Ruby vs. other scripting languages and the Ruby Versions 1

[mikrom]

Hello Ruby Programmers,
I have some experience in several scripting languages (REXX, Perl, Python, Tcl/Tk). Now I'm looking first time at Ruby and have some questions:

1. In which aspects is Ruby better than Python or Perl? Please tell me your opinion.

2. I found 3 versions for Windows on the Ruby download page and I'm not sure which version should I install.
What are the differences between them? Which version should I use? The latest 1.9.x or rather the 1.8.x?

3. How is it with the versions 1.9.x ? Is the language syntax in the version 1.9.x the same as in the versions 1.8.x or not?

 

[mikrom]

I installed the Ruby version 1.8.6, because it seems to be the only version which has a windows "one click installer"

 

[stevexff]

I've been a Perl fan for years, because you can do pretty much anything you need to do in fairly short order. But I like the full-on object oriented approach of Ruby, and the clean syntax. If I'm building a one-off to grab or reformat some data in a hurry, I use Perl. If I'm creating something more durable that I'm likely to have to maintain later, these days I'd probably go with Ruby.

I don't like Python - nothing based on experience of using it, I just don't like the syntax, and the idea that indentation is important and not just a matter of personal taste. This probably reflects my programming background more than anything else.

Steve

[small]"Every program can be reduced by one instruction, and every program has at least one bug. Therefore, any program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work." (Object:erlDesignPatterns)[/small]

 

[mikrom]

Hi stevexff,

I like Perl and I like Python. I have learned both, but I have done far more programming in Python, because it has a native port for IBM iSeries, which is a platform I'm working on.
But now I want to learn something new and I look at Ruby and Groovy.

Ruby is very interesting language. It's object oriented like Python and I like, that the work with regular expression is similar to Perl. Ruby has Perl's matching opeartor =~, but Python doesn't have it.
And Ruby doesn't have the issues with indentation