2nd CFV: comp.lang.ruby

[Dave Cornejo]

                      LAST CALL FOR VOTES (of 2)
                   unmoderated group comp.lang.ruby

Newsgroups line:
comp.lang.ruby		The Ruby dynamic OO programming language.

Votes must be received by 23:59:59 UTC, 20 Apr 2000.

This vote is being conducted by a neutral third party.  Questions
about the proposed group should be directed to the proponent.

Proponent: Conrad Schneiker <schneiker at jump.net>
Votetaker: Dave Cornejo <dave at dogwood.com>

RATIONALE: comp.lang.ruby

Ruby is a very-high-level, dynamic object oriented programming language.
Ruby provides many of the best-liked power and convenience features of Perl
and Python on one hand, with an elegantly simple and powerful syntax that
was partly inspired by Eiffel and Ada on the other hand.  Ruby is a more
thoroughly objected oriented language than Python, and some Ruby features
were inspired by Smalltalk. Ruby is an open source language.

There are over 1000 members of 4 Japanese Ruby mail lists (general,
developers, math, extension writers), with a peak volume topping 100
messages per day. At present, there is one English Ruby mail list with
about 175 members, with a recent volume often exceeding 10 messages per
day and growing.  Many users of the Japanese Ruby mail lists have some
understanding of English and are also prospective comp.lang.ruby users
as well.

Much of 1999's newsgroup discussion of Ruby took place on comp.lang.python,
which is not optimal, since comp.lang.python is dedicated to the Python
language. For obvious reasons, Ruby users do not post there frequently. In
2000, most Ruby discussion has occurred in comp.lang.misc. This again is not
ideal since other comp.lang.misc regulars are typically more interested in
issues that transcend Ruby, and have said as much.

In Japan, Ruby has overtaken Python in terms of popular usage. During 1999
and into early 2000, Ruby has been featured in several articles in the
English language software trade press, indicating it is at the takeoff
threshold that Perl and Python attained years ago.  (Please see
http://www-4.ibm.com/software/developer/library/ruby.html for the latest
example.) The English language Ruby home page is
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/, which provides links to documentation and
download pages for Ruby.

CHARTER: comp.lang.ruby

The comp.lang.ruby newsgroup is devoted to discussions of the Ruby
programming language and related issues.

Examples of relevant postings include, but are not be limited to,
the following subjects:

- Bug reports
- Announcements of software written with Ruby
- Examples of Ruby code
- Suggestions for Ruby developers
- Requests for help from new Ruby programmers

The newsgroup is not moderated.  Binaries are prohibited (except the
small PGP type). Advertising is prohibited (except for announcements
of new Ruby-related products).

END CHARTER.

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-- 
Voting question & problems: Dave Cornejo <dave at dogwood.com>
Voting address: vote at dogwood.com