From: James Britt <jamesUNDERBARb@...>
Date: 2004-03-30T07:33:49+09:00
Subject: Re: General observations

Greg Brondo wrote:

> I've used Python on many a project but now am moving to Ruby more and more.
> I've noticed a few things that still bug me about Ruby however:
> 
> 1) Python has more 3rd party modules for it (pdf, graphics, etc).
> 
> 2) It seems the developers of the above 3rd party modules seem more
>    interested in completing (as in mature) their work than their Ruby
>    counterparts.
> 
> To me it *seems* that as I look for libraries for Ruby (to use in a
> production environment) I'm at a loss;  Most of the libraries I would use
> are either Alpha quality or appear abandon (pdf being an example).


I'm not that familiar with the state of Python, but I've heard these 
claims before,and I'll assume they're true.  It's been discussed on 
ruby-talk before, so there is at least acknowledgment here that, 
compared to some other languages, Ruby's set of available, robust 
3rd-party libs could do better.

I also believe that progress is being made; the creation of RubyForge 
(and perhaps enhancements to the RAA), for example, should make it 
easier for people to locate existing projects and (ideally) helping out 
before starting Yet Another Version of Something or Other.

> 
> On the positive side for Ruby it does seem to use less resources during
> runtime compared to Python (webrick being an example).

There are other advantages, as well, not the least being Ruby's 
programmer friendliness.  Depending on the project at hand, people may 
have to decide if the language itself or the set of 3rd party libs 
should be the deciding factor.  Over time, of course, this will change 
and Ruby will offer as good or better a choice of libs as any other 
language, so the choice will be a no-brainer.

There is also work being done on language bridges, such that one can 
call Java(tm) or .Net code from Ruby, effectively extending the range of 
libs one could call from core Ruby code.  Plus work is (I think) being 
done so that Ruby can play well with Parrot (http://www.parrotcode.org/)

James Britt