Comments on: Is Windows a supported platform for Ruby? I guess not

By: Luis

Luis — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:50:07 +0000

Hello Daz,

You’re reading a really really really old post (2 years).

Please read newer posts with status update:

http://blog.mmediasys.com/2010/08/07/exciting-times-for-rubyinstaller-project/

Thank you.

By: Daz

Daz — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:34:39 +0000

I feel that this problem with Ruby being used on WIndows is what’s holding me back from fully embracing Ruby. I don’t want to use Linux, its a nice OS, but so is my Windows machine. So when I see and come across many pieces of code that just won’t work on Windows I need to ask myself do I really want to program in something that is going to become ‘niche’ and be used on only 1% of computers worldwide? Yep, that’s 1% of supposed market-share that Linux has, or do I want to develop on a platform with over 90% marketshare? Yep, that’s Windows folks!

Sorry, but perhaps its time for me to throw in the towel regards Ruby, which I really like, and start learning Python.

Such a pity, but its the truth and its no surprise also that Ruby seems to be one of the programming languages with a steadily declining userbase, certainly when Windows users find it isn’t friendly at all.

And no, I don’t want a Mac, and I don’t want to use Linux.

By: iesmatauw

iesmatauw — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:56:06 +0000

By the time Patrick post his comment, I just started to learn Ruby.
For people like me who only have access to windows box at work, this simply the best you can get.

Is Windows a supported platform for Ruby? I guess its a YES thanks to you Mr Luis.

By: Luis

Luis — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:28:55 +0000

Thank you for your kind words Patrick.

You can find more about this in RubyInstaller wiki page for contributors here

Also, read the newer posts in this blog and visit the wiki section of RubyInstaller itself:

http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/how-to-contribute

Highly recommended you join our mailing list if you want to contribute:

http://groups.google.com/group/rubyinstaller

Thank you!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:57:13 +0000

I know i’m late but wanted to leave my words of support.
I came to Ruby on Windows, and had quite some pains to get gems and other magic work, never mind for 1.9.1.

Your Mingw implementation is what saved Ruby for me on Windows, and altough if there was a choice, I might not be developing on Windows, my target and own work-area is simply on Windows, as I write extensions and tools for games mainly.

Because of Ruby Mingw, I am able to distribute my applications to thousands of gamers, all with windows, with a fair amount of stability and performance.

Thank you so much, also in name of all who are enjoying my apps on Windows

Wondering why I am not contributing, well I am too. Hard to start, no c experience or wish to experience it
Other than that I suppose I am happy I can finally develop and make things that work, as opposed to fiddling around for days and not getting anywhere.
Where to start?

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:11:21 +0000

Ruby on Windows is extremely important to me. I’m trying to move beyond the “Windows box” and Ruby is by far the most attractive language I’ve found to do so. Clearly, Ruby will lead me deeper into Linux as well. I sincerely hope you decide to continue your invaluable work with Ruby on Windows, and I thank you for the amazing work you’ve already done.

By: NickG

NickG — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:47:24 +0000

Without Ruby for Windows, I’d be using Python.
Unix is a great environment, particularly for large systems, but Macs are something one can take or leave. Nothing clearly wrong with them, but nothing clearly right with them either. They offer frequently elegant high-level design at a consistently premium price, and for more technical aspects Macs suffer from a frequently idiosyncratic learning curve.
Thank you, Luis, for making Ruby for Windows available. You are truly a hero!
-Nick

By: Luis

Luis — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:23:06 +0000

@All: thank you guys for your kind words and appreciation of the work being done on this project.

I’ll like to point everyone to the Progress Report post I made a few days back.

I’ll keep working on Ruby for Windows, but there are still things that don’t work as expected yet, and I’m trying to track them down (but right now is one-man show)

By: James

James — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:13:26 +0000

I think Ruby on Windows is important. What I love about Ruby is that it is one language that I can use on both Windows and linux computers, which is important, since I am a sysadmin for Windows and linux servers.

So anyway, the better Ruby is on Windows, then the better things are for me. So don’t lose hope, you WILL have a big impact on a lot of people’s experience whether you realize it or not.

By: Scott Markwell

Scott Markwell — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:07:34 +0000

While I can’t offer up help, I will say that I develop ruby on windows, but deploy to FreeBSD or Ubuntu.

I personally don’t have speed requirements and all ruby gems I use usually maintain a windows binary. Granted I am a developer in many areas so having VC6 around isn’t an issue. I greatly appreciate the work on Mongrel to make it Windows compatible.

My interpretations are that people develop on their platform of choice, and deploy server solutions to better support Unix platforms.

I will say that I end up using Python for random scripting tasks, simply because Python is ready and available out of the box on Ubuntu. If someone would smack the Debian package managers upside the head who so completely screwed up RubyGems….

To answer you question: There is a need I think, but personally I exist quite well as is. I think the question comes down to, who should do the porting? Gems maintainers or the Ruby environment on Windows?