From: Shannon Fang Date: 2002-12-12T07:42:00+09:00 Subject: Re: help -- persuade my boss to adopt ruby Hi Phil, You are absolutely right. What they fear is that: 1. Currently only I understand Ruby. 2. Java is in vogue. They want the language to be there after 10-20 years... I am currently writing a small introduction letter to my boss... Shannon On Thu, 12 Dec 2002 06:41:39 +0900 ptkwt@shell1.aracnet.com (Phil Tomson) wrote: > 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