From: Chad Fowler <chad@...>
Date: 2003-10-03T00:02:04+09:00
Subject: Re: C or C++?

On Thu, 2 Oct 2003 dblack@superlink.net wrote:

# Hi --
# 
# On Thu, 2 Oct 2003, Paul William wrote:
# 
# > On Thu, 2003-10-02 at 16:45, Joe Cheng wrote:
# > > I'd like to start writing Ruby extensions.  Does it make a difference
# >
# > Why do you want to write extensions? Why cant you write ruby code?
# 
# It's not an either-or choice; lots of Ruby programmers do both.
# C extensions are usually written for speed.

...or to integrate with C-based libraries, which I'd say is one of the 
best reasons to use C in your Ruby development.  My process would be:

* If it requires a C library, evaluate how difficult it would be to 
obviate the need for the C library by rewriting the part I need in Ruby (I 
don't necessarily recommend this, but it's how I am).
* If it requires a C library, wrap the C library with a small Ruby 
extension.
* If it doesn't require a C library, try pure Ruby before jumping into a 
C extension based on the assumption that C is necessary for speed.
* If the ruby version is too slow, try to optimize it in Ruby.
* If it's not going to be fast enough in Ruby, rewrite the required bits 
in C as an extension.

I'm very C-averse I guess.

Chad