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Interview with the Creator of Ruby

Posted by michael on from the precious-gems dept.

Lisa writes: "Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto talks about Ruby's history, the influence of Perl and Python on Ruby, and his new book, Ruby in a Nutshell. In the article he explains: "When I started the language project, I was joking with a friend that the project must be code-named after a gemstone's name (àla Perl). So my friend came up with "ruby". It's a short name for a beautiful and highly valued stone. So I picked up that name, and it eventually became the official name of the language. Later, I found out that pearl is the birthstone for June, and ruby is the birthstone for July. I believe Ruby is an appropriate name for the next language after Perl.""

16 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. ruby! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    perl sucks.

    thank you

    1. Re:ruby! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      I'd rather give my bitch a perl necklace than a ruby one.

    2. Re:ruby! by iamklerck · · Score: -1, Troll

      For years now, the common American penis bird has been a staple of every American's daily diet. Whether it be penis bird sandwiches, fried penis bird, or perhaps penis bird under glass (for the rich), we all have penis bird at least once a day. Many Americans have no clue how the penis bird became so important in the pyramid of a balanced diet, so in this article I will attempt to explain its history and why it is so useful.

      In the early 1870s, Francis Zefran became the first penis bird breeder in North America. He started his famous Penis Bird Ranch in Canton, OH. At the time, not much was known of the penis bird's nutritional value, but the Penis Bird Ranch changed all of that. Not only did Francis Zefran raise penis birds to sell their colorful plumes (a VERY lucrative business), he also set up the world's first research lab dedicated solely to the study of the penis bird.

      The lab found many interesting things. First, it was discovered that the penis bird was actually semi-sentient. Second, the scientists found that the meat of the penis bird was high in protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, and calcium, while low in fat, cholestorol, and sodium. Never before had such a nutritious meal been had without supplement or fortification. The scientists of the lab recommended immediately that the penis bird become a part of every American's daily diet.

      When the news of the penis bird's usefulness reached president Rutherford B. Hayes, he was absolutely ecstatic. You see, President Hayes owed a number of favors to Francis Zefran because as I said earlier, the penis bird plume trade was an extremely lucrative business and Mr. Zefran was important in getting RBH elected through a number of monetary gifts. President Hayes immediately asked Congress to pass what we all know today as the Hayes/Zefran Penis Bird Consumption Act.

      The act did a number of things to make the penis bird a daily meal, most important of which was the requirement that for every four people in a household, one penis bird must consumed every day. Another thing the act did was create an artificial monopoly for Francis Zefran's Penis Bird Industries. The act stated that the only supplier of penis bird meat in the US would be PBI. As one would imagine, this quickly made Francis Zefran into the richest man in the world. He was soon a multi-billionaire (quadrillionaire with today's inflation). Never before had a single man seen such wealth.

      Many challenges were made to the Hayes/Zefran Penis Bird Consumption Act, and several even made it the Supreme Court. It was argued that the act was unconstitutional and went against liberty itself, but once the detractors tasted delicious penis bird meat for the first time, they immediately dropped their cases and followed the law to the letter. We all know today that penis bird is the most delicious meat man has ever known, but at that time, the only meats people ate were pork and beef.

      In the early 1970s, though, challenges to the act began again. Many argued that the monopoly given to Penis Bird Industries by the act was in all ways unamerican. The Supreme Court finally agreed, and in 1974, Section II of the act was struck down. This in effect opened the market to competition for all.

      Today, Penis Bird Industries is almost no more. Today we have the market leader Penis Bird Meat International facing against Penissoft, a recent startup. Where will the future lead the penis bird market? Only time will tell us, but one thing is certain: penis birds are here to stay!

      < )
      ( \
      X
      8====D
      -klerck

  2. Perl? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Heh...

    Perl is dying...

  3. mmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Troll

    If you haven't looked at Ruby yet it's @ www.ruby-lang.org it's a beautifully done object oriented scripting language which IMHO is exactly what the computer industry needs. Other scripting languages have really hit a wall in development because of the objectless syntax, but ruby, is a piece of work.

  4. Slashdot isn't trying to pedal some language... by gatesh8r · · Score: 1, Troll

    ...are they? Honestly, I swear over the last 6-8 months there have been at -least- 1 article/month on *Ruby*. So what's the big deal? Another scripting language; how many of those do we got now? C'mon!

    --
    Karma whorin' since 1999
  5. O'Reilly buys ad space on Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Newswire -

    It has been reported that book publisher O'Reilly has recently inked a deal with website Slashdot.org to advertise books on the site for an undisclosed sum.

    O'Reilly book advertising agent "Lisa" has been hard at work maximizing her new role as the announcement source for all O'Reilly publications. Assistant "Sean-O" has also been helping with the effort along with mysterious assistant "Anonymous Coward".

    The two companies hope to make this symbiotic relationship a profitable one.

  6. jewelry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    last night, I heard mommy say daddy gave her a perl necklace, but I didn't see her wearing it this morning!

  7. Re:treason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    come on - even this site is written in perl!

    And if that doesn't convince you that perl sucks Eric Raymond's shit-encruster, sweaty nutsack, nothing will.

  8. Re:WARNING! Don't click the link! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    goatse.cx is actually a va software web site. They get money for every redirect, which is why the links are so common here.

  9. Re:Perl vs Ruby by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    a ruby necklace is when you're eating pussy and it's "that time of the month".

    Fucking sick!

  10. I tried out Ruby by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    but I kept getting my dick stuck - and it won't give me my quarter back.

  11. He die of a massive stroke like Michael Jackson? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll


    Of'course they wouldn't say that. They'll claim he was makin' music with his guitar; which means he was realy naked sitting on the beadpost ball, ass fucking himself while sweet talking his guitar saying...
    "You like that, bitch? Who's the real manly stud beatle? Oh yes I am, yes I am. You aren't anything like McCartney, your cavity is so large. Oh yes you are my sexy fuckadelic accoustic guitar yes you are. oh ohh ohhhhhhh!"

    *squit*squit*squit*squit*

    "oh wow that felt great... whata mess though... Owe my chest hurts..."

    ...And that's how they found him. Dead on the top of his beadpost, ass-rammed and stuck due to rhigamortis, with his guitar filled to the rim with that undisclosed white liquid. It took a crane to pull his penetrated anus off that wooden beadpost.

  12. Important CHRISTMAS Information For Slashdot Users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Important Information For Slashdot Users

    Because Chirstmas is on the horizon, I thought I would share to you a relevent tale of what happened to me last Christmas. This is so you, the reader may be able to avoid the terror I have been through this upcoming holiday season.

    Last Christmas, while visiting family, I resided in a Best Western hotel. It was comfortable yet affordable and I really enjoyed and appreciated their friendly knowledgeable staff. Why didn't I stay with my family in their house you ask? Well, there were children present and as children often do are a nuisance and I assumed would inturrupt my morning and nightly rituals. On my first night at the Best Western, I proceded to...oh, I think a song would better illustrate this...

    Bite my lip and close my eyes
    Take me away to paradise
    I'm so damn bored I'm going blind
    And I smell like shit

    Oh, sorry, wrong song...

    Exit light
    Enter night
    Take my hand
    Off to never never land

    Yeah... uh, thats right.

    As I drifted off to sleep, I was startled by noises. It seems the residents in the next room were making a downright lot amount of noise. I was about to bang on the wall again but was curious at what was being discused so i pressed my ear up against the wall and listened. Here are the words that have been forever burnt into my previously virgin mind:

    CmdrTaco:
    Nowadays everybody wanna talk
    But nothing comes out
    When they move the lips
    Its just a bunch of jibberish
    And motherfuckers act like CmdrTaco aint' gay
    Everybody forgot
    What happened?
    What up Linus

    Linus Torvalds: Yeah

    CmdrTaco:
    It's all about Linus
    It's all about Linus

    Linus Torvalds: Linus is in the house

    CmdrTaco: Yeah, thats right Linus is in the house

    Linus Torvalds: Come here pull down your panites you little bitch

    CmdrTaco: Aiight, hold up dawg go easy on me and shit you ripped my asshole last time

    Linus Torvalds: Come get some of this Monolithic Kernel

    CmdrTaco: Let me take off this white shirt so you can see my bird chest

    Linus Torvalds: You wanna be famous?

    CmdrTaco: Uh huh

    Linus Torvalds: Spread that bitch ass

    CmdrTaco: It's all about Linus

    Linus Torvalds: Yeah, Linus

    CmdrTaco: Uh, dawg, your hurting me dawg

    Linus Torvalds: Your the loosest Slashdot editor you little bitch

    CmdrTaco: Your ripping my asshole dawg, hold on a sec, wait don't bust

    Linus Torvalds: Yeah

    CmdrTaco: Hold on a sec, don't bust

    Linus Torvalds: Come here

    CmdrTaco: Wait, uh wait, uh, hold on don't bust

    Linus Torvalds: Take all of this Monolithic Kernel

    CmdrTaco: Hold on don't bust, do it on my lip like a milk ad

    Linus Torvalds: Linus is in that ass

    CmdrTaco:
    It's all about Linus
    It's all about Linus, ahh ahh

    Linus Torvalds: You wanna be famous you little bitch

    CmdrTaco: Man don't tell CowboyNeal dawg please, it's all about Linus Torvalds

    Linus Torvalds: Aiight, now get the fuck out of here

    CmdrTaco: Aww shit

    I constantly wonder why God has allowed me to hear this horror. Maybe it is because I am the chosen one and the Time of Purification is at hand. Or maybe God has simply punished me for my lifetime of sins. Or perhaps the devil was involved in this brillant scheme. You may ask me why I have shared such an awful tale. It because I feed off the horror others experience from my story and it gives me the strength to continue living. Now that I haved shared this with you, you are going straight to hell with me, that is if you don't murder yourself in a bloody orgy of hatred for me and these two homosexuals who are the star of my timeless tale.

    © 7H3 31337 5145HD07 7R001, 2001.

  13. Re:it's not named after a jewel, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    its also closed source, for-fee lasnguage. noone will use it.

  14. Important Information For Slashdot Users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Important Information For Slashdot Users

    It has come to my attention that the entire Slashdot editor crew engage in homosexual activities. CmdrTaco is one such person who shares in this, and is often referred to as the leader of this purely gay movement. This cult has been created for the worship and the spreading of Taco-Snotting beliefs and values. For further information on Taco-Snotting please refer to George WIPO Bush's Taco-Snotting FAQ which can be easily found by searching for the Slashdot journal of George WIPO Bush or by looking in the comments of Slashdot articles (Usually modded -1).

    It has also come to my attention that CmdrTaco has other interests besides homosexuality (Believe it or not). One such interest includes a budding music career with a song titled "Gaping Anus". The details are sketchy on this topic but I know that besides the vocals of CmdrTaco, it also includes Slashdot editors Timothy and CowboyNeal, and it will include various references to others involved in this Taco-Snotting cult. One puzzling oddity is the inclusion of Pamela Lee Anderson in the song. If anyone has any information on this specific topic, please post it in under this message in the Slashdot comments. There has been no release date set for this album or which record label it will be produced under. I believe CmdrTaco is planning to set up his own label, Taco-Snotting Records, with the intention of releasing the song on a cd-single with various remixes as soon as possible to catch the current popularity of the Taco-Snotting fad (Don't believe this fad will ever be worn out like a Snotted-out-geek. I am sorry to say Taco-Snotting is here to stay :-( ). Various remixes of "Gaping Anus" will include the "Extra Jizz", "Snot Me Baby One More Time", "Non-Stop Hip Hop", "Gaping Man" (You know...the Gaping Man...the loose assed faggot from www.goatse.cx), and the "Once You Taco-Snot, You Can't Stop" versions. I am sure many, many, more are sure to come.

    Through a good, non-homosexual friend of mine, I have recieved a copy of the lyrics to the "Gaping Anus" musical composition. Included at the end of this post is a very speical tribute ending written by yours truely. Perhaps CmdrTaco will ask of me to provide the vocals for this ending. Please feel free to read the lyrics (In TrueType font) and share your comments and disgust.

    BTW, please do not reply with the intention of flaming me because the lyrics are a rip-off of ICP's "Slim Anus". CmdrTaco is the author of this fine musical work and not me. So, in conclusion it is obviously he who has ripped off ICP and not me. Thank you.

    Hi, my name is what?
    My name is who?
    My name is Gaping Anus
    Hi, my name is huh?
    My name is what?
    My name is the fudgepacker
    Hi, my name is what?
    My name is who? (Excuse me)
    My name is the nutlicker
    Hi, my name is what? (Can I have the attention of your ass?)
    My name is who?
    My name is the buttsniffer

    Hi, kids do you like Anus?
    I let Linus Torvalds fill up my butt for a chance to be famous (Uh huh)
    Wanna copy me and do exactly like I did? (Yeah)
    Try Taco-Snotting and get your butt pumped out like I did?
    My brains dead weight
    I'm tryin to get my head straight
    But I can't figure out
    Which Slashdot editor I wanna impregnate
    Timothy said, "CmdrTaco you a cutie" (Uh huh)
    "I'll give you a deal, let me up in that booty" (OK!)
    Well since age 12 I felt like I'm someone else
    Cause I choked my original self Taco-Snotting him (Yup)
    Got pissed off and ripped Pamela Lee's tits off
    She don't know how to do Chris D
    I'd suck his dick off

    Hi, my anus who?
    My anus what?
    My anus it gets tapped dawg
    Hi, my anus (Excuse me)
    My anus
    My anus every now and then gets plugged up
    Hi, my anus (Can I have the attention of your ass?)
    My anus
    My anus is occasionally reamed out
    Hi, my anus who?
    My anus what?
    My anus really needs to be filled up

    My boss wanted to fire me yesterday
    I told him to take his pants off, hooked him up, he let me slide
    I pinched his ass
    He winked at me
    He chased me around the desk
    I told him "Come and get me!"
    Walked in the strip club
    Had my jacket zipped up
    Flashed the bartender
    And I tried to feel his dick up
    Extra-terestrial runnin over pedestrians
    In a space ship while they screamin at me
    Let's just be friends!
    99% of my life I was lied to
    I just found out my Mom screws more guys than I do (Damn)
    I told her I'd grow up to be a famous Taco-Snotter
    She met Michael, I couldn't believe it when he slapped her
    You know you blew up when the women rush the stands
    And try to touch your hands
    But I need me a man
    This guy at Gay Al's strip club asked for my autograph (Dude can I get your
    autograph?)
    So I signed it Dear Alan Cox, thanks for the support
    Nice ass!

    Hi, my name is huh?
    My name is who? (Excuse me)
    My name is (They call me the pore plugger)
    Hi, my name is what?
    My name is who?
    My name is the inch itcher (Excuse me)
    One of Slashdot's gay boys
    They call me the butt itcher
    Hi, my name is what?
    My name is who?
    My name is (I've been called Hemos' butt boy)

    Stop the tape this gaylord needs to be locked away (Get him)
    Cliff, don't just stand there operate
    Or feel up my balls and buttcheeks
    Anal lube got my ass greasy for weeks
    Stick your manhood between my cheeks (Yup)
    Am I coming or going
    I can barely decide
    I just drank a pint of semen
    Dare me to drive? (Go ahead)
    All my life I was very deprived
    CowboyNeal's butt is too sexy to hide
    Take your pants off Neal I don't mind
    Clothes rip like the incredible Hulk
    I Taco-Snot when I talk
    I do any guy that walks
    When I was little I used to get so hungry I would throw fits
    Sometimes I sit and wish Hemos had a set of tits
    CowboyNeal: "Get behind me CmdrTaco and grab me by my hips"
    If I do that then I can't kiss you on your lips
    By the way if you see my Dad
    Ask him if he seen my spread in Gay House Porno Mag

    Hi, my anus who?
    My anus what?
    My anus gets tapped up
    Hi, my anus who?
    My anus what?
    My anus it's always getting plugged up
    Hi, my anus who?
    My anus what?
    My anus occasionally reamed out
    My anus it needs to be filled up

    Your anus
    Your anus
    Your anus is always getting plugged
    Your anus
    Your anus
    Your anus is always getting stuffed
    You wanna diss us?
    We don't even know you you little bitch
    You wanna sit there and diss us?
    You little bitch I'll slap your face off
    That's what happens when you go up against the Slashdot Trolls trick
    You little bitch (Laughs)
    Gaping Anus!

    © 7H3 31337 5145HD07 7R001, 2001.