Comment Where does ruby sparkle? (Score 2) 169
Ruby is sold on the basis that it's a correct language. Unlike say perl or PHP, Ruby has a 'correct' object implementation, with full polymorphism and other advanced features.
Unlike perl, which is sold on the basis that it's expedient - quick and easy syntax, or PHP, which is sold on the basis that it's perl for morons, ruby makes no bones about doing things the right way.
This is where it falls down. Ruby is, in effect, the esperanto of programming languages - all fine and correct in principle, but completely useless in practise. Just as esperanto serves no purpose because people already speak English, so too Ruby is useless because it's correct where correctness doesn't matter.
Ruby stands to perl (quick and dirty programming) or PHP (perl for people to stupid to perl) as Objective C does to C++ or Lisp to a useful programming language. They are great in the laboratory, and for pointy-headed geeks to play with, but they are completely useless in practice.
Unlike perl, which is sold on the basis that it's expedient - quick and easy syntax, or PHP, which is sold on the basis that it's perl for morons, ruby makes no bones about doing things the right way.
This is where it falls down. Ruby is, in effect, the esperanto of programming languages - all fine and correct in principle, but completely useless in practise. Just as esperanto serves no purpose because people already speak English, so too Ruby is useless because it's correct where correctness doesn't matter.
Ruby stands to perl (quick and dirty programming) or PHP (perl for people to stupid to perl) as Objective C does to C++ or Lisp to a useful programming language. They are great in the laboratory, and for pointy-headed geeks to play with, but they are completely useless in practice.
