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Feedback on "Ten Things a Java Programmer Should Know About Ruby"

This is a compilation of feedback I received for a list of things Java programmers should be aware of when looking at Ruby. This list is not the final version, nor are all (most) of the ideas in this list mine. This is merely a temporarty holding spot for these ideas while I assemble a talk/article/presentation on the topic (you can find the final version at http://onestepback.org/articles/10things/ ).

If you have a problem with anything on this list, please bring it up with the person who made the suggestion (i.e. not me!)

However, if you have further suggestions for this list, feel free to drop me a note at jim@weirichhouse.org.

bullet Ruby classes are Objects (therefore String.new, not new String())
bullet Everything is an Object
bullet Compared to Java, XML is agile. Compared to Ruby, XML is Heavy.
bullet Ruby does not have type casting.
bullet Don't worry about interfaces, enjoy Duck Typing.
bullet No method overloading
bullet Enjoy closures and blocks
bullet Don't worry about early performance optimization
bullet Web-development is possible with other languages besides Java.
bullet Ruby has O/R mappers, so find your Ruby "hibernate", but drop any preconceptions.
bullet Ruby has MVC and OO programming and libraries, but drop any preconceptions.
bullet Ruby is a language to be used everywhere. You use it even in templates. No need for "Velocity/JSP."
bullet Ruby is not a Silver Bullet, unlike Java, right? :-)
bullet In Ruby data is strongly typed, but variables are *not*
bullet you can have variable number of parameters, and multiple return values
bullet Once you start coding Ruby, going back to Java is painful.
bullet "." (dot) is a method call operator. "::" (colon-colon) is a scope operator.
bullet Java static methods do not (quite) translate to Ruby class methods.
bullet CamelCase for class names, names_with_underscores for methods and variables.
bullet local_variable, @instance_variable, $global_variable, Constants, (and @@class_variables)
bullet Everything is an expression.
bullet stop writing so much code
bullet That you can write Ruby in Java ( http://jruby.sourceforge.net )
bullet ri is your friend. irb is your other friend.
bullet Reflection in Ruby is much easier than in Java, and more deeply into the language than the java.lang.reflect tack-on.
bullet eval
bullet the builtin classes are much faster because they're written in C and not Ruby
bullet Boolean methods end in ?. Dangerous methods end in !
bullet Avoid external utility classes
bullet Use class methods to define pseudo-compile directives
bullet You probably don't need Factories
bullet Enumerable is your friend
bullet Typing is the enemy
bullet No external configuration files
bullet method_missing
bullet C extensions/wrappers are *much* easier in Ruby than JNI interfaces in Java
bullet Ruby classes are always "open".
bullet Singleton methods
bullet no semi-colons, optional parenthesis
bullet Ruby packaging vs Java packaging
bullet you can use string interpolation, ex: "x: #{@myvar}" instead of having to say "x:" + myvar'
bullet ruby has multiple inheritance through mixins (this is sooo nice to have)
bullet ruby has shortcuts for accessor methods which reduces alot of redundant coding in java
bullet writing code in ruby, can improve the code you write in java
bullet No explicit types. Probably the most disconcerting thing for a javahead
bullet you cannot rely on the compiler to catch trivial mistakes
bullet Think in terms of methods (behaviors) instead of classes.
bullet KISS
bullet Discipline. Because of its inherent flexibility, Ruby require more self-discipline
bullet REXML vs. JAXP. I rest my case.
bullet Ruby is agile, perfectly suited for XP
bullet Ruby is dynamic. You can add, remove and modify objects, classes and methods at runtime.
bullet Ruby has extensive reflection capabilities
bullet Ruby is strongly typed, not statically typed
bullet Ruby's OO is message based.
bullet Many things that you're used to thinking of as syntax are now just
bullet For good (but subtle) reasons, you have to leave the '++' and '--' behind.
bullet you can fit in your mind and write code without looking at the docs every six minutes
bullet less syntax and less typing
bullet Fixed what's wrong with Perl
bullet Fixes what's wrong with Python
bullet It's super productive (like Perl, Python and Smalltalk)- maybe 5-10x Java.
bullet Is a lot like Smalltalk, but doesn't look as funny
bullet Is a lot like JavaScript, but more OO and more for ful app development
bullet Blocks and Closures
bullet Open Classes
bullet Duck Typing
bullet "finally" is called "ensure"
bullet Use blocks for transactional behavior like like File.open does.
bullet Help at: http://ruby-lang.org/en , http://ruby-doc.org/ , news:comp.lang.ruby, irc:ruby-talk
bullet An instance of a class can be extended to be subtly different, without needing to subclass.
bullet you can change your mind about whether .foo is a simple property or a complex method call, without affecting the interface to your class.
bullet HEREDOC strings with variable interpolation make large chunks of output really easy to construct.
bullet Secure

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