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title: User Groups

In the programming community, user groups form support networks for

people interested in certain topics. They are a great place to increase

your skills and network with other programmers. User groups are informal

and their structure varies from group to group. Anyone can form their

own group and set their own rules and schedule.

If you want to get together with other Ruby programmers, a local user

group may be just the thing. Ruby user groups are entirely devoted to

Ruby. They typically feature monthly meetings, a mailing list, a Web

site, and if you are lucky, frequent hacking sessions (meetings devoted

to giving people a chance to write Ruby code).

Information about Ruby user groups can be found on various Web sites:

[rubyusersgroups.org][1]

: A public listing of Ruby groups throughout the world. Also allows

Rubyists to place themselves on a map of the world.

[Ruby Meetup Groups][2]

: A substantial number of Ruby User Groups have chosen to make Meetup

their home. Meetup provides a number of tools for user groups,

including: private forums, a place for announcements, automated

meeting reminders, and a nice RSVP system.

If you are interested in forming your own group, be sure to find out if

there is already a Ruby user group in your area. Larger meetings are

usually much more fun, so starting your own group may not be the best

option if there is already one nearby.

[1]: http://www.rubyusergroups.org/

[2]: http://ruby.meetup.com