From: vruz <horacio.lopez@...>
Date: 2005-04-03T06:39:11+09:00
Subject: Re: Getting Ruby approved

> I was asked this question:  "The question is, is Ruby bringing
> something extra to the table, that we can't do with Perl, Python, Tcl,
> Guile?  E.g., are there OSS packages that we want to use which need
> Ruby?"
> I mentioned Rails and DRb as being the most useful applications of
> Ruby to me.  But can someone help me out with more?

Sneaking Ruby in to the office wasn't a big deal for me.

When they asked me to do something impossible whilst also meeting an
insane deadline, I told them that I would do it, but I would use my
own toolset.
I migrated poorly designed database schemas and all the data in them
from different sources (including old dbase tables), enforced
integrity in the target database and created a user interface for them
to query and review the new database.

Tools:  Ruby, Debian Linux, Postgres

They were thinking from a VC++ or Java mindset, they just couldn't do
that in less than a week using those tools. (heck, not in less than 4
weeks)
Common sense and having a good toolset  (instead of THE hammer) always helps.

I could have probably accomplished the same results using a Mac, but
at a much higher cost and less attractive ROI (the sort of thing
marketing types like to babble about).
I just used a spare PIII machine that was otherwise showing a 3d screensaver.

Doing what's otherwise impossible will always work.

cheers and good luck,
                                           vruz