Picking up Ruby Fast, as a Python Dev pt II

This is a continuation of Picking up Ruby Fast, as a Python Dev. Again, expect examples with no math and no crappy names

Some Reflection

I really never thought I'd pick up a second language, but now that I am it's a lot easier than expected. Now, don't take that like I said it's easy. It's just not quite as hard and confusing as it was when I had no clue how to code.

Vicki Langer

@vicki_langer

Learning a second language is very different from learning your first. When learning your first, you have no baseline or frame of reference to compare to.

Learning a second language just takes figuring out punctuation, vernacular, and constant translating from what you do know.

03:49 AM - 17 Nov 2020

More differences

Classes, Functions, and Methods, oh my

Turns out, Python isn't a true OOP language as it still has functions. Ruby, on the other hand, is a true OOP language and does not call functions. Instead, messages are sent to methods of an instance of an object

we don't call functions, we send messages to methods on an instance of a given object in Ruby!

Iterating

Both Python and Ruby have loops, but the syntax is different. Here's a comparison of the same code in each language

In Python

# python
# throw each toy some number of times for some dog
def throw_toy(amount, name = "the dog")
    toy_list = ["ball", "frisbee", "rock", "another ball", "cat"]
    for toy in toy_list:
        print(f"threw {toy} {amount} times for {name.capitalize()}"

throw_toy(3, "Cheeto")
throw_toy(1, "wiley")

Here it is in Ruby

#ruby
# throw each toy some number of times for some dog
def throw_toy(amount, name = "the dog")
  toy_list = ["ball", "frisbee", "rock", "another ball", "cat"]
  toy_list.each{
     |toy| puts "threw #{toy} #{amount} times for #{name.capitalize}"
    }
end

throw_toy 3, "Cheeto"
throw_toy 1, "wiley"

Parentheses in Ruby

Turns out, parentheses are optional but preferred in some cases.

If you only have one arg, parentheses probably aren't needed. More than one arg and it's a good idea to have them.

# this is acceptable
def throw_toy amount, name = "the dog"

# this is preferred because there is >1 argument
def throw_toy(amount, name = "the dog")

A Few More Quick Points of Difference

If you missed the first post, I've heard it's a good read and there's cats.

Picking up Ruby Fast, as a Python Dev

Vicki Langer ・ Nov 12 '20 ・ 3 min read

#ruby #python #codenewbie