Code, the Universe and Everything.

I have grown up as a software developer with Smalltalk and other non-statically typed programming languages like Python and Scheme. I even took part in the development of a prototype-based language called Agora.

Now that Ruby is taking off, and after Nick showed me how to create a small Ruby on Rails application in no time, I am intrigued by the language. I am intrigued because the inventors of Ruby claim to have used some concepts from Smalltalk and I know the ins and outs of Smalltalk fairly well. I am also intrigued because the little time I spent coding the RoR application showed me two things: (1) creating a RoR application requires little real programming, and (2) from the first line of Ruby code I was struck by the ad hoc nature of some Ruby language constructs.

When I learn a new language, I look for qualities such as simplicity, consistency, expressiveness and elegance, qualities that influence my productivity when coding. This post is the first in a row of articles on Ruby to explore how well Ruby scores on these qualities.

Watch this space for occasional postings on different aspects of coding, rails and ruby, python and miscellaneous thoughts on agile in the corporate world.