From: "Michel G. Rainville" <mrainv@...>
Date: 2001-12-19T23:46:25+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:28910] Re: Survey for new Rubyists

OK, It's been a few weeks ...  

Phil Tomson wrote:
> 
> It's been several months since we've had one of these surveys for > those who have just arrived in RubyLand....
> 
> 1) How did you find out about Ruby?

I have noticed the "Pick-Axe" book, "Programming Ruby,"  while looking
for new Java and XML books, but I actually went looking for a Java
replacement when Sun Microsystems, sadly, made the Life Decisions
(http://www.fightpp.org/) boycott list as a supporter of Planned
Parenthood. (SmallTalk failed because it's expensive and the owner of
Squeak Smalltalk, Disney, is on the same boycott list. I avoid the
culture of death as much as possible, since I hope that God will bless
my work and fortunes.  

I found Ruby through the Google directory, under Programming, Languages,
Object-Oriented. After that I bought the book and downloaded the FAQ. I
also bought the O'Reilly Ruby in a Nutshell.
 
> 2) Prior to finding Ruby, what programming language(s) did you 
> primarily use?

I use mostly Oracle Developer (PL/SQL, SQL), and maintain an ANSI C
application using Borland C++. Bef I have been learning Java since 1997,
in my spare time and am totally comfortable with objects... it takes a
while to match 20 years of experience in a new language and paradigm. I
will be trying to translate my patterns and designs 
from Java to Ruby, or creating better ones, as is clearly possible.   
 
> 3) (this question is for folks coming from PythonLand or PerlLand)
> What Python or Perl modules do you miss most and wish that Ruby had?

n/a
 
> 4) (follow-up to #3) Would the lack of these modules preclude you 
> from using Ruby?

The GUI problem is an issue, since Tcl/Tk is also a Sun product. A GUI
based on xml-svg may be all you really need, no? mod-ruby MUST work
well.

> 5) Do you think you'll be using Ruby at work in the next:
>   3 months?   6 months?  (or do you already use it at work?)

I have to make a minor change to some C programs in the next six months.
My gut feel is that the replacement in Ruby could be done in a few weeks
and be 5-10% of the source size, with better performance because the
more concise single Ruby program will not need to be constantly reading
and writing files. (the original legacy programs were meant to run in
64KB); it doesn't need a GUI but the HASH and other collection type
classes MUST be flawless.  It MUST give stable and correct results or
the boss will never see it. If it works, it will have to pass a peer
review by CS and statisticians before it can be used in production. 
 
> 6) (follow-up to #4) If you don't forsee being able to use Ruby at 
> work within the next 6 months, what is the main reason keeping you 
> from using it there?

I could replace anything I support with Java Swing and JSQL; the
database and GUI are crucial, as is "servlet" support e.g. mod-ruby.
Future plans: strictly in my head, include xml-svg on a similar base in
a servlet, for a specific PHP application. 
 
Yours truly,

Mike

Montreal, Canada