Quick note on my switch from Webrick to Puma

I have heard multiple times not to run WEBrick on heroku or in production but I have never received a reason why I should not until now. Most people recommend Thin or Unicorn due to the flexibility and future proofing your app. If you no plans to update an app after a tutorial or feel you will be using it for more than personal local development use, then there is no issue in sticking with the default.

The recommendation for Heroku is to use Unicorn and their reasoning is due to the use of less dynos. In a production environment your server is de

"If you continue to run WEBrick [in production,] it is likely that requests will take a long time, possibly timeout, and you will need to use many more dynos [on Heroku] than your application requires. Rather than doing this, ensure you use a production web server. A production Ruby web server is capable of handling multiple request concurrently."

Afshin wrote a good article in the study group transcripts a few weeks back that you should check out. 

I personally am now using Puma and liking how fast it spins. I got to a point in my Chuych app where it would take up to 30 seconds just to start development. Its crazy how one little thing can mke a huge difference, but I recommend anyone who is still learning from tutorials or just getting started in Rails to try out a different server other than WEBrick.

I have an addiction for learning

Just this week Lifehacker posted on how Harvard is offering a free online Intro to Programming to course as Jan 1st. Prior to signing up up for Bloc and deciding on Ruby as my language of choice, I watched the intro to this course when it was only offered either as Harvard credit or certificate. I had sense decided on how Ruby and discounted the program but was impressed with the professor's teaching style.

Well I have bought into the hype and already completed the first week of lectures, especially since it's free. Previously I mentioned I was scattered brain and in need of some organization of all my learning tools. I have another gist to keep track of all the things I plan to learn, but as far as this Harvard course, it is a great way to learn the basics of programming such as the higher levels ideas of it. I watched my son for a few hours today while my wife got a break and while he slept I knocked out the first week of course. I do not plan on getting into the nitty gritty of PHP and C as the professor implies but I do look forward to his explanations on Javascript and Algorithms. With this being an auxiliary learning tool I only plan on watching the lectures while I am on baby duty on the weekends.

If anyone is interested taking a Harvard course just out the Lifehacker article here. The first few weeks are avaialble if you have the extra time.


*FYI if you register for the course for $350 and complete it you will be eligible for a certificate to take another Harvard Extension course. I will be passing on that option.

Bloc update: about 8 lessons away from completing Bloccit and moving on to sudo client projects. The training wheels are coming!

Thanks to Bloc I am in love with Markdown and just implemented it in my app.

The Whole Day Off and What to Do? Codecademy it is!

I am off for the day and celebrating finishing my 15 page paper for my MBA. I am looking forward to take the net semester off to focus on learning coding. I have made significant headway with the completion of m first web app but have not been able to dedicate any further time to my journey due to my MBA obligations. Starting next Monday I will be free to learn till March, I have every intention in continuing my degree but if someone out there wants to give me a job as a Jr. Developer instead I wouldn't turn it down.

I am 20% of the way through the Javascript Codecademy course and plan to have it done today. I also plan on starting the Learn Ruby the Hard Way Tutorial tonight.

Wish me luck!

Just a little bit of encouragement before Bloc.io

*If you are interested in joining Bloc, use my link to receive $100 bucks off. Bloc Referral

I have been frequently checking Facebook and Google Plus Ruby Groups for jobs and general tips. Although a lot of it is still absolutely Greek to me I enjoy trying to figure out what people are talking about. I recently saw an individual post his Git to the facebook group and noticed that he was in Bloc. I quickly messaged him and to my surprise he was helpful and offered a good amount of encouraging info, especially with me starting Bloc in 2 weeks!

I am very happy with the Ruby Community and pleased with their willingness to help new students.

*I changed his name to Bill to protect his identity.

• Conversation started Thursday
• 

  12/5, 4:39pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  I don't blow up the comments on your post, but do you have any advice for someone starting in in 2 weeks. I am nervous to start and want to do well.

  Who is you mentor? I am paired with the Adam guy.
• 
  

  12/5, 4:39pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  Hey Brian, no worries

  My mentor is Aaron

  Aaron Brongersma

  I would just say that you need to pace yourself

  make sure you schedule out at least 2-3 hours a night Monday-Friday

  do you have any programming experience?
• 

  12/5, 4:42pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  I have done the tutorials and self taught with HTML,css, basic stuff though. Never really did anything with it. I have done all the pre reqs as well a codecademy. I guess no official experience

  Or professional rather
• 
  

  12/5, 4:43pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  ok

  well they start you out with the basics but if there are areas you're not sure about take your time

  ask questions

  the mentors make themselves very available and aren't condescending

  you also have access, almost 24-7, to a live chat area called Office Hours
• 

  12/5, 4:44pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  That's awesome.
• 
  

  12/5, 4:44pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  a lot of people try to breeze through the first few weeks of checkpoints

  so they can get to the project challenges and the capstone project

  don't do that

  take your time to make sure you understand everything

  do some extra reading on the side too

  ask your mentor to recommend additional books and tuts
• 

  12/5, 4:46pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Awesome thanks. Are you planning getting career in development or starting a project. Do you feel well equipped
• 
  

  12/5, 4:46pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  this is the Ruby bible http://it-ebooks.info/book/59/

  I'm already a freelancer

  I've been doing PHP, HTML and some basic jQuery

  for close to 7 years now

  but wanted to learn Ruby and needed someone to kick my butt
• 

  12/5, 4:47pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Cool, I hope to get into freelancing after the program
• 
  

  12/5, 4:47pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  I've done a lot of self study

  and have a Bachelor in Web Design & Development from Full Sail University

  honestly I wish I would have never done that degree and went straight to Bloc

  you could definitely do it

  a lot of grads from Bloc do
• 

  12/5, 4:48pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Wow, did you go to the Orlando full sail?
• 
  

  12/5, 4:49pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  nice

  yeah,

  but when I started they still were teaching Flash and ActionScript

  they didn't change their curriculum until Jan 2011

  I only got 1 class in PHP

  1 class in MySQL
• 

  12/5, 4:50pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Well good thing you didn't take that flash class
• 
  

  12/5, 4:50pm
  

  Bill
  

  they made me take the Flash class

  I took 6 months of Flash & ActionScript

  a waste of time

  totally outdated

  not even Adobe supports Flash for mobile

  I don't want to get on my soapbox

  lol

  point is
• and 2 classes in JavaScript
• 

  12/5, 4:50pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Oh, that's to bad. I actually considered going back to school but found Bloc
• 
  

  12/5, 4:50pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  ehhh

  don't

  you don't need it

  do Bloc
• 

  12/5, 4:51pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Thanks for the info

  I lam looking forward to it
• 
  

  12/5, 4:51pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  Codecademy for JavaScript

  JavaScript is very important for web application development now

  and just websites in general

  glad I could share

  good luck man
• 

  12/5, 4:52pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  Thanks
• 
  

  12/5, 4:53pm
  

  Bill 
  

  
  

  my pleasure

  take care

  if you need anything let me know
• 

  12/5, 4:53pm
  

  Brian Douglas
  

  
  

  I appreciate that, I will
• 
  

  12/5, 4:54pm
  

  Bill
  

  
  

  check this out too http://www.bentobox.io/index.html

Thanks for reading. If you are interested in joining Bloc, use my link to receive $100 bucks off. Bloc Referral

I have done it! Thanks to OneMonthRails

I finally got my app done.

I have spent the past 2 weeks working on the OneMonthRails course and completed it this morning. I had quite of few hiccups during it, but was able to find the answer for my problems from google and stack overflow. The course is definitely work the money paid, because it gives you something a book or cant - Something to put in your portfolio. I have done a TON of researching on how to land a Ruby job and the one thing that stands out is a portfolio. You can really learn till you are blue in the face, but if you have nothing to show for it then its all for nothing. Though I do highly recommend getting a foundation with Codecademy or Learn Street prior to completing OMR, this will ensure you spend the time doing rather than figuring out the syntax.

My next step will be to apply what I have done and continue on to another tutorial that comes highly recommended, Learn Ruby the Hard Way . I will also attempt to create another web app prior to Bloc.io mentorship commencement.

More convincing on why you should learn Ruby TODAY!

I just read a great article, this is a great read if you you have any interest in joining me in learning how to code. I could re-write it all and call it my own or I can just share a link, which is below.

4 Reasons Why You Should Learn Ruby As Your First Programming Language

Here is on of the reasons listed. The Ruby language is just easier.

Here’s what that looks like using C++:

Intimidating, isn’t it? To display “Hello, world!” to a computer screen, you’ll have to learn multiple C++ functions and keywords. Here’s the equivalent Ruby source code:

Much simpler than the C++ version!

Update: Currently Working OMR

I am currently working on the One Month Rails project which has given me a little bit of trouble. Luckily I was able to Google all the issues except one. I 'm having trouble with my CSS style-sheets not updating. I think I have it figured out though, the only things is I have to wait 8 hours until I get home from work to update it.

Overall I am still enjoying this journey and looking forward to the start of my mentorship on December 16th. I have in the meantime I joined a couple Ruby groups on Google Plus and Facebook. The information in the group looks promising and I look forward to meeting like minded people via social networking.

One Month IN

Day 33:

So I am one month into my decision to learn how to code and although I have not actually built a single thing I am still excited to complete this journey. I have recently been swamped with homework for my MBA and look forward to when this semester is done 12/16/13. This will definitely open up a large amount of time for me to dedicate in learning web developing.

My goal for this week if to complete the Lynda.com Tutorial that I have been working on as well upload something to Github, even if its not complete. I have also not hit my goal of 3 hours a day in coding, that will change this week.

Bloc.io

Day 28:

*If you are interested in joining the Bloc mentorship, use my link to receive $100 bucks off. Bloc Referral

So I took the plunge 2 nights ago and got onboard with a Ruby mentor. While surfing around Ruby jobs I saw Bloc.io was hiring a mentor, I then went to Bloc.io to see what they were about. After 12 hours of researching and reading every review out there, I signed up.


My mentor's name is Adam and we start 12/16. I picked that date to start because 12/15 marks the end of this semester for my MBA. I plan to take off the next term since I am one class ahead in the program and will dedicate the rest of my time to learning web developing.

I will keep you all informed on the process. In the meantime I have been given pre-mentor homework to complete.

Assignments:

1 Tryruby.org - Already completed a few weeks ago, but did it again in 15mins (it didnt take 4+ hours this time).
2 Ruby Manifesto - 7 page book, sort of a condensed, sarcastic version of Ruby-doc.org
3 TryGit.io  - Made by same company that did Try Ruby. Finished in 15mins
4 Learn Ruby the Hard Way Book - Saving this for this weekend
5 Javascript Codecademy Lesson

Ruby is easy,but I havent made anything yet.

Day 27:

So I have been working my way through LearnStreet and realize how easy it is to learn. When I was younger, my brother made a website entirely from HTML by copy and pasting the code into text file from other sites. I was pretty amazed, and this was back in the 90's before the internet mattered.

Today ROR has such a large community; because of it I am able to literally Google the answers to any questions I am stuck on. Sites like GitHub and Stackoverflow will be tremendous helps for me in the journey to learn.

Tip:
If you are interested in any way in seeing how easy it is to find answers to programming questions check out StackOverflow or the manual at Ruby Doc. I have used these already and love it!

Why Try Ruby?

Day 26:

About 4 weeks ago I was at a crossroad on what on where to start coding. I jumped in feet first with Codecademy but just wasn't getting it. I then decided on going with CSS and HTML with my background (I took a web design class in high school...thats it), I figured it would be the fastest to ramp up on. I also made a couple Squarespace site in the past and might of looked at the CSS a little, thus came CodeSchool.

I got an email stating I could get a 2 day free trial and 2 extra days for anyone I got to sign up, so I signed up my wife and enjoyed 4 days or confusingly completing the CSS course. I couldn't get through the first section without getting frustrated, I guess my ego didn't want to hit the "help" button.

I finally stumbled on this Youtube video explaining what Ruby on Rails was and why they need more developers. From that point on I knew Ruby was the first language I needed to know.

What convinced me? 

1. No repetitive coding - a lot of programming out confuses me. Ruby makes sense (at least to me)

2. Staring pay of 75k for Jr. Developers!

3. Very large Ruby Community - More people to help when I get stuck. 

My goal is be a full blown Jr. Developer by October of 2014.

Unlikely Developer/Review: Book

I just got done reading a great book called, No Degree, No Problem by Josh Kemp. The book in it's entirety is all about Josh's experience in making the career change from Blacksmith in Virginia to Jr. developer in only 8 months. I only found his blog yesterday and was already inspired to created my first post on this blog. Now that I have read his book, I am now even more inspired to follow through with this Journey.

A Few Take Aways from the book

1. I need to pick a date when I am making this career change.
This is interesting because I am literally in my first semester for my MBA and its currently being paid by my employer (I have a degree in Finance). Rather than aim for Josh's 8 months, my plan is to make it a 12 months experience of  hardcore studying and programming. This might change in the future to be sooner, but at least by then I will have a full year of my MBA and programming under my belt. The MBA might come in handy if I start one of my business ideas.

The date is 10/21/2014

2. Stay focused
Josh outlines in his book how he spent 3 hours every night strictly dedicated to learning, even with two young kids; I can relate with having a 3 month year old son myself. This blog will not only double as my accountability to get that done, but it will also host my coding log. My goal is to keep up with the 3 hours of coding per day.

3. Meet People
I currently work in IT sales and understand networking. It is important to know people if you want your business to grow. I plan to attend my first meetup in Orlando next week and hope to meet individuals with like minds, that will assist in my journey to learn code.

Get the ebook today for only $5 bucks and prepared to be inspired. Use the link I provided below.


No Degree, No Problem

Visit my daily coding log here.

First Post: I will learn to code

Day 21:

I can say I am not new to blogging because I have started quite a few blogs in the past but have failed to follow through, hopefully this will not end with the same fate. I am in no means a writer but hope to follow through on this blog.

The last few months have been very busy, My son was born 2 months early, My wife and I spent 70 days in the hospital with our pre-mature child. While waiting for him to grow and develop we missed many days of work and stopped all our obligations for teaching music lesson and volunteering at church. Because of this I had a lot of free time to give thought and ponder about my life. During that pondering, I decided I will be taking the plunge into coding, specifically Ruby on Rails. I have too many ideas just sitting in my head and need a way out.

My Goal:
My goal for this blog is to document my journey into coding. During my research, I found there is not a large community Ruby community in the Tampa Bay area, but there is a high demand for them in the industry. Also just like many other industries there not many minority coders; my hope will be to inspire other minorities to join me in this journey.

What inspired me?:
I was a big "Google Reader"user prior to the shut down not too long ago and still spend a lot of time following blog and news on the web. A few weeks back I read an article of how a 23 year old Manhattan based programmer approach a homeless man, Leo, and offered him $100 or the opportunity to teach him to code so he could build a career. Leo chose coding and  in a matter of only 4 weeks he built his first app prototype.

Business Insider Article - The Homeless Coder

My thought immediately went to, "If Leo can Javascript in 4 weeks while living in a city park, then I can for sure learn Ruby on Rails in the comfort of my own while working full time and raising a new baby. Nothing is holding back.

The Plan: Go Big or Stay Home
I first started Computer Science For Everyone but only got halfway before deciding Ruby would be my language. I have postponed that but highly recommend it for your basic computer info. I had previous experience in HTML and Visual Basic in high school, but that was so long ago that CSFE helped me get a great foundation.

I am now focusing on rails exclusively and after Twitter stalking Rubyist on Twitter I will be attending my first Meetup within the next few weeks. Even though I have only completed two ruby course and haven't even completed my first app I want to meet actual coders and pick their brains in person and for free. Stand by for updates on that on twitter @brianllamar

The resources I will use

One Month Rails - Great no frills course from Mattan Griffel. He definitely leaves out the fluff and gets right to the point with making your first app.

How to teach yourself to code - Great video by Mattan Griffel explaining how he taught himself to code in one month

DHH Video - David Heinemeir Hansson is credited for creating rails. This is an interview of explaining what it is.

TryRuby.org - This is the first course I actually completed. Should of only taken 15mins, but it took me 4hours. In my defense, I was doing it in the background while working on other stuff. 

Rails for Zombies - The second course I completed, created by CodeSchool

Udemy - This is a great online resource to pace yourself to learn code. There is also Learnsteet, Codecademy, and Udacity. These are all free options

I hope to complete all these courses and more by May, which would make 6 months work towards one goal. By then I might have a fully functional app or I might. I guess we will have to see.

Follow @brianllamar