There is no shortage of programming languages and frameworks out there. But in the midst of all this, Ruby on Rails stands out. Despite losing out on the top spot to other contenders, Ruby on Rails has earned for itself a position of repute and a robust user base. Ever since its debut in 2004, Ruby on Rails has rapidly become one of the most impactful and popular tools for building dynamic web applications. Rails owes much of its success to its compact design and the usage of the underlying Ruby language. It effectively creates a domain-specific language for writing web applications. As a result, many common web programming tasks--such as generating HTML, making data models, and routing URLs--are easier with Rails. Although its outstanding capabilities have made Ruby on Rails one of the world's most popular web development frameworks, some might still find it challenging to learn and use. Mastering Ruby on Rails: A Beginner's Guide could be just the right solution for that. Whatever your previous web development experience is, Mastering Ruby on Rails can guide you to true Rails proficiency. It will help you to: Install and set up your Rails development environment Go beyond generated code to build Rails applications from scratch Effectively use the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern Master the Ruby programming skills all Rails developers need Define high-quality site layouts and data models Add social features and navigate Asynchronous Javascript and XML (Ajax) Mastering Ruby on Rails will walk you through Rails' inner workings and equip you to tackle complicated projects with solutions that are well-tested, adaptive, and easy to maintain. This book starts by explaining critical points behind object-oriented programming and builds toward creating a full Rails application within a few chapters. By the end of this book, besides in-depth knowledge of Rails, you will also have a basic understanding of many supporting technologies such as SQL, web frameworks, and Integrated Development Environment (IDE).You will be able to quickly grasp the Rails methodology by focusing on the development from the point of view of the beginner-level developer. Additionally, you will be provided with a reliable roadmap for migrating your applications, skill set, and development procedures to the newer, more flexib