This document is an introduction to the Ruby programming language presented by Premshree Pillai. The presentation provides an overview of Ruby's history and features, compares it to Perl and Python, and demonstrates Ruby syntax through examples. It also provides resources for learning more about Ruby. The presentation aims to interest attendees in Ruby and help them get started with the language.

1. Ruby Talk – An Introduction to
Premshree Pillai
premshree@livejournal.com

2. Scope of Talk
What this talk is and what it isn’t
Me, myself
What is?
Why use?
How to? (a quick run through the syntax)
Quick comparisons (with Perl and Python)
Resources
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3. Purpose
What this talk is?
Get you interested
Get you started with Ruby
What it isn’t?
Not a tutorial
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4. Who am I?
(or why should you listen to me)
21/male/single :)
Technology consultant
Freelance writer since 2001
Perl/Python/Ruby/REBOL hacker
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5. History (Ruby’s, not mine)
Created (in Japan) by Yukihiro
Matsumoto, popularly called Matz
Named as “Ruby” to reflect its Perl
hertitage
Released to the public in 1995
Licensed under GPL or Ruby terms
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6. What the heck is Ruby?
An object-oriented “scripting” language
As powerful as Perl; simpler, better OO
The simplicity of Python
Follows the principle of “Least
Surprise” – What You Expect Is What
You Get
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7. Where can you use Ruby?
System (n/w, RegExps)
Web programming (using CGI)
 Agents, crawlers
DB programming (using DBI)
GUI (Tk, RubyMagick)
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8. General Features
High level language
True OO (everything’s an object!)
Interpreted
Portable
Low learning curve
A quick scan thro’ the syntax
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9. Running Ruby
From the command line:
ruby file.rb
Windows binary comes bundled with
Scintilla
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10. Basic stuff
print 'Hello, world!'
p 'Hello, world!' # prints with
newline
my_var = gets # get input
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11. Operators
(addition)
+
- (subtraction/negation)
* (multiplication)
/ (division)
% (modulus)
** (exponentiation)
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12. Operators (contd.)
==
<=> (returns -1, 0 or 1)
<, <=, >=, >
=~ (matching)
eql? (test of equality of type and
values)
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13. Operators (contd.)
++ and -- are not reserved operators
Use += and +-
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14. Logical Operators
and
or
not
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15. Typing
Dynamic typed
 Type checking at run-time
Strong typed
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16. Basic Data Types
Integers and floats
Strings
Ranges
Arrays
Hashes
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17. Strings
my_str = 'whatever'
my_str = quot;blah, blahquot;
my_str.split(quot;,quot;)[0].split(quot;quot;)[2] * 3
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18. Ranges
Inclusive range
my_range = 1 .. 3
my_range = 'abc' .. 'abf'
Non-inclusive range
my_range = 1 … 5
my_range = 'abc' … 'abf'
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19. Arrays
my_array = [1, 2, 3]
Common methods:
my_array.length
my_array << 4
my_array[0], etc.
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20. Hashes
my_hash = {
'desc' => {'color' => 'blue',},
1 => [1, 2, 3]
}
print my_hash['desc']['color']
will return
blue
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21. Hashes (contd.)
Common methods:
my_hash.keys
my_hash.values
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22. Data Type Conversion
Converting to an Array:
var_data_type.to_a
Converting to an String:
var_data_type.to_s
More (guess!):
var_data_type.to_i
var_data_type.to_f
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23. Everything's an Object
Methods can be applied to data
directly – not just on variables holding
data
Example:
5.to_s will return quot;5quot;
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24. Code Blocks
Code blocks may use braces ( { } ) or
do/end
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25. Code Blocks (contd.)
Example
def my_print(what)
print what
end
You cannot use braces for function
blocks
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26. If Statement
if expression
code block
elsif (expression)
code block
else
code block
end
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27. While Statement
while expression
code block
end
Example:
count = 1
while count < 10
print count
count += 1
end
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28. For Loop
for variable_name in range
code block
end
Example:
for count in 0..2
print count
end
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29. Iterators
array_or_range = value
array_or_range.each { |x|
print x
}
Example:
my_range = 1..5
my_range.each { |x|
print x
}
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30. Functions
Functions begin with the keyword def
def function_name([args])
code block
end
Example:
def print_name(name='Ruby')
print name
end
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31. OO Ruby
Classes are containers for static data
members and functions
Declared using the class keyword. All class
names should begin with a capital letter
Constructor declared using the initialize
keyword
Class variables precede with an “@”
Objects created using the new method
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32. Example class
class My_class
def initialize(arg1, arg2)
@arg1 = arg1
@arg2 = arg1
end
def print_arg1()
print @arg1
end
def print_foo()
print quot;I Love Ruby!quot;
end
private
def print_arg2()
print @arg2
end
end
my_object = My_class.new(2, 3)
my_object.print_arg1
my_object.print_arg2 # will cause an exception
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33. Inheritance
class Derived_class < My_class
def initialize()
@arg = quot;I Love Ruby!quot;
end
def print_arg()
print @arg
end
end
my_object = Derived_class.new
my_object.print_foo
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34. Notes on OO Ruby
Access specifiers: public,
protected, private
Multiple inheritance not possible
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35. Ruby modules
require 'net/http'
superclass
subclass
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36. Advanced topics
Regular expressions
Network programming
MT programming
GUI programming (using Tk)
Web programming
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37. Now what?
What you can do now?
Get your hands dirty with Ruby
Write simple Ruby programs
What you have to do?
Explore Ruby modules
Find a problem, and Ruby it!
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38. Perl compared to Ruby
Complicated OO
Cryptic code
(Ruby is often called “A Better Perl”)
PS: Don’t kill me!
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39. Python compared to Ruby
Incomplete OO
Instance variables require self.var
No class method
No true GC (uses ref counting)
Not suitable for one-liners
PS: Don’t kill me!
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40. Resources
Ruby Home Page
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/
Programming Ruby
http://www.rubycentral.com/book/
RubyGarden
http://www.rubygarden.org/ruby
Ruby Application Archive (RAA)
http://raa.ruby-lang.org/
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41. Resources (contd.)
RubyForge
http://rubyforge.org/
ruby-talk
http://blade.nagaokaut.ac.jp/ruby/ruby-talk
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42. If God did OOP, he’d probably do it in
Python; He’s now considering switching
to Ruby!
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43. Thank you!
Questions?
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