"MacRuby" written by Jim on estrip.org

02/28/08 11:02 - 10ºF - ID#43494

MacRuby

Apple has created a version of Ruby that runs on top of Objective-C.

OK, holy crap. This will be like the only non-objective-c Mac programming platform that's officially supported and hooked into Cocoa from the ground up. The future of Mac apps might just be Ruby, dropping down to Objective-C where you need the hardcore number crunching performance.

james writes at 10:09:04 03/02/08 - Comment #32314: What's a Ruby?

tiburon1724 writes at 05:58:12 02/28/08 - Comment #32218: I have no idea what you're talking about, though I wish I did :(

jim writes at 12:18:29 02/28/08 - Comment #32193: I guess my point was that unlike the scripting bridge, or the java bridge, MacRuby has all the regular ruby objects descending directly from their NS counterparts. So all ruby strings are descended from NSString, etc... just seemed to me like it went a lot further then RubyCocoa or PyObjC, but I'm not as familiar with PyObjC as with RubyCocoa.

Anyways, I just looked at MacRuby for a few minutes at the start of the day and won't get a change to play around with it until the weekend, so my impressions aren't even half baked.

carolinian writes at 12:11:51 02/28/08 - Comment #32192: There's also PyObjC, the python tie-in. I haven't messed with Ruby, but PyObjC was a real PITA to work with, largely because it didn't have the real nice integration with XCode that Objective-C did and because PyObjC programs are structured codewise in a that's totally different from the proper order that Obj-C programmers expect them to be in.

It's also going in the other direction as well. With the enhancements that Apple's made to Obj-C, it's more like a scripting language, e.g. they added garbage collection to Obj-C 2.0 as well as a foreach-ish loop syntax.

In spite of Apple's moves to make Obj-C more like a scripting language, they still haven't included regular expressions in their API. something which astounds me to no end and makes all my scripting friends say "you gotta be kidding me!" When tasked with searching through lots of text for very specific things, it's at that point that non-Obj-C scripting languages provide a definite advantages as a workaround to Apple's stupidity.

Apple introduced the ruby scripting bridge to Leopard and you might have some fun playing with it.

:::link:::

Permalink: MacRuby.html
Words: 66
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

02/26/08 03:15 - 31ºF - ID#43470

Salt Lake City

I'm going to this regional Ruby Conference

in Salt Lake city the last weekend in March. I'm staying after the conference to visit with my family (I'm originally from SLC). It'll be nice to see them after 18 months. I miss my Dad and everyone else :)

I wish I could go to the Rails Conference in May in Portland Oregon, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards. And by the cards, I mean my credit card is already creaking from the weight of other stuff.

Permalink: Salt_Lake_City.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: transportation

02/25/08 07:26 - 28ºF - ID#43459

Mini Cooper?

Paul put this thought into my head last night...

They are actually much cheaper then I'd assumed. I thought they'd be $30k plus, but this one is $21k.

jim writes at 04:08:49 02/26/08 - Comment #32115: It's sort of within my budget if I buy it with a 5 year payment plan. I was looking at used Mini Coopers and they are all barely less expensive then new, so it seems like getting a new one would be the way to go.

mrmike writes at 03:43:28 02/26/08 - Comment #32114: They actually BMW's. BMW makes em. I still want one. Too bad my budget set Neon or something bland like that. Minis are awesome and I can actually fit in.

drew writes at 09:26:06 02/26/08 - Comment #32094: I want one.

But if you REALLY want a tiny car with good gas milage, find yourself a used Geo metro. I had one, and I loved it.

jim writes at 09:10:00 02/25/08 - Comment #32082: Thanks :) I have to figure out how to drive manual LOL.

jenks writes at 09:09:06 02/25/08 - Comment #32081: p.s. the guys at the local dealer (Towne) are really nice. I always go for test drives. They let you go out ALONE, and they have a little map of a 'fun' route for you to take.

jenks writes at 09:07:49 02/25/08 - Comment #32080: do it do it do it!

It's actually more or less a baby BMW.

And fwiw- mine (an '03 "S" with ALL the options except their nav system) was about 25K when I bought it new. My brother bought the EXACT same car ('03 S with all the same options) used, in '06, and it was about 23K. Point: they keep their value really well.

The new ones are cool too. Push button start, bluetooth, blah blah. And the mileage is even better.

jim writes at 08:09:21 02/25/08 - Comment #32076: I am liking it more and more as I read about it. The engine automatically turns off when you are stopped, and then turns back on again when you touch the gas. 37 mpg hwy / 28 mpg city. It's mostly highway between my house and my new work. So it's a peppy little car that's not horrendous on fuel efficiency, and costs only a couple thousand more then the Scion I was looking at.

paul writes at 07:55:11 02/25/08 - Comment #32075: Jenks has one and it is so cute.

jim writes at 07:28:03 02/25/08 - Comment #32074: I just want a tiny car with good gas mileage.

Permalink: Mini_Cooper_.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: transportation

02/24/08 05:13 - 30ºF - ID#43450

Have to Buy a Car

This is the car that I'd like to get. I know, I know, everyone seems to hate Scions but I like them.

Not that I'll get one, I'll probably just buy an old used Jetta or Camry or Civic or whatever... Need to start hauling my ass out to Amherst for work every day.

Permalink: Have_to_Buy_a_Car.html
Words: 56
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: work

02/21/08 03:15 - 20ºF - ID#43418

New Job

Just got the offer, accepted it. Looks like it's all a go. Thanks for the well-wishes everyone!

Now I'm off to go home and curl up in bed sick. Yuck.

_X_ They Called Me
_X_ They Like Me
_X_ Resume Sent
_X_ Glowing recommendation from Tony
_X_ Iron Shirt
_X_ Pick Out Tie
___ Achieve Sense of Calm and Readiness
_X_ Attend Interview
_X_ Negotiate Salary
_X_ Wait
_X_ Job Offer
_X_ Job Accepted

tiburon1724 writes at 08:34:28 02/22/08 - Comment #31992: congrats!

carolinian writes at 10:20:22 02/22/08 - Comment #31980: Atta Boy! Polish those Rubies.

fellyconnelly writes at 09:47:01 02/22/08 - Comment #31975: a) congratulations!!! like woaaah!
b) i had to read your last comment twice before i realized that was what you actually said.

jim writes at 10:05:03 02/21/08 - Comment #31964: I'm lying on the couch with the Mac roasting my nuts. Yes.

james writes at 10:03:26 02/21/08 - Comment #31963: go to bed?

you are on the couch rockin out with your mac.

lauren writes at 08:41:26 02/21/08 - Comment #31961: Congratulations!!

New jobs are always a little scary, but you know you will settle in soon enough and realize that all your worry was for nothing :)

mrdeadlier writes at 07:31:22 02/21/08 - Comment #31957: Awesome. Congrats! Like Paul said, we will miss you here at the Roz.

libertad writes at 06:51:06 02/21/08 - Comment #31954: Congrats!

drew writes at 05:43:02 02/21/08 - Comment #31944: cool! way to go.

jim writes at 04:53:24 02/21/08 - Comment #31938: AMS - :::link:::

They are converting to a Rails / Ruby shop.

I start part time in mid march and full time at the end of March.

zobar writes at 04:07:16 02/21/08 - Comment #31937: Congratulations! If you don't mind my asking, where are you at now?

- Z

jim writes at 03:59:32 02/21/08 - Comment #31934: Not going to happen :)

paul writes at 03:57:17 02/21/08 - Comment #31933: Congratulations, time to achieve a sense of calm and readiness.

jason writes at 03:50:07 02/21/08 - Comment #31930: Well done, sir. Get some rest.

ladycroft writes at 03:39:03 02/21/08 - Comment #31926: hurray for you!

jbeatty writes at 03:34:54 02/21/08 - Comment #31925: congratulations!

fing writes at 03:32:15 02/21/08 - Comment #31924: Congrats again Jim!

hodown writes at 03:30:32 02/21/08 - Comment #31922: Awesome!!

mrmike writes at 03:29:36 02/21/08 - Comment #31921: Cool. Congrats!

Permalink: New_Job.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: checklist

02/19/08 03:40 - 21ºF - ID#43395

Job Interview Tomorrow

_X_ They Called Me
_X_ They Like Me
_X_ Resume Sent
_X_ Glowing recommendation from Tony
_X_ Iron Shirt
_X_ Pick Out Tie
___ Achieve Sense of Calm and Readiness
___ Attend Interview
___ Negotiate Salary
___ Wait
___ Job Offer
___ Job Accepted

Permalink: Job_Interview_Tomorrow.html
Words: 38
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: video

02/18/08 03:09 - 33ºF - ID#43381

Best Rant, Ever?

Permalink: Best_Rant_Ever_.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: video

02/16/08 03:48 - 23ºF - ID#43362

Totally Gay For America

Permalink: Totally_Gay_For_America.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: culture

02/16/08 02:06 - 21ºF - ID#43361

Anatomy

Lauren, this one is for you:

A German horror movie, about twisted medical practitioners abducting people to turn them into plasticized anatomy displays. Subtitles...

IMDB listing for Anatomy

Permalink: Anatomy.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: video

02/15/08 01:10 - 24ºF - ID#43346

Cutest YouTube Video Ever?