From: "C. Dagnon" Date: 2009-05-13T00:07:33+09:00 Subject: Any current preprocessor/Ruby language add-ons? This is kind of a wide-ranging question but for some fairly specific purposes. I'm curious what project people are working on with respect to the Ruby language, compiler, or any preprocessors. Specifically I want to use file- or project-wide directives (as in VB where new variables require explicit declarations), and I want to add preconditions, postconditions, type checking, side effects, and tests/behaviour assertions within the code files along with associated automated analysis. I am open to annotation styles, eg. # @directive..., or others so ideally the code files are actual Ruby code files, but can be assured when desired. In a brief search I found RPP (http://rubyforge.org/projects/ruby-rpp/) which adds some ability to type-check variables. Unfortunately it looks like it is alpha with no progress in the last 2-3 years and I don't think I can contact the author (or I need a login). It also requires editing all files and placing the modified Ruby code after __END__, both of which I would like to avoid. So I'm curious to find active projects which align more directly with my goals. Generally Ruby seems flexible and pretty powerful and concise but unruly and, well, unreliable. All the benefits but detriments of a scripting language when mixed with (at least my) human fallibility. But if someone isn't already working on these things it may be more prudent for me to move to a different language or platform. Anyone have a suggestion? More directly, is there a computer language group which I should start shadowing as comp.lang seems more off topic than discussion... Curious, -Chris -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.