From: Ryan Leavengood <mrcode@...>
Date: 2005-04-17T10:35:58+09:00
Subject: Re: All Quiet on the Western Front: Is Rails overshadowing Ruby?

James Britt wrote:
> Rubygems has made a big difference for me.  Whereas trying a new lib or 
> application was often a series of downloads, dependency searches, and 
> installation headaches, most libraries nowadays are a snap to install 
> and explore.  Would Rails , for example, have been as successful if 
> people had to manually install the half-dozen or so required libraries?
> 
> Half the battle is getting people to at least try things.
> 
> Without rubygems, many a fine application would go underused.

I definitely agree, as that is why I came up with the original idea for 
RubyGems. Not that is was all that original, just a combination of a few 
different things. The main point I was making was that the resurrection 
of RubyGems after I stopped working on the original was helped along by 
some useful new libraries, though nothing really extraordinary was 
needed. Mostly I stopped because I just got overwhelmed and lazy and 
moved on ;)

Also as useful as it is, RubyGems is really a facilitator and not 
necessarily a piece of software that will draw people into using Ruby. 
Originally I thought it would be a draw, but in reality I'm not so sure 
(I'm a few years older and wiser.) But as you say it certainly does help 
people to use things like Rails that are more of a draw.

> Aside from Matz, Ruby has yet to have its Michaelangelo.  Maybe some 
> Warhols and Duchamps, though.

I don't know, there are some people who can write some pretty fine 
pieces of code. I'm just not sure how you can just the artistry of any 
piece of code. Maybe it is just one of those QWAN (Quality Without A 
Name) type things. Rubyists (or even people in general) just KNOW when 
something is good.

Ryan Leavengood