all I wanted to do was learn Rails - ended up going way further

In plain words

This is a personal project that documents one developer's journey beyond initial Rails learning goals. Started in 2012, it serves as a record of how a straightforward programming education effort expanded into something more substantial. The project is accessible at theindianlist.com and appeals to developers interested in learning pathways, personal growth in tech, and how side projects can evolve beyond their original scope.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

• 
  Codecademy's Learn Rails2015 · codecademy.com · ▲151

  Codecademy's new learning interface now teaches you Rails

• 
  One Month Rails2013 · onemonth.com · ▲104

  The easiest way ever developed to Learn to Code

• 
  Practicing Rails2014 · justinweiss.com · ▲104

  Learn Rails without getting overwhelmed.

• 
  Software Engineering Daily — The Evolution of Rails with David Heinemeier Hansson2016 · softwareengineeringdaily.com · ▲67

  DHH talks software, evolving Basecamp, and "unicorns"

• 
  Prelang2014 · prelang.com · ▲82

  Automatic Rails Development

• 
  This Developing Story - 34: Rails Works Well Enough2015 · developingstory.netlify.com · ▲56

  talking about a blog post complaining about Rails

• 
  SimCity, but with Permits▲936

  A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.

  Life & fun · 4d ago · permit.petercai.com

• IV
  I've been paying for a rural Tanzanian's education for 10 years▲778

  Life & fun · 16d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org

• 
  Bigwords.page – Turn any screen into a sign. The URL is the app▲728

  Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.

  Life & fun · 17d ago · bigwords.page

• 
  Guitoro, a virtual guitar you strum with your keyboard▲573

  Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.

  Life & fun · 10d ago · guitoro.com

• 
  See *almost* any carriers phone settings▲432

  Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.

  Life & fun · 15d ago · carrierexplode.com

• 
  The whole Solar System and every tracked satellite, live in the browser▲407

  Life & fun · 24d ago · space.bl2.net

• MA
  Meteor, a realtime JavaScript framework▲1,386

  Dev tools · 2012 · meteor.com

• 
  Imagine a search engine that removed top million sites from its index▲552

  Life & fun · 2012 · millionshort.com

• 
  Firebase, a scalable real-time backend▲526

  Discover Firebase, Google’s mobile and web app development platform that helps developers build apps and games that users will love.

  Life & fun · 2012 · firebase.com

• OH
  Our Hackable E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android▲342

  Life & fun · 2012 · kickstarter.com

• IY
  iPG - YC Interview Simulator▲290

  Life & fun · 2012 · jamescun.com

• 
  Clutch.io helps you build iOS apps fast and update them instantly▲290

  Create highly-personalized sites that increase conversions with the power of AI, leveraging your existing tools and data.

  AI · 2012 · clutch.io