From: Ben Giddings <bg-rubytalk@...>
Date: 2004-07-16T02:16:36+09:00
Subject: Re: scripting language (fwd)

Ara.T.Howard wrote:
> I'm investigating alternative scripting languages.  We
> currently use Perl almost exclusively (except
> sometimes some ksh) but would like to consider a
> language that is friendlier with the JVM.  It also has
> to have an LDAP API and an Oracle API, without
> requiring C coding (we don't have C coders here).

Well, first of all, he should take a look at zsh if they use ksh.  ;)

Secondly, it seems a bit odd to me that a cobol/SQL/Java shop wouldn't 
even be able to compile C code.  I assume there's no programming in 
getting the Ruby OCI to work, just compiling.  I suppose if they're on 
Windows instead of Linux, OS X or a BSD then they might not have a C 
compiler handy.  *shrug*

I guess it's common for Windows packages to be distributed as compiled 
binaries, but from a brief glance, this Ruby OCI interface seems to be 
geared more towards Unixish users (it's distributed as a tar.gz file).

Maybe Ruby just isn't what they need, but I would bet that it wouldn't 
be too hard to find a kind soul to compile the API for them if they 
don't want to bother with installing a compiler.

Ben