If you're new to Ruby, don't worry too much. It's a language
designed to be easy to read and to behave exactly as you'd expect,
so it shouldn't take you too long to get up to speed.
Firstly, it's useful to know how to check the syntax of a ruby file
(like a cookbook):
If you're using the Chef Repository, you can just run 'rake test', which will remember which files have been tested based on mtime:
Now for a few basics:
Ruby Quick Reference for Clever Sysadmins
Some suggested further reading:
http://poignantguide.net/ruby/
http://www.rubycentral.com/book/
http://www.ruby-doc.org/stdlib/