Ruby

Ruby, also known as the language that’s named after a precious stone but is actually worth its weight in fruity pebbles, is an object-oriented programming language that is often used to make websites, applications, and various other things that make people say, “Wow, technology is amazing… and also kind of terrifying.”

History

Ruby was created by programmer Yukihiro Matsumoto, who once famously said, “I wanted a scripting language that was more powerful than Perl, and more object-oriented than Python. That’s why I created Ruby… also, I had a lot of caffeine that day.” The language was first released in 1995, and since then, it has gained a following of developers who appreciate its ease of use, flexibility, and ability to make them feel like wizards of the tech world.

Features

One of the main features of Ruby is its clean and concise syntax, which makes it easy to read and write. It’s also a dynamic language, meaning that variables and data types can change at runtime. This can be both helpful and confusing, depending on how much coffee the programmer has had that day.

Another feature of Ruby is its emphasis on object-oriented programming. Everything in Ruby is an object, even things that you wouldn’t expect to be objects, like numbers and symbols. This means that developers can write code that is more organized and easier to maintain. It also means that sometimes you’ll spend hours debugging code only to realize that the problem was caused by a misplaced period.

Community

The Ruby community is known for being friendly, supportive, and super nerdy. There are numerous online forums and chat rooms where Rubyists can ask questions, share code, and argue about things like tabs vs. spaces and whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza.

Fun Facts

• Ruby is one of the few programming languages that has a mascot. Her name is Matz’s Ruby, and she is a cute little cartoon character that looks like a cross between a red jewel and a teddy bear.
• The word “ruby” comes from the Latin word “ruber,” which means “red.” It’s also the name of a popular girl’s name and a style of birthstone jewelry that your grandma probably owns.
• In Japan, where Ruby was created, the language is often referred to as “ru-by,” with the emphasis on the second syllable. This is because Japanese doesn’t have stress accents like English does. So if you ever find yourself in Japan and want to impress the locals, just remember to say “ru-BY.” Or you could just order sushi like a normal person.

In conclusion, Ruby is a wonderful programming language that combines beauty, power, and a slight hint of quirkiness. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, Ruby is definitely worth learning… and will probably make you crave a bowl of fruity pebbles.