Russ Olsen
russolsen.bsky.social
Russ Olsen
@russolsen.bsky.social
930 followers 580 following 180 posts
Engineer, reader, believer in numbers, author of Eloquent Ruby, Getting Clojure, Design Patterns in Ruby and Overdrive. He, him
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Reposted by Russ Olsen
I don't normally get angry about the media, who are doing a difficult job in a difficult environment. But if you see a story where one scientist says one thing, and literally everyone else says another, and you decide to write it up, well, Jed, I don't even want to know you.
And it warms my heart that people still want to read actual books!
It's not a dumb question!

Yes, there will be a physical paper book available sometime in 2026.

Since paper books take forever, this beta release of the ebook, gives people early access, when most, but not quite all of the content is done.
Putting the finishing touches on the beta release of 2nd edition of Eloquent Ruby, which should be available sometime in the next couple of weeks.

This has been a long, long journey but the finish line is at least out there on the horizon. I mean, who writes a book with 746 separate code examples?
There are things that everyone knows. These are the things that nobody talks about. Which is why not everyone knows what "everyone knows."

You know?
In other news, the print version of my novel Overdrive is almost ready. And it has a different cover!
www.amazon.com/Overdrive-Li...
The 2nd edition of Eloquent Ruby has a cover!
Eloquent Ruby update: We are edging towards a beta release, probably early to mid Nov.

One. Page. At. A. Time.
Somehow I've lived in this neighborhood for years without noticing just how cool the people down the street are...
Thanks! Just ordered a couple and some ink.
@antiheroine.bsky.social Hey do you have any recommendations for a converter and ink for that LAMY pen you talked me into buying?

I'm going thru 2-3 cartridges a week...
I've released the framework that I used to create the epub/kindle version of my recent novel, Overdrive, up on github.

So if you have ever had the urge to write a novel in markdown, this is your lucky day.

github.com/russolsen/bo...
GitHub - russolsen/book_markdown_template
Contribute to russolsen/book_markdown_template development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
Via the magic of photoshop, James looks like he's scolding me and I look like I'm playing no attention. Totally out of character for James and so in character for me.
Between working on the Eloquent Ruby and the novel Overdrive, I've been struck by how much overlap there is between writing fiction and technical stuff.

The one needs to be entertaining, flow from scene to scene and pop up with surprises every now and then.

The other is a long made-up story.
Eloquent Ruby 2nd edition update: Just finished the first draft of the pattern matching chapter.

It's a bit like squeezing out that last bit of toothpaste, from the point of view of the tube. But also fun
Thanks for the offer but we are working with the fine folks from the publisher.
I came across an old shirt while cleaning out my closet, had a wave of nostalgia.
Reposted by Russ Olsen
2/5. "Functional Programming in 40 Minutes • Russ Olsen • GOTO 2024" ⸱ +3k views ⸱ 09 Jul 2025 ⸱ https://youtube.com/watch?v=QujM1S3tP-I
@gotocon.com @russolsen.bsky.social
I keep getting these "Unlock AI for just $10!!!!" type ads.

I keep asking how much it would cost to throw away the key...
There are no secrets in a small town. That's a problem for Anne, Grant and Syd because they have some earth-shattering secrets that they must keep.
Here's another in my somewhat erratic updates on the second edition of Eloquent Ruby: We've passed the half way mark on the first draft. Sixteen out of thirty one chapters done.

Getting there. One. Page. At. A. Time.