Beginning Rails is the practical starting point for anyone wanting to learn how to build dynamic web applications using the Rails framework for Ruby. You'll learn how all of the components of Rails fit together and how you can leverage them to create sophisticated web applications with less code and more joy.This book is particularly well suited to those with little or no experience with web application development, or who have some experience but are new to Rails. Beginning Rails assumes basic familiarity with web terms and technologies, but doesn't require you to be an expert.Topics include:A gentle introduction to the Ruby programming languageInstalling Ruby and Rails on a Mac, Linux, or Windows systemThe philosophy behind Rails and why it mattersThe Model-View-Controller architectureThe basics of relational databases and SQLSetting up a MySQL database and creating a schema with migrationsExperimenting with your live application in the Rails consoleCreating rich relationships between your modelsUsing controllers and templates properlyLeveraging helpers to keep your templates clean and logic freeAdding Ajax and visual effects to enrich your user interfacesJavaScript with Prototype and script.aculo.usHow to send and receive mail from your applicationUsing and creating your own plug-insEnsuring your code against Murphy's Law through writing testsUsing Capistrano to deploy your applicationRather than delving into the arcane details of Rails, the focus is on the aspects of the frameworkthat will become your pick, shovel, and axe. Part history lesson, part introduction to object-oriented programming, and part dissertation on open source software, Beginning Rails doesn't just explain how to do something in Rails, it explains why.Every programmer fondly remembers the book that helped them get started. The goal of Beginning Rails is to become that book for you, today.