of the recipes in that book, so my
opinions are probably biased. I also have done very little real
reading yet. Buyer beware.James Edward Gray II
Ok, I'm stumped. Does such a thing exist?
If not, why not here?
This is my fault; I've been busy with other projects and never got
around to bundling up the source code. I just sent a zipfile containing
all the code to my O'Reilly editor, and it should be up soon. In the
meantime, you can download the zipfile from the unofficial homepage:
http://www.crummy.com/writing/RubyCookbook/
I hope everyone is enjoying the Cookbook.
Leonard Richardson
Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
···
On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
--
Mike
Ok that goes partway to solving my preference for PDF, (ie copy and paste code fragments to what I'm working on).
But I would still prefer a PDF, I don't mind buying the paper book, but if I could get a PDF with it, I'd use the PDF 99% of the time.
Thanks
Leonard Richardson wrote:
···
Ok, I'm stumped. Does such a thing exist?
If not, why not here?This is my fault; I've been busy with other projects and never got
around to bundling up the source code. I just sent a zipfile containing
all the code to my O'Reilly editor, and it should be up soon. In the
meantime, you can download the zipfile from the unofficial homepage:http://www.crummy.com/writing/RubyCookbook/
I hope everyone is enjoying the Cookbook.
Leonard Richardson
http://www.crummy.com/
--
Jim Morris, http://blog.wolfman.com
No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would be much more useful as a PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)
I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly seems to not like the PDF format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are doing
Mike Douglas wrote:
···
On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
--
Jim Morris, http://blog.wolfman.com
Perfect timing! I bought the cookbook, and I wanted to play with one of
the programs, but did not feel like copying it. I was disappointed the
cookbook did not come with code.
thank you for posting the link. I had seen the unofficial page but had
not noticed the link to the code.
I just had a bad experience with "buying" this book through the Safari
Rough Cuts program. I assumed I would be entitled to download the PDF
during development and after publication, but it turns out I was only
entitled to download it during development. There were also problems
with random numbers embedded in the text of the table of contents when
I did download it. I've now got my money back from Safari and am still
trying to understand exactly what I should have got.
I agree O'Reilly seems not to have worked out how to compete with the
Pragmatic Programmers. I've purchased numerous eBooks and beta books
from them with no problems at all.
James
···
On 04/08/06, Jim Morris <ml@e4net.com> wrote:
No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would be much more useful as a
PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly seems to not like the PDF
format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are doingMike Douglas wrote:
> On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
>> Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
>
> Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
> PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
> as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
>--
Jim Morris, http://blog.wolfman.com
I just ordered my copy of the dead-tree version.
Although a pdf might be nice for searching, since the cookbook is
categorized I don't think it will be much of an issue. Also, I don't
usually see pdf's with syntax highlighted code snippets, so I wouldn't
get any benefit there from the printed version. (Note to publishers:
you might sway me if the various source code listings in your digital
versions were color syntax highlighted!)
Also, since it's a cookbook, I'm guessing the snippets aren't too
long, so I don't really mind retyping the ones I need.
Besides, I prefer the quality typesetting of a real book to reading on
my flat panel.
The only (literal) pain in the neck is lugging that thing around with
all my other "essential" books.
---John
···
On 8/4/06, Jim Morris <ml@e4net.com> wrote:
Mike Douglas wrote:
> On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
>> Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
>
> Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
> PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
> as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
>No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would be much more useful as a
PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly seems to not like the PDF
format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are doing
Jim Morris wrote:
No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would
be much more useful as a
PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly
seems to not like the PDF
format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are
doing
A little OT, but just to mention that my PDF experience improved quite a
lot after switching to this tiny and free PDF reader
Free PDF Reader & Viewer - Online Download | Foxit Software (for Windows)
Adobe Acrobat Reader is soooooo... slow?
···
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.
I also prefer the "look and feel" of a real book over a pdf. However,
the amount of great references for ruby keeps growing, and I'm finding
the pragmatic's pdfs essential for quick searches when I don't want to
take the time to page thru a book or google it. Not to mention when
I'm out with the laptop and don't have the hard copies available.
I don't know if any O'Reilly authors read this list, but maybe this
thread should be sent on to the authors of the Cookbook or someone
else at O'Reilly. Seems they are missing what the market wants.
- Rob
···
On 8/4/06, John Gabriele <jmg3000@gmail.com> wrote:
On 8/4/06, Jim Morris <ml@e4net.com> wrote:
>
> Mike Douglas wrote:
> > On 8/2/06, Dark Ambient <sambient@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> I think it would be a nice option if they offered this book as a PDF.
> >> Safari at $20 a month just for one book is not a good pitch.
> >
> > Those who bought the book through Safari's Rough Cuts program get a
> > PDF of the book. I checked a few days ago and they still had it listed
> > as "rough cuts", so you might see be able to buy it.
> >
>
> No its not available anymore as a rough cut, and I agree this book would be much more useful as a
> PDF than a paper book IMHO. (Especially those of us with dual monitors!)
>
> I'll wait for a PDF book from another publisher I think, as O'Reilly seems to not like the PDF
> format, maybe they should look at how well the pragmatic programmers are doing
>I just ordered my copy of the dead-tree version.
Although a pdf might be nice for searching, since the cookbook is
categorized I don't think it will be much of an issue. Also, I don't
usually see pdf's with syntax highlighted code snippets, so I wouldn't
get any benefit there from the printed version. (Note to publishers:
you might sway me if the various source code listings in your digital
versions were color syntax highlighted!)Also, since it's a cookbook, I'm guessing the snippets aren't too
long, so I don't really mind retyping the ones I need.Besides, I prefer the quality typesetting of a real book to reading on
my flat panel.The only (literal) pain in the neck is lugging that thing around with
all my other "essential" books. :
---John
--
I, too, am someone who far prefers a nicely typeset[1], printed book
over a PDF on the monitor - even with a nice Apple Studio Display. The
internet has led me to appreciate books as something quite distinct -
I don't expect instant access; instead, I want good editing and
coherent structure and the ability to flick through and dip in and
out. I want to open the book serendipitously to a page that teaches me
something new.
I'd be more likely to buy an (X)HTML version than a PDF, actually.
There's something really daft about reading portrait-formatted,
paginated content on a computer screen.
Paul.
1. I really don't like the typeface used in Agile Web Development With
Rails. Is it just me?
···
On 04/08/06, John Gabriele <jmg3000@gmail.com> wrote:
Besides, I prefer the quality typesetting of a real book to reading on
my flat panel.
"John Gabriele" <jmg3000@gmail.com> writes:
Although a pdf might be nice for searching, since the cookbook is
categorized I don't think it will be much of an issue. Also, I don't
For me, it's how I'd be able to actually have the cookbook with
me when I need it. It takes up a *lot* less space in my backpack...
Besides, I prefer the quality typesetting of a real book to reading on
my flat panel.
I do print out the pages of small sections of books sometimes,
especially sections I use all the time (ie. reference pages).
But I don't need to haul around telephone-book sized books.
···
--
Plain Bread alone for e-mail, thanks. The rest gets trashed.
No HTML in E-Mail! -- http://www.expita.com/nomime.html
Are you posting responses that are easy for others to follow?
http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/2000/06/14/quoting
I think they already know that many readers want pdf's. But they have
to balance that with knowledge that many other folks (some of them
prospective buyers of the book) will just copy and freely distribute
the pdf if one were made available. It's probably just a business
decision for them: do they make more sales by offering the
complimentary pdf, or do they lose more because people will share it
online.
Since a pdf is more of a convenience rather than a necessity for (I'm
guessing) the majority of folks interested in their books, they
probably try to stick to paper books.
Since one big benefit right now of a pdf is searchability, if I were
Oreilly, I'd focus on making their paper books easier to search by
humans (i.e.,
* even better (or perhaps multiple) indexes,
* maybe using those edge-of-page marks so you can more easily flip
quickly to the chapter you're looking for,
* easily human-scannable table of contents (and maybe even adding a
"contents at a glance" along with a more detailed TOC)).
The nutshell books seem to have more features like this. As for the
other big benefit -- portability -- I guess we're stuck there. I drag
a number of books to and fro work most days.
BTW, one of the things I like most about my books is that I can mark
them up with highlighter or pencil.
---John
···
On 8/4/06, Rob Sanheim <rsanheim@gmail.com> wrote:
[snip]
I don't know if any O'Reilly authors read this list, but maybe this
thread should be sent on to the authors of the Cookbook or someone
else at O'Reilly. Seems they are missing what the market wants.
- Rob