> gemerald
okay so there's this neat programming language you might have heard of called Ruby...
i grew up on python, but the second i tried it i was hooked.
now, every time i step back into another language, i'm pissed that i can't write code that sounds like this:
return "welcome back, #{user.name}!" unless user.guest?
it's a scripting language that excels at writing quick-and-dirty tools to do real things on, with, and to real computers.
it's sorta like if bash was easy to write and perl was easy to read.
i think you should try it too! it made coding fun again when coding was not that fun for me anymore.
to that end...
the challenge:
learn some ruby and write something useful in it.
it could be a little command line utility, or a reusable library in the form of a gem. (you should do this!)
n.b.: it should be something you actually want to exist!
the reward:
i'll send you this shiny sticker in the mail!
i'll also send my favorite couple of submissions a hard copy of why's (poignant) guide to ruby.
the rules:
- it must be written in ruby
- it must be useful
- it must be open source
- it must be submitted by 2025-04-24 midnight est
- i know a unit converter or to-do list app is not what's in your heart.
if you submit something that's contrived just for the sake of getting something free, i will be disappointed.
be better than that.
- track your time in hackatime!
- please do not submit a rails app.
what should i make?
i don't have a yapping raccoon to click, but i have a few ideas:
- a gem that wraps some nifty web API
- a script that automates some repetitive task you have to do
- a little game that runs in the terminal (but for the love of everything holy, be original)
what have other people made?
idk, let's find out!
what if i don't know ruby?
you're the target audience for this! you can learn enough of it in ~an afternoon.
here are some places to start:
where do i submit?
submit your source code and an asciinema demo.... here!
k gl cya!
poke me if you need ruby help, i'm game!
~nora