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Mixing last RubyConf 2008, GitHub, RubyForge and so on. I want to list some new (but also mature) interesting Ruby projects, it’s a kind of memo for me:

• Glimmer: simplified Desktop Development in Ruby. A JRuby DSL that enables authoring of user-interfaces using the platform-independent Eclipse SWT library
• Prawn: fast, Nimble PDF Generation For Ruby (I used it within Prawnto plugin for a project on Rails and I found it very simple and very productive)
• Cucumber: a reimplementation of RSpec’s story framework, based on Treetop, testing at his best.
  
• Crate: tool for building and packaging standalone statically compiled ruby appliations
• Journeta: a dirt simple library for peer discovery  and message passing  between Ruby  applications on a LAN
• NeverBlock: a library that allows developers to write non-blocking, concurrent code in a transparent manner.
• RAD: framework for programming the Arduino physcial computing platform using Ruby. RAD converts Ruby scripts written using a set of Rails-like conventions and helpers into C source code which can be compiled and run on the Arduino microcontroller (I think this library could be a good example how Ruby can be used also for low level programming and not only for very high level dev)
• Waves: it embraces HTTP and REST instead of trying hide them from you with one-size-fits-all abstractions. It provides a rich DSL for matching HTTP requests, more flexible than routing schemes, and a layered approach to mixing in just the architectural magic that your applications need
• Puppet: a system for automating system administration tasks
• RubyCocoa: a bridge between the Ruby and the Objective-C languages, allowing you to manipulate Objective-C objects from Ruby, and vice-versa. It lets you write full-stack Cocoa applications in Ruby and to write a Cocoa application that mixes Ruby and Objective-C
• Rush: is a replacement for the unix shell (bash, zsh, etc) which uses pure Ruby syntax
• Flay: it’s a Ruby code analyzer for structural similarities. Differences in literal values, names, whitespace, and programming style are all ignored. Code that flay reports as similar is a good candidate for refactoring
• Johnson: wraps JavaScript in a loving Ruby embrace
• MagLev: Ruby that scales, mystic for me now

But I cannot forget some of the main Ruby projects

• Ruby implementations:
  • IronRuby is a .NET implementation
  • JRuby is an 100% pure-Java implementation

• Web Application Framework: not only the master Rails but also:
  • Merb: the lightweight and powerful
  • Ramaze: the minimalistic
  • Mack Framework: built to aid in the development of distributed, portal-like applications that have a need for speed
• GUI development:
  • Ruby-Gnome2: bindings for the GNOME 2.0 development environment
  • MonkeyBars: a library that enables you to make use of Swing from JRuby
  • Shoes: is a tiny graphics toolkit, designed for beginners
  • FXRuby: it’s based on the FOX Toolkit
  • WxRuby: it’s based on the cross-platform [wxWidgets] C++ GUI framework
  • QtRuby: bindings to both the KDE API and the Qt APIs (is dying?!?)

And here you can find all RubyConf 2008 videos.

What the frack u’re waiting? take ur pc and start coding in Ruby.

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1. It runs, it works (not like PHP, in PHP everythink you do it’s OK and sometimes you don’t know why it runs)
2. It’s not frustating. When something go wrong, you know why or if you don’t know why you can find a solution in a reasonable time.
3. Debbuger is easy (very easy). Forget absurd Java println/F8 and a moutain of Valgrind and GDB output.
4. Design pattern at his best. Pure MVC that works, if you break this it’s your fault not RoR fault. Respect MVC and MVC respect you.
5. IDEs and editors. Netbeans/Eclipse/Textmate integration.
6. Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes. Changes? Not twisting but sincere shifting of code. Simple deployment.
7. Plugins and Gems. One row of command line and thousands of features.
8. I love conventions. I like standards. Ruby/Rails says “You call it so and I do the job for you”
9. Great community.
10. On the edge philosophy. I like it. Always.
11. Ruby is fucking FUNNY. In my all life a use a lot of langs an this one is the best, sometimes you may say: “mother NOOO; this method or this piece of source is very boring to code”, in Ruby is funny and pretty. You can challenge yourself write it in the DRY way you can do it.
12. Regexp. After a long time finally you learn regular expression. String class relatively poor but you can do all the stuff learn regexp. You don’t know, you think that regexp are abstruse and ugly so you pass 1 day curse them… in the evening you ask yourself how is it possible to live without regexp.
13. Cool and elegant Ruby syntax. Blocks, in line instruction, if after…
14. Console and IRB. Hyper-fast way to test your code.
15. No XML configuration. XML is boring and pedant for this kind of stuff.
16. Planning and these kind of stuff are overrated in modern development. Be Agile. Talk, load, change, develop, fix, debug and DO. In Ruby/Rails
17. Fast and ready development environment. Script directory is one of your best friends.
18. All great Rails stuff: Active Record, Test::Unit, Filters.
19. All great Ruby stuff: open source, OOP, multiplatform, very high level language, garbage collector, REST.

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