From: Robert Hicks <bobhicks@...>
Date: 2001-10-04T05:26:04+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:22026] Re: Let's work on Windows support

Phil Tomson wrote:

> In article <01100219321302.00954@linux>,
> Albert Wagner  <alwagner@tcac.net> wrote:
> 
>>On Monday 01 October 2001 21:51, you wrote:
>>
>>>In article <3BB8E096.C819F3BD@uark.edu>,
>>>
>>>Albert L. Wagner <alwagner@uark.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Guy N. Hurst" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Robert Hicks wrote:
>>>>>
>>>Not really.  I don't think he's saying that we just dump Windows, but that
>>>we need to consider an alternative to cygwin which we control.  
>>>
>><snip>
>>
>>Hi, Phil.
>>
>>I think we each read something different into Robert's remark.  I am not 
>>worried that we will dump Windows.  Personally, I hate Windows, but 
>>nevertheless have to use it on my job.  My worry is that somehow the concerns 
>>of Windows users will lead to compromises that eventually render Ruby not as 
>>useful on Linux.  Now, don't ask me HOW.  I don't know.  At the moment it is 
>>strictly an irrational fear.
>>
> 
> I don't see that happening and I suspect that a lot of us would be vocal 
> in our opposition to such an outcome.
> 
> 
>>My preferred solution is for everyone to quit using windows.  
>>
> 
> Amen!  I agree with you 100%.  I'm a Linux user, but in my previous job I 
> had to use Ruby on Windows.  BTW: Part of the reason I chose Ruby over 
> Perl for that task was that I could do a 'timeout' on Windows, whereas 
> Perl's 'alarm' equivilent didn't work on Windows - so there's a case where 
> Ruby had better Windows support for a certain functionality than Perl had.
> 
> I do have Win98 on a machine so that I can continue to develop a Win32 
> library for Ruby (which I announced a couple of weeks back) (I also keep 
> it around so I can do my taxes every year).  In the vein of encouraging 
> people to not use Windows: I would urge folks to not buy XP, it is tied to 
> your hardware configuration, so if you change your hardware XP will not 
> work until you beg Redmond for mercy.  Just say no to Windows XP! (sorry 
> if that's offtopic, just had to jump on the soapbox).
> 
>  > Granted, that 
> 
>>is not a solution that will find a lot of support here.  In fact it would 
>>hurt me as much as anyone.  Just consider this the opinion of a very, very 
>>small and crazy minority.  One man,  one vote.
>>
> 
> Make that two votes.  But you're right, realistically Windows is going to 
> be around (at least in the places where we work) for a few more years yet 
> before enough people become wise to Redmond's upgrade scam.
> 
> Phil
> 
> 

Interesting...there must be another Robert posting. I didn't say some of 
that stuff.

I use Windows at work so I would definately like to be able to use Ruby 
there. That said...I use Linux and MacOS X for most of my stuff.

One thing I would like to see is the GUI stuff seperated out into a 
package of some sort. That way if I want to have a lean and mean Ruby I 
can do so. Just a thought.

Bob

 ><>