Just wanted to get a feel for what people are using these days. Are any of you using Ruby or thinking about learning Ruby.

For those that don't know, Ruby is a pretty streamlined language which has been around about as long as PHP but hasn't seen near the popularity in recent years. However, since the framework Rails (Ruby on Rails) was developed, it has been catching on in the web community.

http://www.rubyonrails.org/

If you've never tried Ruby, you can do it from the comfort of your browser here:

http://tryruby.hobix.com/

Type help to go through a short tutorial and learn the basics of Ruby.

I think I would want to try it.

What does a server need to run it?

this is the first that i've heard of ruby

A linux server with apache will run it. There are also several web hosts that offer it now. You should be able to install it locally without any problems just to test it out. It looks like a fun language. And from what I've heard from those using it, it's really easy to code and fast to develop apps in.

I've used Ruby on more than a few occasions...made sure to get into it when it looked like it might be the next big thing. Unfortunately, that next big thing never really happened, although it is finally beginning to gain some ground.

It has some excellent features, such as the fact that everything is an object of one sort or another, making all functions methods (of course, that can work against you if you do not have a good grounding in OOP). Plus, the syntax is easy to pick up for anyone with knowledge of Perl.

There are a few things about Ruby that have left me less than enthralled in some situations...it is extremely strict in its boolean interpretations of non boolean data types, and it supports only single inheritance (although there is a way around it).

Ruby is designed to act according to the assumptions and expectations of the programmer, which is a great idea, in theory. I find, however, that if someone were to learn Ruby as their first programming language, the way it interprets a programmers intentions may leave gaps in understanding the lowest level of programming...being able to force a program to do as you wish through careful design.

Overall, I have always felt it to be a good language...two thumbs up!

Welcome to the new Ruby Forum

Crazy shize. Can't say I've heard of it before this, either.

I'd heard about it awhile back, kinda glanced over it but never really got into it. I guess it wouldn't hurt to go back and give it as second look (specially if Amadeus says it's ok *chuckle*)

I don't quite get what the function of Ruby is...

Ruby is a prgramming language developed to perform to the expectations of programmers...to beidge the gap between RAD and hardcore code, and to bring a new OOP language into the mix. It has some great points, and some debatable points (as does everything).

You can read more here:
Ruby Home
Guide to Ruby