Convert Autohotkey script while learning Ruby

December 5, 2008 9:07 AM

I'm trying to learn Ruby. I know more than a little bit about VB Script, and have written some scripts to automate some windows tasks, mostly by editing existing scripts, things like pinging workstations, WMI connections looking for files and such. I've read http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram and worked through the tutorials and think I understand them. Now what....

I'm pretty good at throwing together Autohotkey scripts. I'd like to convert one of my everyday scripts to Ruby as an exercise. Are there any web communities that exist that might be able to answer questions I have along the process? Anyone have any resources to point me to for just learning? A site that provides some problems to be solved begining with easy stuff and moving on in complexity?

posted by TuxHeDoh to computers & internet (7 answers total)

I would definitely look at Hackety Hack.
posted by jquinby at 9:18 AM on December 5, 2008

I worked through Hackety Hack a while back before I increased my knowledge of VBSCript and Autohotkey, I shall revisit it. Thanks for the reminder.
posted by TuxHeDoh at 9:25 AM on December 5, 2008

For me, the essential Ruby book was the Pragmatic Programmer's guide. [Free! Online! (also in print)]
posted by chrisamiller at 9:44 AM on December 5, 2008

The Ruby Programming Language seems to have superceded the PragProg guide as the book most of my Ruby people are recommending these days.
posted by substars at 9:56 AM on December 5, 2008

A site that provides some problems to be solved begining with easy stuff and moving on in complexity?

It's not progressive, but definitely check out:

Ruby Quiz of the Week

The ruby-talk mailing list, available via various gateways is open to general questions.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 9:57 AM on December 5, 2008

I'm currently reading Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby, which has been both enlightening and entertaining. _why is basically insane, as it turns out. Well worth a read, especially if you're learning Ruby, but honestly even if you're not.

(It helps that it's both free and available online in snazzy HTML form)
posted by ewingpatriarch at 12:02 PM on December 5, 2008

Check out the Ruby on Windows blog.
posted by PueExMachina at 4:21 PM on December 5, 2008