dboyd

Generally speaking, you now need a compiler. If not to install something other than a quite old system ruby, then to install common gems like nokogiri.

XCode seems to change significantly every release. Not long ago, you had to download it, or get it from your system CDs. Then you had to buy it from the app-store. Then you got it for free from the app-store. Then you got the installer for free from the app-store, and had to run the installer. And today I think you get the installer, which you run, and then you go through a series of menus to get to "install command line tools" (like gcc).

Once gcc is there, then you need a ruby. There's RVM and rbenv. Those need to be found, installed (by running a curl command piped through bash), and then a ruby needs to be installed. I use RVM, which is easy enough for me, and it does install bundler by default (which is good).

Once you have a modern ruby, you probably want a database other than sqlite. For that, you usually need homebrew. Again, install homebrew, and then have homebrew install postgresql/mysql.

At this point you are almost ready to install the rails gem.

Oddly, a lot of the newer complexity has less to do with Rails, and has more to do with the Ruby ecosystem getting both older and more complex at the same time.

Every time I help a new developer get started with the rails environment, I too am amazed at how much has changed since I setup my own laptop one year ago.

I must admit, it's tough, their Internet service is quite good.

I assume you got the 'two lines' package? I wouldn't mind comparing what you are paying to my other options. What's your upload speed, and did you go with 'Annex M' or 'Annex A'?

Monkeybrains is still an option for me, but I'm hesitant about going wireless. The information you provided is great, thanks for the post!

When hiring remote, make sure to put "communication skills" near the top of the requirements, since any hire is going to have to make up for the loss of presence.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language

    $ cd /some/really/long/dir
    $ pwd
    /some/really/long/dir
    $ cd ~
    $ pwd
    ~
    $ cd -
    $ pwd
    /some/really/long/dir

This shows in their documentation. I am working with their API, and everything is very well documented.

This also shows in their support. Being able to jump into a Campfire room with the same people who commit to their github repos makes for quickly resolved issues.

Keep up the good work Zencoder!

IMHO, the worst part about HN is the extreme homogeneity, and the system is designed to reinforce this. The recent discussion about display points is an example of this. Removing points is said to "reduce arguments" ... which is really just another way of "reducing disagreement".

The first startup I worked for was in 1993, and it was an amazing experience. While it's been fun watching the Internet change over the last 2 decades, it's been just as much fun watching how much of it stays the same (like DNS, is DNS configuration ever going to be anything short of magic?).

I'm proud to say that first startup is still going: http://www.yourlink.ca/

Except we don't work on our TVs. In fact, in web development, I do 'real work' in the same application I 'waste real time' (the browser).

Seth Godin had an interesting take on that problem...

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/03/are-you-maki...

We are an early-stage, angle-funded startup building the next generation online video marketplace. We have several significant customers using and profiting from our application. Founders have had several exits with big players (e.g., IAC and Viacom); we are looking to do it again.

We are hiring a Ruby/Rails Engineer. If you are passionate, have strong opinions, and are not afraid to be critical then we would like to talk to you.

We have a small engineering team, and we offer plenty of opportunity to work anywhere in the stack. Everything from jQuery plugins to cluster management tools will need work. There are plenty of things to be done, and everything you do will have an immediate and significant impact. You don't have to be a generalist, but the opportunity is there if you want it.

Company Site: http://www.realgravity.com/

Apply Here: workfor@realgravity.com

.gov was a bad idea.

.gov.us (or .gov.ca.us) is not.

Outside of obviously regional things. amazon.de and amazon.ca serve their purpose fairly well.

I would agree that the difference between ibm.com and ibm.org and ibm.net is impractical at best.

If I hadn't had soap to wash my hands before biting into my hamburger, I probably would have invented it.

Considering it wasn't that long ago (historically) that virtually all of the worlds population was agrarian, I suspect being dirty was a fairly strong motivation for the invention of soap.

OK. Civil rights.

Have two countries that grant full legal equality to both men and women ever gone to war?

Code Complete: http://cc2e.com/

Introduction to Algorithms (google that one, it's hard to find a good link)

Domain Driven Design: http://domaindrivendesign.org/books/evans_2003

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

The term "web development" doesn't mean much. There is web design. There is application development. When the two mix, there is web application development. Any kind of application development is hard, and simply knowing a language or two isn't going to make you a good application developer any more than knowing english will make you Stephen King. (IMO)

Actually, it's like maintaining a skyscraper built from steel, concrete and glass integrated with complex HVAC, plumbing, electrical and elevator systems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lug_nut#History

Propane tanks also used to have backwards screwing connections. I believe this was a safety 'feature' given the mainstream use of small propane tanks. Having them tighten counter-clockwise prevents similar looking but wrong hoses from being attached to the tank. It also tricked people who didn't understand propane tanks form being able to remove a connection (since they would usually just tighten it further).

For "mv A B"

I've no problem saying either

  mv into A the contents of B

  mv the contents of A into B

  strcat(target, source)
  strcpy(target, source)

  cp source target

I'm not saying that the deal is off, but we're going to have to really work on clauses 3 and 4 before we can move forward.

I interpret that statement as "unless you come my way on clauses 3 and 4, the deal is off."

For me, it's hard not to read two statements, joined with a 'but', and not interpret the first statement as a 'lie'.

[1] irony intended

I grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada. While I missed out, my father always talked about turning in gopher tails for money. My recollection is that my older brother was able to do this, and he got $1 per tail. At that price, even in the 1970s, I doubt you could have made any real money raising gophers.

These guys aren't giving themselves enough credit. IMO, they can take credit for advancing the world of Web development. While the other development tools are (quickly) catching up, firebug is still leading the pack.

If Jon is able to shape the minds of his viewers, I do hope he succeeds. At the very least, creating a healthy disrespect for the use of hyperbole in political discussions would go a long way to bringing some 'sanity' back into what has become a bitter political divide.

All in all, it takes about a morning to have a legal operating funded company up and running.

Of course, revenue is another story :).