Consider two ways to describe the same action:

  • "I applied directional force to a wooden object to induce angular displacement."
  • "I opened a door."

To beginners, many programming languages feel like that first sentence — overly complex, jargon-heavy, and intimidating.

Ruby feels like the second.

Learning Ruby

This simplicity-first philosophy is Ruby's DNA. Sure, it's powerful, but so are other programming languages.

But Ruby's superpower (and what makes it ideal for beginners) is that it prioritizes developer happiness, turning frustration into a state of flow.

In just 5 minutes, you'll write your first Ruby program. But first, let's take a look at what you'll learn in the upcoming tutorials.

What You'll Learn

These tutorials will help you build a solid foundation in Ruby programming and prepare you to build real-world applications with confidence.


At this point, you know what you’ll learn; let’s explore the “Why?”

The Ruby Advantage

📖 Reads Like Plain English

Compare a sum program in Ruby vs. C:

main.rb

x = 10
y = 5
puts x + y

main.c

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
  int x = 10, y = 5;
  printf("%d", x + y);
  return 0;
}

Ruby strips away jargon, offers a gentle learning curve, and transforms complex tasks into intuitive, human-readable code.

Leading to:

  • Less setup, more building
  • Clean, maintainable architecture
  • Rich ecosystem of tools and libraries

🛠️ Loved by 2M+ Developers

Ruby is widely used in web development, particularly with the Ruby on Rails framework.

It powers rapid development for tech-titans like GitHub, Airbnb, Shopify and others.

💸 Career Opportunities

Even if you're starting from zero today, Ruby skills can unlock high-value roles in:

Web Development · Backend Engineering · DevOps · Startup Founding

However, before you become a backend engineer at Shopify, you first need to learn the ABCs of Ruby. Our tutorial will provide you with that foundation.

Running Ruby

Now that we've covered the "What?" and "Why?" part of the equation, it's time to tackle the "How?" and get you set up to write your first program.

This starts with running Ruby code. We have an in-built Ruby compiler, which means you’ll code as you learn. You don’t need to install anything to complete the tutorial.

However, if you want to build projects or work offline, you can install Ruby locally on your computer — here’s our dedicated guide to help you.

Your Ruby Journey Starts Right Now

If you're staring at the screen, wondering if you can actually learn this. Spoiler alert: You absolutely can do this.

Every expert was once a beginner, and every complex application started with someone typing their first "Hello World."

Your journey starts now — click the button below and write your first “Hello World” in Ruby.

how-to-install-ruby

The difference between thinking about coding Ruby and actually doing it?

Writing Your First Ruby Program