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comp.lang.ruby

Ruby Language

kiuhnm03[

12/20/2006 2:07:00 PM

Hi,
I'd like to know if there exists a ruby standard specification or, at
least, a ruby tech book. I'm interested in the language itself. I'm not
going to program in Ruby, if not to test its "mechanics".

Kiuhnm
9 Answers

Uma Geller

12/20/2006 2:28:00 PM

0

> I'd like to know if there exists a ruby standard specification or, at
> least, a ruby tech book. I'm interested in the language itself. I'm not
> going to program in Ruby, if not to test its "mechanics".

An interest group has been recently formed, and one of their goals is
to build such an specification.
http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rubygrammar-g...

There's no official specification from Matz (the creator of Ruby)
other than his source code, writings and presentations.
(can be reduced to: the spec is the code)

best,
UG
---
Uma Geller
http://umageller.wor...

Uma Geller

12/20/2006 2:40:00 PM

0

More info...

You might want to read this article by Pat Eyler
http://on-ruby.blogspot.com/2006/09/jruby-whats-in-it-f...

This post by the Ruby Grammarians group
http://rubyforge.org/pipermail/rubygrammar-grammarians/2005-November/0...

Implementors summit that took place at the latest Rubyconf,
blogged again by Pat Eyler
http://on-ruby.blogspot.com/2006/10/rubyconf-2006-implementers-s...

hope that helps,

UG
---
Uma Geller
http://umageller.wor...

kiuhnm03[

12/20/2006 3:00:00 PM

0

Uma Geller wrote:
> An interest group has been recently formed, and one of their goals is
> to build such an specification.
> http://rubyforge.org/mailman/listinfo/rubygrammar-g...

Let's give them some more time!

> There's no official specification from Matz (the creator of Ruby)
> other than his source code, writings and presentations.
> (can be reduced to: the spec is the code)

Ok, thank you.

Kiuhnm

kiuhnm03[

12/20/2006 3:50:00 PM

0

Uma Geller wrote:
[...]
> hope that helps,

Yes, thank you.
Anyway, the specification would have been nothing more than a shortcut.
I've been studying a lot of languages lately (haskell, clean, lisp,
scheme, Oz(!), etc...). I have to devise a Domain Specific Language and
I do not want that my strong C++ roots limit my creativity.

Kiuhnm

Tom Pollard

12/20/2006 4:04:00 PM

0


On Dec 20, 2006, at 9:28 AM, Uma Geller wrote:
> I'd like to know if there exists a ruby standard specification or, at
> least, a ruby tech book. I'm interested in the language itself. I'm
> not
> going to program in Ruby, if not to test its "mechanics".

Dave Thomas's "Programming Ruby" book contains a fairly concise,
technical description of the language. I haven't seen anything
comparable anywhere else. There's an online copy of an early version
of the book; here's a link to the language-reference chapter

http://www.rubycentral.com/book/lan...

Cheers,

Tom

Uma Geller

12/20/2006 4:17:00 PM

0

> Anyway, the specification would have been nothing more than a shortcut.
> I've been studying a lot of languages lately (haskell, clean, lisp,
> scheme, Oz(!), etc...). I have to devise a Domain Specific Language and
> I do not want that my strong C++ roots limit my creativity.

hmmmmmm, how about having a look at some Ruby-based DSLs then ?

Looking at the Ruby spec for devising a DSL seems to me like studying
the blueprints for a car design, instead of test-driving it or having
a look underneath the car hood.

Rake is a good project to start having a look at, it will be easy for
you to learn and understand, since your C++ background provides what's
necessary to work in the domain covered by Rake. (plenty of Makefiles
in C/C++)
http://rake.ruby...

Perhaps others can suggest other Ruby DSLs ?
_why's Camping comes to mind.
http://code.whytheluckystiff.ne...

best,
UG
---
Uma Geller
http://umageller.wor...

kiuhnm03[

12/20/2006 5:09:00 PM

0

Uma Geller wrote:
> hmmmmmm, how about having a look at some Ruby-based DSLs then ?

No, I always go to the source.

> Looking at the Ruby spec for devising a DSL seems to me like studying
> the blueprints for a car design, instead of test-driving it or having
> a look underneath the car hood.

A DSL is not necessarily a limited language that you obtain by crippling
another language and adding a few keywords. I don't like X-based
language. Many general purpose languages were born as DSLs.
I am interested in the ideas behind the languages, not in the languages
themselves. While many programming books are imprecise, wordy and
boring, a specification is concise and to the point.
I think a programming book is just a book intended to make an argument
more accessible. The problem is that when you become accustomed to
reading very terse books, you cannot read anything else.
Anyway I'll begin with the PickAxe.

Kiuhnm

kiuhnm03[

12/20/2006 5:19:00 PM

0

Tom Pollard wrote:
> http://www.rubycentral.com/book/lan...

This should be the famous pickaxe.

The subtitle "The pragmatic Programmer's Guide" misguided me.
Besides, I've just realized that the language is described in the first
400 pages so it can't be so wordy. Never judge a book by its cover (or
its thickness).

Thank you, Kiuhnm

ngw

12/20/2006 11:38:00 PM

0

-Kiuhnm <"kiuhnm03["@>:
> Hi,
> I'd like to know if there exists a ruby standard specification or, at
> least, a ruby tech book. I'm interested in the language itself. I'm not
> going to program in Ruby, if not to test its "mechanics".

Hi, if you prefer an italian book I'm one of the authors of:
http://marcoceresa.com/...

ngw

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