From: Dennis Decker Jensen <ddj@...>
Date: 2001-02-20T22:18:36+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:11168] Re: Ruby in the (almost) news


Ok. Couldn't resist to clear up some speculations - even though it's a
little bit off topic.

"Aleksi Niemel" <aleksi.niemela@cinnober.com> wrote in message
news:E536C8EE2A1FD31195370008C79FFA1F23230C@world.cinnober.com...
> Ray:
> > Just to be informative I thought I would add that Ruby is in
> > /usr/ports of most of the BSD's....Im currently using it

Yes I know. Thanks for mentioning the BSDs - I forgot. :-)

Regarding version numbering, I would consider 1.7, 1.7.2, 1.7.4, etc.
to be "stable" and 1.6.9, 1.7.1, 1.7.3, etc. to be "unstable". Is my
assumptions right on this?

> Ray:
> > Why limit yourself to Linux.

Ten years ago I used XENIX at school. Since then I've become
completely used to as well as fed up with Windows (it gets in my way).
The amazing thing is that I can still remeber the essentials of vi and
Korn Shell though(!). Now I'm going the hard way with a complete
shift!

And no, I won't limit myself to Linux. In the beginning I even looked
at BeOS, but decided I needed a less feinsmecker-OS (BeOS is cool
though and also has a ruby-port!).

I've simply not been able to decide on which OS/distro to start with.
Mandrake, Slackware, Suse, Debian, Redhat and FreeBSD have all been
under more or less consideration. They are now narrowed down to Debian
and FreeBSD, even thoug Slackware is tempting too.

I don't want graphics and the "easy" way - which often isn't that easy
anyway. I feel comfortable with a simple command line shell. I hope to
be enforced to learn faster that way and sooner get rid of the
monolitic mindset. I've bought "Running with Linux" by Matt Welsh for
night time reading :-)

Debian is probably going to be my first try (not too many unnecessary
packages, but just enough to choose from). When I've found my way
around I'll move on and try FreeBSD if not sooner and try that out, or
maybe something completely different - who knows? The choice is purely
pragmatic (a little better hardware support under Linux might get me
started sooner) - the only ideals involved is the general ideas of
FSF, GNU, Mob Software and Open Source. The sweet spot I've been
looking for is clarity, simplicity, freedom and the ability to grow
with the increasing use of the system.

... And to really have fun with ruby of course!

Thanks to all of you, who gently keeps posting in patience.. It's
great and inspiring to be here.

- Dennis