Not totally understanding the special initialize method in Ruby. Do you have to use instance variables with initialize?

Hi Logan!

I think Ronald did a good job of answering your question, but I wanted to add 1 lil bit to it and that is you can call other methods from your initialize method. Let's build on the Student object that Ronald started.

class Student
  def initialize(name, grade)
    @name = name
    @grade = grade
    @classroom = random_classrom
    assign_homework
  end

  def random_classroom
    ['12A', '15B', '16C', '18A'].sample
  end

  def assign_homework
    @homework ||= Homework.last
  end
end

Here we have set the students name and grade. But I'm also assigning the student to a random classroom (the sample method on the array class will randomly grab an element) and assigning them homework!

Does this make sense?

Fantastic Logan!

It's good to hear that the example and discussion helped you. It's also good that you did some independent reading on the subject. Treehouse courses are good, but it's important to research things from other sources too. I try to routinely look at as many different resources as I can lay my hands & eyes on (i.e., books, websites, tech forums, You-Tube videos, Coursera, etc.). After reviewing multiple sources, something that at first may have been cloudy, becomes clearer. Everyone has a different learning style, but that approach works best for me.

Here's a few tips that have helped me as I've traveled along the Rails Track. These strategies may also be of use to you.

First, try to learn as much Ruby as you can before tackling Rails. Some people may say it's not necessary to really grasp Ruby before tackling Rails, but I believe that having a decent handle on Ruby helps one to understand what's going on in Rails. Rails is like magic in many ways. It "hides" a lot of details behind the "curtain." It's great for getting stuff done, but it's possible to get something "done" in Rails without really understanding what you're doing. It's sort of like driving an automatic car without knowing how the transmission or engine works. So, I've tried my best to build up my understanding of Ruby to enhance my understanding of Rails. Hope that makes sense. My goal is to realy grasp what's going on under the Rails "hood." I think of Ruby as the key to unlock my Rails car (i.e., app).

Second, I've found that having a basic understanding of databases (MySQL) has helped me to better wrap my mind around Rails. Andew Chalkley's (Treehouse's) Database Foundations course is a good basic primer on the subject. After taking Andrew's course, I have a better understandng of and appreciation for the "magic", brilliance, and yes, beauty of ActiveRecord (the model) in Rails. The pieces began to make better sense.

Like you, Logan, I'm just learning new stuff and trying my best to understand it all. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes, but I try it step by step. A little each day adds up!

My last tip based on my experience so far: Be sure to give your brain proper rest! After I've rested, the fog almost always seem to lift. It's amazing how the human brain works! Whenever I get stuck (and that's often for me :-) I just look for new and different resources to enhance my understanding. Eventually it clicks.

Hope these tips are useful to you. Keep going! Good luck in your journey, wherever it may lead you.

Best,

Ronald

Hi Logan,

The initialize method allows you to pass arguments to a new object when you create it. For example, say you have the following

class Student
     def initialize(name, grade)
    @name = name
    @grade = grade
end

Now say you create a new object (i.e., a real student). You "initialize" the object by passing in the arguments (i.e., name and grade):

student = Student.new ("John Smart", "First Grade")

Note that @name and @grade are instance variables, which are denoted by the @ sign. So, the Student class in my example presents an initialize method that takes a name and grade argument, and then "assigns" them to the two instance variables (ie. name and grade). The "instance variables" need to be "initialized" by passing in the two arguments to Student.new.

I hope this clarifies things for you.

Best of luck,

Ronald