From: Dave Thomas <Dave@...>
Date: 2002-01-03T04:18:31+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:30069] Re: Ruby/Python: Software Engineering

Quentin Crain <nanotech@europa.com> writes:

> Again, I believe Methodologies and Tools are linked and
> strongly. Certain tools are better for certain methodologies. Python
> attempted a few things (indention, docstrings, etc.). I am simply
> wondering if/where thought was put in on Ruby on this topic.

I agree there is a linkage. For example, many of the XP practices are
as they are because of XP's origins in the Smalltalk community. I
suspect XP would be different (perhaps impossible :) if they'd all
been C++ programmers.

However, I also don't think that details such as indentation and
docstrings are anything to do with methodologies. They are coding
standards.

To return to the original question: If a team is about to start a
large Ruby project (large enough to require a Methodology) then they'd
be wise to choose or customize their methodology towards Ruby. Simply
applying the same methodology they used on a C++ project would not
work as effectively. This isn't Ruby-specific: teams should always
customize their methodologies to their environments, both before they
start and as they proceed. Sadly, few do.


Dave