From: ChrisO <ceo@...>
Date: 2004-09-16T09:29:50+09:00
Subject: Re: Ex-Perl coders: Howz it feel to convert to Ruby?

Andrew Johnson wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Sep 2004 14:50:25 GMT, Chris <ceo@nospan.on.net> wrote:
> [snip]
> 
>>So the question for any hardcore Perl coders out there that have 
>>converted to Perl (or are fluent in both) is: Is it really worth the 
>>time?  Are the paybacks there?  And do you feel you've exceeded your 
>>capabilities in Perl using Ruby?
> 
> 
> I'll throw my $0.02 into the pot ...
> 
> I wouldn't call myself a "hardcore" anything, but I have used Perl a lot,
> written about Perl a good deal, and taught a fair number of Perl courses
> (introductory and advanced). I do like Perl.
> 
> If you are fluent in Perl and have a good grasp of OO (Perl's and/or other
> langauges), then fluency in the Ruby language itself should be a relatively
> quick and enjoyable experience. What *will* take a while longer is becoming
> familiar enough with what is and isn't available in the standard libraries
> or on RAA and rubyforge to become as productive as you currently are in
> Perl (but that isn't a "language" issue per se).
> 

Absolutely.  I agree.

> I will mention that I have tried out Python on a couple of occassions, but
> was just never seriously drawn to it.
> 
> Ruby, on the other hand, appealed to me right away. As different as Ruby
> and Perl are, they both "fit" with how my mind thinks and solves problems
> --- and I've always been an advocate of balancing the old axiom of "using
> the right tool for the job" with "using the right tool for your mind". Ruby
> and Perl are both darn good tools in my mind, and for my mind. So for me it
> was worth it, ymmv.
> 

I'm totally with you on all this.  I've done *exactly* the same thing 
(Python and all), and I'm thinking both Perl and Ruby fit my "thinking" 
as well.  Good post, mate.

-ceo