Ruby at Work

[Coderifous]

I'm having the same problem convincing my company that Ruby is 'smart' to use. At my place, they have a massive web-app that's written in Perl, Java, Smalltalk, C(++) and shell scripts. It's a rediculous monster that just as well could've been completely developed in Perl, and maybe just a little C.

For new projects - personal anyways - I'm going to attempt to use Ruby. Perhaps if something impressive comes out - I'll use it to convince my employer ("See this? Cool huh? Yep - it's written in Ruby.&quot that it's a useful language.

I'll post here if I produce anything worthwhile. I would hope you other guys/gals who are early-adopters do the same. Mayhaps this will inspire more conversation.

--jim

 

[stillflame]

i think the main pull to ruby for me was the way in which the syntax is nearly parallel with my own thinking processes for most problems i've had to solve, to the point where i am now solving most problems in ruby first before implementation into perl or java or whatever. what i think would be wonderful is for someone to write an "intro to computer programming using ruby" book/website to show off just how clean and easy it is. it's doubtful any actual college curriculum would include such a course, but that shouldn't matter.
that would address the issue employers might have of a technology's learning curve, their fear that no new developers they hire would know/be able to learn ruby. also, it would give the selling point of making development easier for the developers.
another useful publication would be a summary/highlighting of RAA, to show that there are sophisticated and powerful tools already written in ruby (mod_ruby, the xml parsers, &c.), or just use the table of contents of the ruby developer's guide, which covers the main power tools available.

i have heard a few on #ruby-lang speak of getting to use ruby in their work places, in a similar fasion as perl scripts - automating software test, general purpose script glue, &c., but noone's mentioned using it for big projects (that they were getting paid for).

well, good luck. to all of us "If you think you're too small to make a difference, try spending a night in a closed tent with a mosquito."