What Is the Best Way to Learn Ruby?

Ruby is a popular open-source programming language with many functions, including web development, app development, and data analysis. Given its simplicity and user-friendly functions, Ruby is a popular language for beginners and is in high demand in the job market. Various companies, including Airbnb and Hulu, have used this general-purpose, versatile language. It’s also among the top 20 languages software developers use worldwide, according to data from Statista [1]. 

Developers with Ruby skills often earn high salaries and achieve a good work-life balance. Additionally, many Ruby developer jobs offer options for remote working. What’s more, learning Ruby could be a lucrative move. A Ruby developer’s annual base salary averages $103,101, with top companies paying up to $212,000 [2].

The best way to learn Ruby depends on your learning preferences and the level of programming skills you already have. Explore various learning methods and a few careers that might appeal to your professional goals. 

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What is Ruby?

Ruby is free open-source software (FOSS) that you can use, develop, modify, and share without any charges, making it popular with programmers. According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024, Ruby is a favorite for developers and beginners and is number 19 on its list of the most-used programming languages, with 5.2 percent of developers using it [3]. 

Yukihiro Matsumoto developed Ruby in 1995, with a design intended to feel intuitive and much like coding in standard English. It blends other popular languages, including Perl, Lisp, and Eiffel, resulting in a natural language combining functional and imperative programming that developers use predominantly for web applications, but also static site generation, data analysis, data processing, web search applications, and web scraping.

Ruby vs. Ruby on Rails

Ruby is the programming language, and Rails is the framework on which it's written. You can use both to build web applications, including the front-end, which impacts the elements users interact with, and the back-end, which impacts the behind-the-scenes elements that make it functional. The main benefit of using Ruby on Rails is its efficiency, which comes from its structured nature and set way of working. Using it can allow you to code less and achieve more. 

Why is Ruby popular?

In its early days, Ruby was so popular that it rivaled Python. Now, it is a staple language, especially for web development and applications. Ruby also works on major platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac. 

Other advantages of Ruby include:

• Flexible: Ruby offers the user several ways of doing the same thing. Ruby’s creator wanted to develop a language as flexible as the people who use it. Rather than having a single way to do things, he believed in offering multiple visions, resulting in a language with fewer syntactical rules.

• Intuitive: Many users describe Ruby as an artistic language. Some say the syntax makes it like learning English, with some beginners feeling as though they understand the language before they even know how to code.

• Free: Ruby is entirely free to use, adapt, and distribute, making it a popular choice for projects. 

Is Ruby easy to learn?

What’s “easy” for someone may pose a challenge to someone else. The ease with which you learn Ruby will likely depend on several factors, including your prior programming knowledge and how quickly you pick things up. For instance, if you have an affinity for problem-solving and mathematics, you might find learning programming languages easier than someone who doesn’t.

That said, Ruby is known for its easy-to-use syntax, similar to programs such as Java and C. It can help smooth your learning process and make it feel familiar if you already have some familiarity with these languages. Ruby also offers multiple resources to help you begin. For example, you can complete a 20-minute tutorial after installing Ruby to help you start your learning journey and gain some practical experience with the language.

How long does it take to learn Ruby?

The length of time it will take you will depend, just as the ease of learning the language, the time it takes to become familiar with Ruby also differs for everyone. Several factors can impact your time frame, including your current knowledge and experience in programming, your available time, money, and resources, your learning style, and what specifically you want to learn. For example, you might be able to learn the basics of Ruby quite quickly, possibly within a few weeks or months. Mastering it to an advanced level and also learning Ruby on Rails will likely take considerably longer and will involve practice. 

The learning format you choose can also impact how long it takes. As a guide, you might learn the basics of Ruby in five to six months if you’re teaching yourself, or even up to a year or more, depending on the amount of time you devote to practicing, or three to four months if you are learning from someone experienced. For instance, if you attend a boot camp, you might complete it in as little as 11 to 13 weeks, or it may take 40 weeks or longer.

What is the best way to learn Ruby programming?

The best way to learn Ruby programming depends on how you prefer learning. You’ll find multiple pathways for learning Ruby and Ruby on Rails, whether you like theoretical learning and have a visual or auditory learning preference, from a degree or some online courses that include lectures and visual resources. 

If you prefer a more practical approach, a boot camp or tutorial that allows you to practice may be ideal. Also, consider your budget and available time, which can help guide your decisions. 

Use available free resources and tutorials.

Free resources can offer an excellent starting point or a resource for continuous learning. You can access free tutorials online and through social media. Look for tutorials and short courses on programming, web scraping, data filtering, and automation to help you learn some programming basics. Ruby also has an option called “Try Ruby,” which allows you to add Ruby to your browser and learn some code in just 30 minutes. 

Ruby has an active community that offers the opportunity to connect and learn from others, ask questions in forums, and join Ruby projects on GitHub. You can also use books and podcasts, which can be sources of detailed information if you like to learn via a theoretical approach. 

A few to consider include beginner-friendly books, such as: 

• A Well-Grounded Rubyist, David A. Black 

• Eloquent Ruby (Addison-Wesley Professional Ruby Series), Russ Olsen

• Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts, Steve Pugh

If you’re an auditory learner, you might enjoy podcast options devoted to Ruby, which include:

• Ruby Rogues, hosted by Charles Max Wood, Valentino Stoll, and Ayush Newatia

• Ruby on Rails, hosted by Elise Shaffer and Nick Schwaderer

• Rooftop Ruby, hosted by Ruby programmers Collin Donnell and Joel Drapper

Earn a degree.

While you only sometimes need a degree to become a Ruby programmer, completing a degree program is a proven way to develop in-depth skills on a broad topic. It gives you options to diversify your knowledge base and broaden your potential career opportunities. According to Zippia, 75 percent of Ruby developers have a bachelor’s degree, with popular majors including computer science, electrical engineering, and computer engineering [4]. 

Degree options include in-person and online study, as well as the flexibility to work at your own pace, usually blending synchronous and asynchronous learning. Remember to factor in time and cost when considering a degree because it can take anywhere from two to four years or more, depending on how you choose to study, making it a significant financial commitment. 

Take an online course. 

However you like to learn, an online course can offer an excellent option for learning Ruby as a beginner or improving on your existing Ruby skills. With so many available options, you will likely find a course that aligns with your needs and strengths. Online courses usually offer flexible schedules allowing you to work to your own timeline, and you can access them in various forms, including video courses, live lectures, or written tasks and assignments. 

You may find free courses to access if you’re looking to learn the basics or to see if Ruby is the programming language for you, and if you’re looking for something more advanced or in-depth, consider some paid options from reputable organizations. For example, you might consider Programming Languages Part A, from the University of Washington on Coursera, to give you a grounding in programming languages, including Ruby, before moving on to something more advanced.

Choose a programming boot camp.

If you are a practical learner who favors hands-on tasks, you might learn well through a boot camp. Boot camps are accelerated courses that you may be able to complete in as little as 13 weeks, on average. They usually offer insight from an industry professional while completing practical tasks and engaging in projects. They allow you to validate your skills and knowledge to an employer, including the opportunity to build a portfolio, and can lead to jobs without having a degree. 

Earn a certification.

Certifications validate your learning and knowledge, so you typically want to build some skills before pursuing them, although some programs help strengthen your skill set, too. The Ruby Association offers certifications to highlight professional standards as a Ruby programmer. For example, the Ruby Association Certified Ruby Programmer Silver validates basic Ruby knowledge, such as grammar, objects, and libraries. Once you accumulate a more in-depth understanding of Ruby, you can pursue the Ruby Association Certified Ruby Programmer Gold.

Progress to Ruby on Rails.

Rails is the framework for Ruby programming for web applications, also known as Ruby on Rails. Once you’ve learned Ruby programming, progress your learning and skills further with Ruby on Rails. Ruby has a free guide to help you begin with Rails with no prior experience, provided you have a solid grasp of Ruby programming. Like Ruby programming, you’ll find multiple ways to learn Ruby on Rails, including online courses, certificates, and degree programs such as the BSc Computer Science, offered by the University of London.

Career options for Ruby programmers

Ruby is a popular language for both front and back-end web development, making career options vast and versatile with roles creating web servers, creating static web generators, and working for API clients. Ruby programmers are in high demand as the language is flexible, and you can use it on almost any project. Some top technology companies frequently hire Ruby programmers, including Airbnb, Shopify, GitHub, Autodesk, and Accenture. 

If you choose to pursue a career as a Ruby developer, you may also enjoy solid earning power. For instance, the average base salary for Ruby developers is $103,101, and the position pays an average of $73,998 if you have zero to one year of experience [2]. 

As a Ruby programmer, you’ll find several roles you can opt for with your skills:

• Ruby software developer: $115,484 [5]

• Software engineer: $111,868 [6]

• Back-end developer: $82,454 [7]

• Full-stack developer: $96,018 [8]

• Front-end developer: $81,881 [9]

With continuous development, you can progress to more senior positions such as senior software engineer or director of software development, earning $137,463 and $177,871, respectively [10, 11].

Learn Ruby programming with Coursera

Ruby is a popular, beginner-friendly, versatile programming language that can support your career development in many roles. If you’re a programming novice, consider taking an online course to learn the basics. You can gain access to more than 10,000 courses on various topics, including Ruby, when you sign up for Coursera Plus, a subscription-based learning option. 

You might also choose to progress your skills with a Professional Certificate relating to your preferred job role, such as the IBM Full-Stack Developer Professional Certificate, or the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate, both available on Coursera.

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