Ruby: Learning Path & Resources.

Ruby is a high-level, dynamic, object-oriented programming language that is designed for simplicity and productivity. It is often used for web development, building web applications and scripting. Ruby is known for its elegant syntax and its focus on human-readable code.

Prerequisites: Before learning Ruby, you should have a basic understanding of programming concepts such as variables, loops and functions. Familiarity with at least one programming language is also helpful.

Step-by-Step Learning Path For RUBY:

1. Ruby Basics: Start with the basics of Ruby programming language such as syntax, variables, data types, and basic operations.
2. Ruby Strings: Learn about Ruby strings and their manipulation techniques.
3. Ruby Arrays: Learn about arrays, iterating over arrays, and manipulating arrays.
4. Ruby Hashes: Learn about Ruby Hashes, their manipulation, and the differences between arrays and hashes.
5. Ruby Control Structures: Learn about loops, conditional statements, and control structures in Ruby.
6. Ruby Methods: Learn how to write and use methods in Ruby.
7. Ruby Classes: Learn about classes, objects, and how to use them in Ruby.
8. Ruby Modules: Learn about modules, how to create them and include them in your code.
9. Ruby Exception Handling: Learn about how to handle exceptions in Ruby and write code that gracefully handles errors.
10. Ruby Regular Expressions: Learn about regular expressions, their syntax, and how to use them in Ruby.
11. Ruby Metaprogramming: Learn about metaprogramming techniques such as defining methods at runtime, creating dynamic classes, and modifying the behavior of existing classes.
12. Ruby Web Development: Learn how to use Ruby for web development using frameworks such as Ruby on Rails.
13. Ruby Testing: Learn how to write automated tests for your Ruby code using popular testing frameworks like RSpec.
14. Ruby Performance Optimization: Learn how to optimize your Ruby code for performance, including techniques like memoization, lazy loading, and caching.
15. Remember to practice what you learn as you progress through each step. This will help you build your skills and become proficient in Ruby programming language.

Top Learning Resources For Learning RUBY:

1. Ruby-Doc: https://ruby-doc.org/
2. Ruby Programming: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/
3. Ruby on Rails Tutorial: https://www.railstutorial.org/
4. Learn Ruby the Hard Way: https://learnrubythehardway.org/
5. Codecademy’s Ruby course: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-ruby
6. Ruby Koans: http://rubykoans.com/
7. The Ruby Way: https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Way-Third-Addison-Wesley-Professional/dp/0132480379
8. Ruby Monk: https://rubymonk.com/
9. Ruby Learning: http://rubylearning.com/
10. Ruby Tapas: https://www.rubytapas.com/
11. The Bastards Book of Ruby: http://ruby.bastardsbook.com/
12. Ruby Toolbox: https://www.ruby-toolbox.com/
13. Ruby Weekly: https://rubyweekly.com/
14. RailsCasts: http://railscasts.com/
15. RubyMine: https://www.jetbrains.com/ruby/
16. Ruby Inside: https://rubyinside.com/
17. RubyFlow: https://rubyflow.com/
18. GoRails: https://gorails.com/
19. The Odin Project: https://www.theodinproject.com/courses/ruby-programming
20. Reddit Ruby: https://www.reddit.com/r/ruby/

What to Learn Next: After learning Ruby, you can explore related fields such as web development, data science and automation. You can also learn more advanced topics such as distributed systems, concurrency and functional programming.

Top Advantages:

1. Productivity: Ruby is designed for productivity, with a focus on simplicity and elegance in code.
2. Flexibility: Ruby can be used for a wide range of applications, including web development, scripting and automation.
3. Large Community: Ruby has a large and active community, with many libraries and resources available for developers.
4. Object-Oriented: Ruby is a fully object-oriented language, allowing for easy and intuitive object-oriented programming.
5. Human-Readable Code: Ruby has a syntax that is easy to read and understand, making it a popular choice for beginners.

Top Disadvantages:

1. Performance: Ruby can be slower than other languages, especially for complex applications with large amounts of data.
2. Memory Usage: Ruby can use a large amount of memory compared to other languages, which can be a concern for large-scale applications.
3. Lack of Typing: Ruby is dynamically typed, which can make it more difficult to catch errors and can result in less efficient code.
4. Steep Learning Curve: Ruby can have a steep learning curve for beginners, especially when learning advanced topics such as Ruby on Rails.
5. Lack of Standardization: Ruby lacks standardization, which can result in compatibility issues between different libraries and frameworks.