From: Tim Hammerquist <tim@...>
Date: 2002-04-10T15:32:55+09:00
Subject: Re: Questions about Ruby

Mattias Ahrlind graced us by uttering:
> I am currently working on a assignment about Ruby, and I would like to
> know if I could get some help with these questions:
> 
> . Were Ruby is commonly used (organizations/websites/places).

  - ~/bin:/opt/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin
  - http://www.ruby-lang.org/
  - Japan

> . Were Ruby can be used (on web client only, on the web server, on the
> web server to integrate legacy (non-web)technology, somewhere else).

I was unaware that there _was_ a web-client Ruby interface. But then,
it's only a matter of time before any language has some sort of ActiveX
scripting engine.

I also take deference to your use of "legacy" to describe all "non-web
technology."  You seem to be implying that the "web" will make non-web
technology obsolete?  Or did you think Ruby was another JavaScript?

In any case, the following are valid uses for Ruby:

  - send a message to the standard unix device /dev/coffee [1]

  def morning_routine
    File.open('/dev/coffee', 'w') { |cafe|
      cafe.puts("espresso") while head.groggy?
    }
  end

  - read input from the bollocks [2] device to write your term paper

  while `wc -w thesis`.to_i < 1000
    bs = File.open('/dev/bollocks')
    thesis += bs.gets
    bs.close
  end

> . If there are any security implications? Any risks and how they can
> be minimized?

All software has some sort of security implication. The best prevention
is knowledge or experience. Preferably both.

> . Example of products available for using Ruby.

  - Vim <http://www.vim.org/>, <http://vim.sf.net/>

> Thank you in advance.

Next time, do your homework in advance.

Tim Hammerquist, Contributor
The Lazy Student Research Facility

[1] http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/mini/Coffee.html
[2] http://www.squirrel.co.uk/veghead/software/bollocks/
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