From: "Albert L. Wagner" <alwagner@...>
Date: 2001-12-20T23:08:21+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:29116] Re: Survey for new Rubyists

Warning:  Do not reply to this email. I too am a supporter of
planned parenthood, greenpeace, and the ACLU.

"Michel G. Rainville" wrote:
> 
> 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

-- 
"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom:
 the music is nothing if the audience is deaf."
 - Walter Lippman