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ruby_koans/README.rdoc
2009-01-26 13:22:49 -05:00

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= EdgeCase Ruby Koans
The Ruby Koans walk you along the path to enlightenment in order to learn Ruby.
The goal is to learn the Ruby language, syntax, structure, and some common
functions and libraries. We also teach you culture. Testing is not just something we
pay lip service to, but something we live. It is essential in your quest to learn
and do great things in the language.
== The Structure
The koans are broken out into areas by file, hashes are covered in about_hashes.rb,
modules are introduced in about_modules.rb, etc. They are presented in order in the
path_to_enlightenment.rb file.
Each koan builds up your knowledge of Ruby and builds upon itself. It will stop at
the first place you need to correct.
Some koans simply need to have the correct answer substituted for an incorrect one.
Some, however, require you to supply your own answer. If you see the method __ (a
double underscore) listed, it is a hint to you to supply your own code in order to
make it work correctly.
== The Path To Enlightenment
In order to achieve enlightenment you need to follow the path_to_enlightenment. This
can be done in two ways
*nix platforms, from the koans directory
[koans] $ rake # runs the default target :walk_the_path
[koans] $ ruby path_to_enlightenment.rb # simply call the file directly
Windows is the same thing
c:\dev\koans\rake # runs the default target :walk_the_path
c:\dev\koans\ruby path_to_enlightenment.rb # simply call the file directly
== Inspiration
A special thanks to Mike Clark and Ara Howard for inspiring this project. Mike Clark
wrote an excellent blog post in March of '05 about learning Ruby through unit
testing [1]. This sparked an idea that has taken a bit to solidify, that of bringing
new rubyists into the community through testing.
Ara Howard then gave us the idea for the Koans in his ruby quiz entry an Meta Koans
(a must for any rubyist wanting to improve their skills).
[1] http://www.clarkware.com/cgi/blosxom/2005/03/18
[2] http://rubyquiz.com/quiz67.html