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Steal This Talk: The Best Features Ruby Doesn't Have (Yet) by John Feminella One of Ruby's greatest strengths is its burning desire to make writing software enjoyable for humans. Newer languages, perhaps taking some inspiration from Ruby, have recognized the practical value of doing this. What can Rubyists learn from these new ideas, and what can be adapted from them to improve Ruby? In this talk, we'll discuss a few of the most interesting Ruby-like features that aren't really in Ruby yet. We'll also show how you can get these features (or an approximation to them) with Ruby today. By the end of the talk, you should feel empowered to try them out yourself!
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In the talk "Steal This Talk: The Best Features Ruby Doesn't Have (Yet)" by John Feminella at RubyConf 2017, he explores how Rubyists can enhance their programming experience by learning from other languages known for their engaging features. The main themes include the historical influences on Ruby, future speculations for its evolution, and practical ways to implement novel features presently absent from Ruby. Key points discussed include: - **Historical Perspective**: Feminella emphasizes the importance of understanding Ruby's roots and influences from various languages like Lisp and Smalltalk, highlighting that programming languages are cultural and technological artifacts shaped by their time. - **Future Speculation**: He speculates on potential shifts in Ruby by looking at specific characteristics that may enhance its usability and longevity, drawing inspiration from contemporary languages like Elixir and Swift. - **Learning from MUMPS**: The talk highlights MUMPS, a language from 1966, as a case study to demonstrate unique features such as its built-in database which could inspire changes in Ruby regarding data handling. - **Error Messaging**: Feminella discusses enhancing Ruby's error messages for better guidance, advocating for contextual information similar to that found in other languages like Elm, which provide clearer feedback. - **Exception Handling**: He suggests that Ruby could benefit from tripartite exception handling mechanisms found in languages like Lisp to create repairs directly in error management. - **Pattern Matching and Module Shadowing**: The discussion includes implementing pattern matching to handle object states more robustly and improving clarity around method overrides with explicit annotations. - **Type Inference**: Feminella introduces the concept of gradual typing and type inference as potential features to ease code transitions and enhance Ruby's capabilities. Feminella concludes his talk by encouraging the Ruby community to adapt and experiment with these concepts to keep Ruby exciting and enjoyable, reinforcing that learning from both predecessors and contemporaries can drive innovation within Ruby. He invites participation via Twitter for follow-up questions and fosters a collaborative atmosphere post-talk.
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