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By, Andy Maleh While web development is thriving in the Ruby world with Rails, Sinatra, and other frameworks, desktop development is still not very common as a lot of developers rely on Java technologies like Eclipse or straight .NET technologies such as Windows Forms. This talk will walk attendees through some Ruby desktop development frameworks/libraries, contrasting the pros and cons of each, and mentioning what is missing that discourages developers from relying on Ruby to build desktop applications. Frameworks/libraries covered will include MacRuby, Shoes, Limelight, and Glimmer. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/GJEx/
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In the talk "Whatever Happened to Desktop Development in Ruby?" presented by Andy Maleh at the MountainWest RubyConf 2011, the speaker explores the state of desktop application development within the Ruby programming landscape. He observes that while web development using Ruby frameworks like Rails and Sinatra is thriving, desktop development remains relatively underexplored. Maleh highlights the tendency of developers to gravitate towards Java technologies and .NET for desktop applications, emphasizing the need for better Ruby options. ### Key Points Discussed: - **Desire for Learning**: Maleh identifies himself as a software craftsman, advocating for continuous learning through practical experience rather than formal education. - **Shift to Web Applications**: The industry has shifted focus primarily to web applications, with desktop applications being less commonly developed. He notes the emergence of the Mac App Store, signifying a still-existing demand for desktop software. - **Underutilization of Ruby**: Despite the development of numerous desktop applications, most are not created using Ruby, which Maleh finds surprising. - **Frameworks Overview**: He introduces three Ruby frameworks for desktop development: - **Shoes**: Known for its simplicity, Shoes allows easy application creation with a user-friendly syntax but lacks advanced features required for modern applications. - **Limelight**: Aims for performance and multimedia capabilities, making it suitable for more interactive applications and providing integration with Java libraries. - **Glimmer**: Features a Domain-Specific Language (DSL) that simplifies GUI development, though it requires more initial setup compared to Shoes. - **Comparative Analysis**: Each framework has its unique benefits: - Shoes is easy for beginners and great for quick applications. - Limelight caters to more complex interfaces with animation capabilities. - Glimmer offers flexibility and component variety but needs extensive setup. - **Data Binding Importance**: Maleh discusses the necessity of data binding in modern applications, advocating for frameworks that ensure real-time synchronization between user inputs and data models. ### Conclusion: Maleh concludes by reiterating that each of the frameworks has particular strengths and weaknesses depending on project requirements and developer preferences. He encourages attendees to explore these Ruby frameworks to enrich their desktop application development experiences, and invites further discussion on their applicability and personal experiences with Ruby desktop development. The talk aims to shed light on the often-overlooked potential of Ruby in the realm of desktop applications, encouraging innovation and exploration in this area.
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