A Java Developer's Guide to Ruby

s a Java developer, why should you learn Ruby? Because Ruby's versatility and flexibility complement Java well, and you will be a more effective and efficient developer if you use both languages. In fact, I use Java, Ruby, and Common Lisp for all my development and Ruby has become a core part of my work life. Specifically, the following reasons make Ruby compelling for Java developers:

• As a scripting language, Ruby is an effective tool for small projects. When I need to write utilities for data conversion and text processing quickly, I almost always use Ruby.
• Ruby is a dynamic and terse language.
• Using Ruby will often offer a different perspective on problem solving.
• JRuby is still a work-in-progress but I believe it eventually will provide an excellent Ruby deployment platform using the Java VM. Currently, IntelliJ, NetBeans, and Eclipse all provide excellent Ruby support.
• As the cost of software maintenance is roughly proportional to the number of lines of code, and Ruby programs are short and concise, they tend to be easier to read, understand, and maintain.
• The Ruby on Rails web development framework is great for small and medium-sized database-backed web applications. You need to know Ruby if you want to use Ruby on Rails.

To demonstrate why Ruby is a good fit for Java developers, this article introduces the language features that will make you more efficient (see Table 1. Ruby and Java Feature Comparison) and then shows short program examples in both languages.