Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Michael Kuntz
5,815 PointsAnyone else have a difficult time with the Rails Todo List app?
I'm having a hard time with the Rails course. I made it through "how to make a website", "introduction to programming", "Ruby Basics", "Javascript Foundations", "Console Foundations", "Git Basics", "Installing a Ruby Development Environment", "Ruby Foundations"... all the while understanding what was going on. Now, I'm in the "Build a Todo List application with Rails 4" and I have no clue what is going on. I tried following along and building this app on my computer but halfway through the course I feel like I'm not absorbing anything that is happening. Plus, he goes so damn fast! How am I supposed to follow along when he's like, oh "we'll just cut and paste this and that, and this goes here and super fast typing there, and this is that and presto, that's how you do that!" ...and I'm sitting there like, wtf did I just watch/do? At this point I've decided to just watch through the videos without following along because it has been too annoying constantly pausing, rewinding, etc. I have the Hartl book so I guess I'll learn Rails with that. Too bad I can't skip ahead but the track makes me finish one before starting the other.
3 Answers
thomascawthorn
22,986 PointsIt's quite a fast paced series, and it has been recognized that there's a sudden jump into test driven development without a huge explanation of what it is!
With regards to the copying and pasting - you can always download the project files to copy into your own project. They've also improved the teachers notes since previous rails projects so if you scroll down under each video.. you should hopefully find the code you're looking for. If not, check the project files.
I would recommend starting the whole thing again. If it's too fast, maybe try this: Watch the video first and understand what's going on. Once you have an understanding of what you're actually coding (and maybe see what it's leading to) you will be able to rewatch the video right after, this time following along with your own project. Instead of being like "what the heck am iIdoing!" It might be more "ahhhh.. that makes sense". I found starting rails quite similar experience, mostly blindly following along with the videos.
You might find the biggest jump is into an MVC project. Once you get your head around MVC (if you haven't already) the application should really start to take shape in your head.
Hope this helps
$ BILLY $
10,110 PointsI'm in the middle of this course and feel the exact same way, Michael. I feel a little less discouraged know though, knowing that it wasn't just me.
dacha
4,377 PointsMe too. He is going to fast and often without good explanation...