Why Should We Learn Ruby?

Ruby vs. Ybur

The language Ybur is Ruby in reverse. It is an exotic programming language that no one knows except us. We’ve only just thought it up, and we don’t know what it does.

Let’s compare Ybur and Ruby using the three parameters described in the previous lesson.

Finding work quickly

Learning something simple and interesting

Of course, other popular programming languages exist too. We might say that JavaScript is the most popular, so let’s compare it to Ruby. Ruby incorporates the Principle of Least Surprise, but JavaScript was not created with this principle in mind. JavaScript is more complicated than Ruby, because it is completely asynchronous.

We can see that JavaScript is not as simple as it looks at first glance. Let us consider a Ruby program for sorting numbers:

[11, 3, 2, 1].sort()

The above program needs to sort the numbers 11, 3, 2, and 1 into rising order. It’s not important if we don’t understand this syntax yet. We’ll deal with that subject later. The result of the Ruby program’s work is 1, 2, 3, 11. No surprise there!

Now, let’s write the same program in JavaScript:

[11, 3, 2, 1].sort();

In this case, the syntax is very similar and differs only in the semicolon at the end. But what will the result be? Even experienced JavaScript programmers cannot always give the correct answer. The program’s results are quite unexpected: 1, 11, 2, 3. Why the program yields this result is an enduring question. To sort numbers in JavaScript, we need to write:

[11, 3, 2, 1].sort((a, b) => a - b);

Once we understand this, we realize that using JavaScript isn’t difficult. However, with JavaScript, we are faced with the question: Do we want to waste time on such fine calibrations during our initial programming? JavaScript is in high demand, and every Ruby programmer must know it at a minimal level.

Future relevance

No one can make precise predictions about the applicability of a particular programming language in the future. However, we may look at the statistics for recent years to make some safe assumptions. Rubye is in fine form today and is widely used. Updates are issued, and the speed and syntax are also being improved. Additionally, the number of available libraries ensures that there is a quick solution to be found for virtually any possible problem within the field of web programming).

Ruby Is for Fun

A programming language should be able to solve certain business problems and be easy enough to use every day without issue.

For example, Java is a fine tool for solving business problems, but it needs to be treated with respect. The language is statically-typed, and the type of data on which different operations are carried out must be specified. This takes time and is fully justified in the business field, where it is better to spend longer periods of time on development rather than be forced to pay for mistakes later.

In the case of Ruby, the program can be written quickly and simply. It is not very reliable, which can be a problem sometimes. Still, many companies, particularly start-ups, conclude that it is reliable enough, and the relatively-slow program execution speed is not a problem either. After all, in today’s world, we are often required to do something quickly to get speedy investments, attract the first customers, and take advantage of the momentum while competitors are still trying to find their way.

Ruby is a good tool for when we need to work on a personal project. For example, we can use Ruby to work on a program that can attract attention, be shared with others, or help us earn money.

In other words, Ruby is an efficient and interesting language in and of itself, and also due to the utility it provides at work.