From: gwtmp01@...
Date: 2005-06-22T12:06:10+09:00
Subject: Runtime vs Development


Assume some-other-language is 10x faster than Ruby.

If a project implemented via some-other-language
requires 5 dedicated systems @ $2,000/each
($10,000 total), then Ruby requires 50 dedicated
systems and $100,000 worth of equipment to accomplish
the same task.

Now assume a Ruby programmer is 3 times more efficient
than some-other programmer and assume a programmer salary of
$80,000/year (including overhead).  And assume that the
programming task will take three man-years to develop
in some-other-language.

So this hypothetical project implemented via Ruby costs:
$80,000 in labor and $100,000 in equipment for $180,000.
The same project implemented in some-other-language costs
$240,000 for labor and $10,000 in equipment for $250,000 total.

So Ruby is 10 times slower than some-other-language but
you've got $70,000 more in your pocket when your done.

Moral:  Hardware is cheap, people aren't.

Gary Wright