From: Luis Lavena Date: 2011-01-21T22:06:59+09:00 Subject: [ruby-core:34736] Re: [Ruby 1.8-Feature#4239] Let's begin a talk for "1.8.8" -- How's needed for surviving 1.8? On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM, Zeno Davatz wrote: > > In contrast I have a very simple Use-Case for you. Ruby 1.9.2 breaks the dbi gem because the dbi-gem uses simple normal HashIteration to load Data from our Postgresql 8.4 database into the Cache in our application. We have millions of Views per Year (peak time can be 2000 - 3000 rps) and not a single complaint with Ruby 1.8.6. But if we want to switch to Ruby 1.9.2 then it just stops working because the dbi-gem does not work anymore and that thing has a huge tail! > > And this is what Ruby should care about. This is what Linux cares about but I think you do not really notice that. > Zeno, in case you miss the poiint of dunno how many times Matz has said: Compatibility break between 1.8.x and 1.9.x WAS PLANNED EXPECTED. There is a new syntax, a new VM and lot of new features around Unicode that break was the only way to achieve them. Yes, a bummer, but no upgrade is free. that is why you have Unit Tests (TDD) to drive your application and know in advance that these things will break and where, right? If you asked this 2 years ago, when 1.9.1 was under works, I think will be acceptable, but 1.9.2 is out now, so API and behaviors of it needs to remain compatible *with previous patchlevels of it* So, bring your points to 1.9.3 (trunk), but consider that trunk needs to remain compatible up to certain point with 1.9.2 I think you're completely missing *that* point. Is not about theory versus practice or how many rps your application handles. Is about every component that needs to be compatible with the version of Ruby you're planning on use. That is what tests are good for. It is OK break compatibility if the obtained benefits are greater. Look at Python history if you want. And please, stop "Linus this, Linus that" because Ruby != Linux kernel. Different models, different needs and a whole different world. -- Luis Lavena AREA 17 - Perfection in design is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but rather when there is nothing more to take away. Antoine de Saint-Exup�ry