Why do you love Ruby, [Other programming language]?

Question

I've reached the point of burnout and I haven't even started my career. Whenever I look at C it looks nice and light and just clean until I start writing anything in it. C++ is just plain and simply ugly, I won't even say anything about PHP, Lua and Python kinda ok but quickly gets to the point where I just can't enjoy writing anything in them, they are just so boring I'd put Javascript in the same boat and I don't like Java, at all, I can't think of anything wrong with it but there is a part of me that just wants to hate it. C# is kinda nice but it's in the Java and C/C++ camp with regards to feel, the only thing I like about it is that it somehow manages to avoid looking ugly, I'd say the same thing about Vala but the fact that it's basically a binding language shows in that it has very bad documentation and inconsistent APIs.

I got into programming about 6 years ago, but haven't taken it seriously until the last 2 years when I sat and properly learnt C and in those years the whole fun and enthusiasm has simply drained away.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm a programmer, kinda, sort-of in a way. I've been told that I'm a good coder but my heart just isn't in it any more. At this point in time it's what I'm best at so I do freelancing to try and get some sort of income so I don't think I get to quit, not least until I finish my project for Uni.

TL;DR I think I'm burnt-out, I no longer (for almost a year) enjoy programming, I don't have the option of just dropping it all together though I think I will one day. I've been wanting to learn ruby, what do you find so amazing about it to make you love it.

This isn't a question about how Ruby is greater than anything else, I'm mostly interested in learning about what makes you love it. I don't plan on creating anything useful in it so any other interesting language is welcome as well I just want to find programming fun again.

REALLY TL;DR I want to start enjoying programming again, I think Ruby might be the language to do that. Why do you love it, what's so great about it. Any other interesting language suggestions are welcome as well. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

F# gets my vote.

When you're burnt out on Procedural and Object Oriented development, learning Functional Programming can be refreshing.

While there are other Functional languages out there, I'm a .NET guy so F# integrates nicely.

Answer 2

What are the reasons to choose Ruby on Rails over other programming languages?

As a matter of fact Ruby language was created much earlier than even PHP, but it was used for the most part in Japan. The situation remained like this until Rails came in, owing to David Heinemeier Hansson. Combined Ruby language and Rails framework, or simply Ruby on Rails, have become a powerful and highly effective tool in developing web applications, used by programmers all around the globe. Moreover, Ruby has a great future as it's quite possible that in a few years other even better frameworks designed for it will appear.

Of course one couldn't claim that Ruby is the best programming language ever and is a solution to everything. There are people who criticize it telling that it's slower that other programming languages already available. It all depends on the purposes and the skills of the programmers. Apart from objective advantages and disadvantages there are also preferences.

The major advantages of Ruby on Rails: * Ruby has a simple syntax, close to the natural language

• Ruby code is easy to read and understand, as well as to maintain

• It is best suited for beginner programmers as the language is much easier than PHP or Java for example

• It is a fully object oriented programming language

• Ruby on Rails is open source. This means that it can be used for free, easily improved and modified

However, in order to be unbiased, let us specify some negative sides or it's better to say some imperfections of Ruby on Rails: * Since Ruby and Rails framework are still relatively new to the programming world, it would be better to refrain from building large scale business-critical applications on it. There is still no general backup plan in case your servers crash

• For the moment Ruby is truly slower than PHP or Java. This could also result in the necessity of adding more resources to your system than in the case of other wide spread programming languages

Answer 3

When I do a "hobbyist" project, I have a fairly good idea in my head of what I want to do. Then I sit down with some tools to create a program for that requirement.

Often, my language/environment of choice throw up unexpected roadblocks: I end up needing to write a lot of boring, repetitive code to accomplish some simple tasks. I need to work around some weakness or restriction.

I love it when a language allows me to express my goal in just enough text to convey my meaning. The closer I come to that goal, the more productive and happy I feel.

I wrote an app in Ruby some years ago, and it felt like that. More recently, I had a similar experience with Clojure. I think my next "fun" project will be written in Clojure.

Answer 4

I'm very new to Ruby and RoR .. I love it because of

• Simple Syntax
• Simple Object-Oriented ways
• Open Source

( Also DHH is one of my hero :-) )

Answer 5

It sounds like you're trying to force yourself to love something when 1. you barely know it and 2. you just don't love it. IME people do burn out, but that doesn't mean that they can't stand to program in language X. It's most often about what they have been forced to make.

If you can't stand to look at a language even if you're making something that is totally awesome (for you) then get out now. It's not going to get any better.