MarlonPro

I feel for you. Let's say that I am on the same boat right now and on the same stage of life. I am also looking for answers on the same question.

That said, I cannot give a good advice per se. But let me say this. Keep at it. Get involved with the developer community.

In fact, there is the SoCal Code Camp on January 28-29, 2012 at Cal State Fullerton. Check it out http://www.socalcodecamp.com/ . I will be there.

Read this paper (pdf):

"Why Corporations Choose Delaware"

http://corp.delaware.gov/whycorporations_web.pdf

I agree with @greedoshotlast. But I am on the same boat as @throwaway826.

My major was in Philosophy. I've been attempting to go back to school but always ended up not finishing. I was shooting for a CS degree.

I took up courses in the community college with intention to transfer to the university (cost-effective). But, due to personal, job, and family commitments, I couldn't get past that community college level, hadn't completed even the associate degree.

So, I think I am going the teach-yourself-to-code route! My C#/.Net attempt at this was not successful either. This time I am teaching myself to code in Ruby/Rails!

that's right.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8796124/loaderror-on-inst...

Try this. It might help somebody.

http://inboxzero.com/

I found it interesting

One answer to that: http://codeyear.com/ :-)

I need that too!

e-commerce

@Aqua_Geek & @tfitzgerald yes, I already have that in my Chrome's bookmark. I also bookmarked the following:

BOOKS + Why's (Poignant) Guide To Ruby (http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/)

+ Learn To Program (http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/)

+ The Book Of Ruby by Sapphire Steel Software (http://www.sapphiresteel.com/The-Book-Of-Ruby)

+ The Bastards Book of Ruby (http://ruby.bastardsbook.com/toc/)

BLOG TIPS ON RUBY

+ I'm basically following tips listed here: "5 Resources to Get Started with Ruby on Rails" (http://quickleft.com/blog/5-resources-to-get-started-with-ru...) And,

+ "Best way to learn Ruby & Rails" (http://astonj.com/tech/best-way-to-learn-ruby-rails/)

WEBCASTS/VIDEOS

+ I'll be watching "Rails for Zombies" (http://railsforzombies.org/)

+ Screencasts at rubyonrails.org

And on the side, I am also re-reading "OOP Demystified" to get a better grasp on OOP.

Is there any other particular book that is a must-book for a beginner? Or my list on top pretty much covered all a beginner should know about getting up to speed with Ruby on Rails?

Inspiring! I am also trying to learn Ruby on Rails. Like you, I also have an itch for startup. Learning Ruby on Rails is on my top list for 2012!

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Build your own company :-)

Should look close to this:

+++Computer Science I: Programming Methodology (http://academicearth.org/courses/programming-methodology)

+++Computer Science II: Programming Abstractions (http://academicearth.org/courses/programming-abstractions)

+++Computer Science III: Programming Paradigms (http://academicearth.org/courses/programming-paradigms)

Of course you can throw in there:

+++Introduction to Algorithms (http://academicearth.org/courses/introduction-to-algorithms)

+++Data Structures (http://academicearth.org/courses/data-structures)

Some of the best:

- The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master - Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction - Joel on Software: And on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers, Designers, and Managers, and to Those Who, Whether by Good Fortune or Ill Luck, Work with Them in Some Capacity

Would you be interested in Drop Shipping for online retailers?

This is a short, good read. A part of the book is spent on the personal, face-to-face conversation between the author and Steve Jobs

No 1. Reason: Streamline operations cost with regards "communication/collaboration needs". Disparate system cost more than an integrated collaboration suite.

No. 2 Reason: Overhead reduction.

There are gazillions of other reasons...

I love the fact that I can use my Microsoft Word (I use v. 2010) and can just sync it to my Google Docs account. The most obvious benefit is: BACKUP! Awesome!

First time I hear that. And it's actually nice! Your environment can definitely affect your outlook in life

Those people who are always on the go - especially those backpacker freelancers. Those who can work regardless of their geographical location.

What my point is this: one should not identify the "home" with the "office" in a home office environment. A distinction should be made. I do my side projects from my home-office (I also have a day job in a traditional office). But I don't "treat" my home office as I would any other space at my house. Do I go straight from bed to my working desk in my home office. Yes, I do sometimes but I don't make that a habit :-)

You're right, it depends. It depends mainly on the industry one is working in and also, I should add, the type of personality. Outgoing, extrovert people may have a had time working from a home-office :-)

Since I'm getting lots of nice feedback about this article, let's discuss a little bit further: do you or agree to the article or not? And why?

What do you think are the good points of the article? The bad points? Defend your position!

I think that's one of the many benefits of working from home. Yes, you have to follow a strict rule of professionalism when working from home-office, but not to the point that it becomes rigid. You have the option to be casual. Choosing which time you are most effective is a critical key when working from home.

I think there are 3 distinctions that we need to identify here:

1. employee that works in the traditional office 2. employee/freelancer that works in the home-office 3. employee/freelancer that works in the cloud.

These are the distinctions that define the modern workforce. Whichever category you fall into, I believe that you still have to have a home-office of some sort - may that be a dedicated room, a corner, or just a desk in the living room.

I have heard a lot of good things about the pomodoro technique.

If you're working from home in which your bosses are not around, you need something to kick your butt. This technique really helps on that regard.

The article is for those who work from their home office. But you are right. Home and office should not be mixed. It's a bad concoction. The key is to separate the home from the office and vice versa in all aspects - mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Break the bad cycle! Do something that will kickstart your productivity mode. Reviewing a complicated code would help you create the momentum you need.

Mindset. That's very important. Then comes motivation. That creates momentum which will translate to productivity :-)

Working from home probably demands more discipline that when your working in a corporate office. It is not for everybody. The slackers cannot thrive in a home-office environment :-)