From: ptkwt@...1.aracnet.com (Phil Tomson) Date: 2002-12-12T06:41:39+09:00 Subject: Re: help -- persuade my boss to adopt ruby In article , Phil Tomson wrote: >In article <20021211201110.F0B9.XRFANG@hotmail.com>, >Shannon Fang wrote: >> >>Now the headache is, they are pretty much determined on Java. I need to >>write a Java version of the above program, just to show them: 1. how >>simple a ruby program comparing to Java; 2. My selling point is that >>when use ruby to program, you can concentrate on business logic, no need >>to care about language issues, like variable declaration, close file >>handle etc. >> >>Can any Java programmers help? > >I'm not a Java programmer, though I wrote a few Java programs when it >first came out ('96?) > >Any idea why Java is the preferred language for this application? >Is it an in-house app or is it a web app? Who (and how many) will be >developing the app? If it's just you developing it then Ruby may make a >lot of sense, but if it's a whole team then your management is probably >worried that you're the only one who knows Ruby. You could always make >the case that if you use Ruby they'll only need you to develop the app >since it'll be so much easier than doing it in Java but your coworkers may >not appreciate that argument ;-) One more thing that I thought of as I sent this to the ng... That last line was intended to be funny, but here's something to consider: If there are multiple developers in your group try to build a coalition - find others in your group who might appreciate Ruby and start teaching it to them. In fact you could use the code example you gave to open the conversation by showing how you did it in Ruby and asking them how they would do it in Java (or whatever their favorite language is). That way you're learning a bit of Java while teaching a bit of Ruby. Hopefully your coworker will notice how much shorter the Ruby code snippet is compared to his Java solution and he'll say "hey, what language was that written in again? Ruby, eh? Looks kind'a cool. So where can I find some info..." If it's just you trying to persuade the boss that Ruby is the language to use your boss can just write you off as a crackpot (which is unfortunately all too often what bosses do to visionaries) but if you've got other developers in your group on your side then it's more likely that your boss will take it seriously. Phil -- "Or perhaps the truth is less interesting than the facts?" Amy Weiss (accusing theregister.co.uk of engaging in 'tabloid journalism') Senior VP, Communications Recording Industry Association of America