Simply Rails 2

* How to interact with your database using ActiveRecord and migrations instead of arcane SQL commands * Adding Ajax and visual effects to your application, using the built-in Prototype and script.aculo.us JavaScript libraries * Understand and use a model-view-controller architecture, maximizing code reuse and simplifying code maintenance.

Simply Rails 2 is an easy-to-follow, practical and fun guide to Ruby on Rails for beginners. It covers all you need to get up and running, from installing Ruby, Rails and SQLite to building and deploying a fully featured web application. Unlike other Rails books, this book doesn't assume that you are an experienced web developer, or that you've used Ruby before. An entire chapter is devoted to learning Ruby in a fun way, using the interactive Ruby console, so you can follow along at home. You'll be an accomplished Ruby programmer in no time! This book focuses on the practical parts of Rails that you can use to build next-generation web applications, rather than the obscure features of Rails that no one uses.

Simply Rails is written specifically for beginning to intermediate web developers who, though they’re fa­miliar with HTML and CSS, aren’t necessarily fond of—or experienced with—any server-side technologies such as PHP or Perl. As we go along, you’ll gain an understanding of the components that make up the Ruby on Rails framework, learn the basics of the Ruby programming language, and come to grips with the tools recommended for use in Ruby on Rails development. All these topics are covered within the context of building a robust application which addresses real-world problems. In terms of software installation, I’ll cover the installation basics of Ruby and Ruby on Rails on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. All you need to have preinstalled on your system are your favorite text editor and a web browser.