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In this insightful talk from the LoneStarRuby Conf 2009, Dave Thomas reflects on his 10 years of experience with Ruby, exploring its multi-paradigm nature and the community that surrounds it. He expresses gratitude to Ruby’s creator, Mats, and discusses why Ruby continues to captivate his attention.

**Key Points:**
- **Longevity with Ruby:** Thomas emphasizes that despite his short attention span, Ruby's flexibility and expressiveness have kept him engaged for a decade.
- **Appreciation for Mats:** Acknowledging Ruby's origins, he highlights the significance of Mats and others in establishing the Ruby community.
- **Multi-Paradigm Language:** Ruby allows for various programming styles, including object-oriented and procedural, offering programmers freedom to choose their approach.
- **Imperfection as Strength:** Thomas champions Ruby's imperfections, equating them with a more human touch in programming. He uses quotes to convey that perfection inhibits creativity and progress.
- **Messiness in Ruby:** He illustrates Ruby's quirks and flexibility, which make it intriguing for developers. This includes discussing how its syntax allows for various interpretations of code.
- **Development Evolution:** Tracking Ruby’s growth from version 1.0 to 1.9, he notes its increasing complexity and richness, which keeps the language vibrant.
- **Community Dynamics:** The Ruby community's evolution from a small group to a large network impacted its structure and connections. Thomas learns from the community's complexities and dynamism.
- **Final Thoughts on Ruby and Community:** He concludes that the messiness of Ruby, akin to human nature, makes it exciting and enjoyable to work with, reinforcing his commitment to the language as long as it remains fun.

Overall, Thomas's reflections underscore Ruby's appeal as a programming language that is both flexible and imperfect, celebrating the chaotic yet creative spirit of its community.

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