From: pat eyler Date: 2006-11-29T01:44:55+09:00 Subject: Re: Is ruby a viable corporate alternative? On 11/28/06, Mr P wrote: [background deleted] > > This REALLY set off a firestorm from the Java folks, They are already > they are trying to undermine us with comments like: I'm not going to tell you that Ruby *is* the right language for you, you're far better prepared to make that determination. If Perl fits your needs well, I think Ruby is likely to be a good fit and a positive move -- but that's just my experience. > > o you'll never find any developers to support it, there are almost none > in the USA I'm not sure where you are, but: Seattle.rb has 100+ subscribers on the mailing list. Amazon is using Ruby internally, and many other local companies are too. URUG (the umbrella group for Utah based Ruby brigades), has three active groups and a fourth forming. The active groups have a regular attendance of 10+per month each. We regularly get recruiters to sponsor meetings and there are frequent posts to out mailing list looking for more Ruby and RoR hackers (from a number of companies). NYC.rb has a regular monthly attendance of over 40 and is working to put together a regional conference in the Spring. There are active Ruby groups in Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, New Haven, Boston, San Diego, Missoula, Boise, St. Louise, Portland, Minneapolis, Columbus, Washington D.C., Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, and many more. The Ruby book market in the US is exploding. There are *eight* books that I know of that are do to be published between now and the end of Q1 2007 -- and this is on top of the already large collection. > > o you won't like anything that comes out of Japan (this comment from a > country that was conquered by Japan and still harbors a lot of > resentment, so I sort of discounted that comment! ) > This isn't even worth responding too. > o its not gaining popularity and will probably die out > Ha! see the books comment above. Add to it the numbers that Tim O'Reilly throws out every quarter on the Radar O'Reilly blog. Check out TIOBE (as Tom Copland mentioned). The One Click Installer has gone over 1 million downloads. Ruby is gaining momentum, and quickly! > o might as well just use Java A number of Java folks are turning to Ruby as a great tool. Sun is helping put Ruby on the JVM (and paying to full-time engineers to do so). Saying you might as well use Java is kind of like driving an RV to do your shopping instead of taking the family car. It'll work, but it's overkill (and a huge waste of resources). > > ... and so on.. . . . and so on. ;^) > > Anyhow, if you all can provide me with websites on Ruby stats vis-a-vis > other languages, trends, successes, etc., I'd like to go into this > battle armed! The break from the herd 10 years ago was very > productive, and my impression is that Ruby would have similar results. > If Dynamic Languages fit your problem space, Ruby can be a wonderful tool for you -- and it's a cool community to belong to. > > -- thanks, -pate ------------------------- http://on-ruby.blogspot.com