From: wsdngtmp@... (Sascha Doerdelmann)
Date: 2004-05-12T17:33:53+09:00
Subject: Re: What do you use Ruby for?

glenn_m_smith@hotmail.com (Glenn) wrote:
> funny thing is that Smalltalk is one of those languages I've always
> wanted to learn, but never quite got to grips with.  Ruby seems to
> have a lot Smalltalk, but packaged up in nice wrapping paper.

It might be easier to start with if there are no Smalltalkers around
to help you through the early steps of discovering a totally different
way of programming culture. If you now Ruby you could become a
productive Smalltalk programmer very fast because you've probably
started thinking object oriented ad you are not afraid of strong
runtime type checking instead of the very common week static types of
lets say C++ or Java.

> The downside for me is that generally I can't see myself using Ruby
> day-to-day at work, because it's not ALL that common for me to require
> a scripting language.  That said, if I could push myself to find
> reasons, I'd really like to use it more and more.  And I'll certainly
> be trying!!

Funny! Smalltalk is not a scripting language. If all that prevents you
from using Ruby is that scripting attitude, either write applications
in Ruby or give Smalltalk a try.

I guess many people start to play with scripting languages because
they are not allowed to choose any main implementation language they
like in their day by day work. My impression is that many software
companies try to implement a strategic platform and restrict the
developer's language decisions. I started to learn Ruby in private
after some years of Smalltalk while I had a C++ Job. At that time I
did all the scripting in Awk and Perl because I didn't want to force
my team members to learn a new language with me. Now I am prepared to
teach them Ruby if scripting will be an issue again. ;-)

> So what do YOU use Ruby for?  What kinds of development are you using
> it for (I'm not asking for trade secrets or anything!).

I write scripts and small script like applications. Basically scripts
wrapped with a little GUI.

Cheers
Sascha