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Hello everyone, I am Andy Maleh, a senior consultant. However, I usually consider myself more of a software craftsman.
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How many of you here consider yourselves craftsmen? Show of hands, please.
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Okay, it seems like quite a few. It appears that many people have embraced the idea of craftsmanship.
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In my opinion, software craftsmanship is just an idea where people are devoted to learning and improving their skills.
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We gain a lot of our knowledge and experience on the job every day, rather than just formal education.
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While I do have two degrees from universities, it’s clear that real learning happens through practice.
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So, today I want to talk about whatever happened to desktop development in Ruby.
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I would like to see how many people here are currently doing desktop development.
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It’s somewhat surprising, attending an event like this which is not strictly a Rails conference.
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We’re all aware that the industry has shifted significantly towards web applications.
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However, desktop applications continue to appear regularly. A prime example of this is the launch of the Mac App Store.
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Apple has opened the Mac App Store for the Mac platform itself, rather than just focusing on iPad applications.
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The truth is, many applications are being developed but surprisingly few are written using Ruby.
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Most desktop applications are typically written with Objective-C, and there's not much utilizing Java-based technologies.
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This has been my motivation to explore Ruby desktop development libraries and frameworks.
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I want to highlight three specific frameworks: Shoes, Limelight, and Glimmer.
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These frameworks take full advantage of Ruby for developing desktop applications.
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Unlike other frameworks that build on top of existing C libraries, these are more Ruby-focused.
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Let’s begin by discussing what a desktop application is so we’re all on the same page.
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Typically, desktop applications consist of widgets such as buttons and text fields.
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These applications can be maximized, minimized, and can have multiple windows open.
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I want to explore full-screen 3D applications and how they differ from simple gadgets.
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So, what has shaped the evolution of desktop applications in recent years?
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I have about four years of experience with office automation in Java, having previously dabbled in C++.
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Let me show you an example of Java syntax with a 'Hello World' program.
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As you can see, the syntax can be quite verbose, and there is a lot to learn since it is not as straightforward.
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In contrast to Java, web development typically employs a hierarchical syntax with HTML and CSS.
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An example of a Ruby framework is Glimmer, which builds on top of wxRuby.
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This framework allows you to build applications with more ease and a clearer syntax.
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An example of code using Glimmer simplifies the creation of a user interface.
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In this example, we create a window and add labels and text boxes to the layout.
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This demonstrates a minimal basic syntax that is easy to work with.
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I want to open people's minds to the possibilities Ruby provides for desktop applications compared to Objective-C.
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Additionally, I will discuss various frameworks and how they differ from one another.
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This is just a brief overview of what is out there, including the three frameworks we've covered.
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I want to begin with Shoes, which is one of the oldest frameworks available.
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Shoes was designed to enable developers to create desktop applications easily, without the complexity that other libraries impose.
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It was built to support drawing and animations and is known for its user-friendly interface.
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Shoes comes with its own runtime environment, making it easier to deploy applications.
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To create an application with Shoes, you declare the application, followed by the UI components.
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For example, you can create labels, text boxes, and buttons seamlessly using a straightforward syntax.
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However, while Shoes supports many UI components, it lacks advanced features required for modern applications.
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I'll highlight that although Shoes is functional, it is missing some supporting elements for business applications.
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The next framework I want to discuss is Limelight, which I find fascinating.
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Limelight was conceived to focus on performance and enabling richer user interactions.
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It provides a way to build applications like those seen in multimedia platforms, ideal for games and animations.
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Limelight also allows better integration with existing Java libraries for even more functionalities.
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As we continue, I’ll share how Limelight can be leveraged for animation in development.
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Next is Glimmer, which offers a DSL for a smoother experience compared to traditional GUI approaches.
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The architecture lets you build GUIs easier and focuses on a declarative approach.
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For example, with Glimmer, you define components in code that create a visual representation of your application.
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This makes it highly intuitive, providing an elegant way to manage the user interface elements.
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Glimmer provides various components from simple buttons to complex grids, making it highly flexible.
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Despite its strengths, Glimmer still requires significant setup before starting, particularly regarding dependencies.
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It's important to weigh the pros and cons when choosing a framework for your next project.
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In summary, Shoes is the easiest to start with, while Limelight offers animation.
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Glimmer facilitates data binding and more flexibility but requires more initial configuration.
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As we consider these frameworks, let’s also look at their potential for building data-driven applications.
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Data binding is crucial for modern applications, especially in business contexts.
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We must ensure that input fields maintain a live connection to the underlying data models.
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With that in mind, let’s explore how we can keep components synchronized with models.
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This allows user inputs to directly reflect changes in the data model in real-time.
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In conclusion, each of these frameworks has its strengths and weaknesses.
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Choosing the right tool depends on your specific project requirements and personal preferences.
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I hope this presentation helps you understand the current landscape of Ruby desktop development.
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Thank you for your attention. I am open to any questions you may have.
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Let’s discuss your thoughts on the frameworks and their applicability to your projects.
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Feel free to share your experiences and any challenges you've faced with desktop development.
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It's always enlightening to hear different perspectives in our community.
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Thank you again for your time today. Let’s keep the conversation going!
