From: Sean Chittenden <sean@...>
Date: 2002-04-08T11:12:22+09:00
Subject: Re: Apache & Ruby - for a newbie

> I've seen the recent posts about using Apache with Ruby.
> Unfortunately, I'm still a step away from being able to make sense
> of them...

Let's see if we can sort things out then.

> I'm about to set up my first dedicated web-server, and I'd like to
> use Ruby as my CGI scripting language.  It seems from the
> conversation on this list that Apache is the way to go to achieve
> this.

Congrats and a fine choice of languages, if I do say so myself.  :)

> My problem - I know nothing about how to configure Apache to use
> Ruby.

Are you going to configure Apache to use mod_ruby, or are you going to
use CGI's?  If this is your 1st webserver and if you have no prior
experience with web technologies, I'd recommend CGI for now, but would
try to quickly move to mod_ruby and eRuby when you begin to get
comfortable.  CGI is an old web-technology that's a good 8 years
old... but if 'ya want to fly, why not start at the beginning?
There's not much of a difference between mod_ruby and CGI really, but
there are a few important quirks that I'm sure you've heard mentioned.

> Are there any good documentary web-pages on setting up Apache to use
> Ruby as the scripting language for CGI?

This is pretty simple: uncomment the lines for .cgi's (should be
labeled), and turn on +ExecCGI for the directory that you want to have
your CGI's in.  If you're running with a cgi-bin directory, make sure
that you're writing your scripts in the write place.  Anyway, after
configuring and restarting apache, end your ruby scripts with ".cgi",
make sure that they're executable (a+x or 755), and have the
appropriate "#!/usr/local/bin/ruby -w" at the top.  There is
documentation about how to do this though, I'm sure what I just said
doesn't make any sense unless you have some familiarity with Apache.
The configuration file and the following URL are your friends.

http://httpd.apache.org/

> Or, if folk are willing to answer my naive questions, I'm very happy
> to condense all the answers into a clear, straight-forward 'how-to'
> in return.

That sounds excellent.  If you have questions about anything that you
may run across along the lines, please feel free to shoot me an email:
a HOW-TO on this would probably be useful to people like yourself who
are new to this.  -sc

-- 
Sean Chittenden