Left of the Dev

Articles tagged learning

Start with what you know

Learning something brand new? Think again, it's probably got some overlap to skills you already have. Here's one way I approach learning to make it a more effective, intentional process. (August 24, 2020)

7 reasons why learning SQL is still important for Rails developers

Active Record abstracts away much of the need to use SQL on a daily basis. But understanding what's going on behind the scenes is still important. Here's how understanding SQL can make you a better Rails developer. (February 18, 2019)

Learning Ruby and Rails

There's been a lot of conversation recently about the best ways to get started with Ruby. Here's my take on the subject, based on how I learned Ruby back in 2005 and what I'd do differently today. (January 19, 2011)

Test Rails apps (mostly) out of the box!

Join me on a thought experiment: How does my time-tested approach to testing Ruby on Rails applications apply to the tools we get from the framework? Whether you're new to Rails testing, or curious about the default testing stack, Testing Rails from Scratch gives you a pragmatic, end-to-end introduction to test-driven development. Covers Rails 8.1 and Ruby 4.0. Early release now available for sale on Leanpub!

Start testing from scratch now

Test with confidence!

If you liked my series on practical advice for adding reliable tests to your Rails apps, check out the expanded ebook version. Lots of additional, exclusive content and a complete sample Rails application. Updated in 2026 to Rails 8.1 and Ruby 4.0!

Start testing now Also available on Gumroad | En español

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