Projects Galore!

I've been super busy getting a little project started and haven't had too much time dedicated to learning Ruby or JavaScript.  That little project is entitled Imagine Me.  I'm working with a small team as they develop the adventure platfomer puzzler for the Nintendo Wii U. :)  My job is both administration and community management.  I've set up a little website at ImagineMeGame.com and have connected all of our social networking apps to the site (Twitter: @ImagineMeGame, facebook: KinifiGames, Google+: ImagineMe, and Instagram: kinifigames).  To manage all these social outlets, I am using Buffer.  It allows me to use custom scheduling, multiple accounts, and give other team members access to post things as well!

Our team is kinda small so the game designer and I are also the support desk.  We are chose to use ZenDesk and it is pretty much amazing.

As for learning/coding, I'm almost exclusively back to JavaScript.  I have been using treehouse and c<>deschool.  So far, I have preferred c<>deschool, but that may change.  I'll keep ya posted!  I also have a couple of awesome books, but more on those later.  For now, enjoy this awesome tip from c<>deschool:

Live Coding

Well, I just finished my very first live code challenge. It was... not what I expected.  I'm sort of disappointed.   I've worked through a lot of problems online recently and one of them happened to be almost identical to the one I did for my code challenge.  I really wanted to see how I've been progressing with learning Ruby, so I kind of have mixed emotions.  I'm excited I knew what to do (think I knew what to do), but disappointed it wasn't a challenge.  Blessing in disguise?? I'm just a whiny girl??  Both??

Now that I have that off my chest, I'm looking for help.  I want to challenge myself.  I'm past the "Intro" and "Beginner" classes.  What online programs do you recommend that really push you as a developer??

el·o·quent

The past week has been a lot more reading than grinding through lessons.  I've been working through the book Eloquent Ruby.  I absolutely love it!  Eloquent Ruby, by Russ Olsen, is by no means a textbook.  It is written with a "casual conversation" tone, but also very applicable (application ready?).  I'm just starting Part II and can't wait to hone my concepts of  "Classes, Modules, and Blocks."  What is wonderful is the code is available on GitHub and I can practice while I read.  It is a very useful companion and I cannot recommend it more!

Once I'm done with Part II, I'll be caught up to my place in RubyMonk and then start working on the Metaprogramming lessons online (RubyMonk) as well as reading the chapters in the book.   I already have my sights set on the next title Design Patterns in Ruby.  What books have been of use to you while learning a new language??

Raising, Exception, Rescue

Although I took a week off, don't think I'm done with Ruby!  I'm continuing on the RubyMonk: Ascent book.  As of late I've been learning about exceptions, how to raise them, and begin - rescue - end.  These are easy to learn but difficult for me to put into a concept.  Thankfully, I've also been using the book Beginning Ruby by Peter Cooper.*  At first, the style of the book was a bit clutzy compared to Codecademy or RubyMonk, but I've really appreciated using it as a reference for times like these when the concepts seem a bit more abstract than what I am accustomed to.  What are your favorite references?

Photo Credit: RubyMonk: Ascent

*Cooper, P. (2009). Beginning Ruby: From novice to professional. New York: Apress.