Joe Chung
Monmouth U. Homepage

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Introduction to Ruby ======

==== "A Programmer's Best Friend" ====

----

===== Ruby =====

  * Creator: Yukihiro Matsumoto 
  * Introduced: 1995
  * Open source
  * Installable package on many UNIX/Linux systems
  * Windows installer obtainable from http://www.ruby-lang.org
  * For macOS, installing Ruby through homebrew is recommended: https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/installation/#homebrew
  * Can be used for tasks that other dynamic programming languages are used for.
    * Initially gained a following due to the popularity of the [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Ruby_on_Rails | Ruby on Rails]] web application framework.
      * Used by major projects such as [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/GitLab | GitLab]], [[https://github.blog/2023-04-06-building-github-with-ruby-and-rails | GitHub]], [[https://www.reddit.com/r/rails/comments/z5ricu/how_does_shopify_use_ruby_on_rails/ | Shopify]], etc.
    * Used in prominent configuration management systems such as [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Ansible_(software) | Ansible]], [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Chef_(software) | Chef]] and [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Puppet_(company)#Puppet | Puppet]].
      * Used as a [[https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Domain-specific_language | domain-specific language]] in Chef and Puppet.


----

===== Ruby Online Resources =====

  * http://www.ruby-lang.org - Official site
  * http://www.ruby-doc.org/ - Official documentation site
  * http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/documentation/ruby-from-other-languages/ - Coming to Ruby from other languages
  * https://rubygems.org - The Ruby community’s gem hosting service
  * Books:
    * http://ruby-doc.org/docs/ProgrammingRuby/ - "Programming Ruby"
    * http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Ruby_Essentials - "Ruby Essentials"
    * https://github.com/chriskempson/portable-humble-little-ruby-book - "Humble Little Ruby Book"
    * https://nostarch.com/rubywizardry - "Ruby Wizardry (An Introduction to Programming for Kids)"

===== Ruby Execution =====

  * Programs typically given .rb extension
  * Executed with //ruby prog.rb//
  * Or use shell script type line at top of Ruby script
    * #!/path/to/ruby
    * and make executable with //chmod +x prog.rb//
  * Interactive shell by running //irb//

----

===== Ruby: Syntax summary =====

  * http://rockhopper.monmouth.edu/~jchung/RubyCheat.pdf (old)
  * [[https://dev.to/ericchapman/my-beloved-ruby-cheat-sheet-208o|Another cheat sheet]]
  * A quick reference, in html
    * http://www.zenspider.com/ruby/quickref.html

===== Ruby: What might be familiar =====

  * indentation and whitespace generally not significant

  * Perl-like //"expression if bool-expr"// and //"expr unless bool-expr"// can be used.

  * ''print'' and ''puts''
    * print omits \n at end
    * puts includes \n at end

==== Regular expressions ====

  * Regular expressions are built-in (like Perl)
    * Regexp objects can be built with %r|regex|

<code>
mypattern = %r|[aeiou]|
</code>
    * match with =~ or .match()
<code>
puts "String has vowels" if "This is a test" =~ /[aeiou]/

puts "String has vowels" if "This is a test".match("[aeiou]")

puts "String has vowels" if "This is a test".match( mypattern )

x = "This is a test".match(/(\w+) (\w+)/)
puts x[0]
puts x[1]
puts x[2]
</code>

    * substitute with .sub (1 instance) or .gsub (global sub)

<code>
puts "foobar".sub('bar', 'foo')

puts "this is a test".gsub('i', '')

x = "This is a test"
puts x.sub(/^../, 'Hello')
</code>

    * Also see the Ruby string class' [[https://ruby-doc.org/core-3.1.1/String.html#method-i-scan|.scan()]] method.

    * Complete documentation on Ruby regex handling is at https://ruby-doc.org/core-3.1.1/Regexp.html 
      * Includes options for multiline matching and other modifiers.

==== Arrays and hashes ====

  * Ruby uses [[http://www.zenspider.com/ruby/quickref.html#arrays|"arrays and hashes"]], like Perl:

<code>
x = [1, 2, 3, 4]    # array called x
x << 5              # adds 5 to array x

x = { "a" => 1, "b" => 2 }    # hash called x

# ruby-style iteration through hash:
x.each { |key, value| puts "#{key} equals #{value}" }
</code>

----

===== Ruby: What might not be familiar =====

==== Blocks end with "end" ====

<code>
if bool-expr [then]
  body
elsif bool-expr [then]
  body
else
  body
end

while bool-expr [do]
  body
end

for name[, name]... in expr [do]
  body
end
</code>

==== Multi-line strings ====

<code>
x = %q{This is a test
of the multi
line capabilities}
</code>

==== Variable interpolation ====

    * Use #{varname} or #{expression}

<code>
x = 10
y = 20
z = "annoying"
puts "#{x} + #{y} = #{x + y}"
puts "This is so #{z.upcase}!"

# also works # puts "This is so " + z.upcase + "!"
</code>

==== Ruby-style iteration ====

<code>
# Preferred form
some_list.each do |this_item|
  # some statements
end
		
# In Python: for this_item in some_list:
# In Perl:   foreach $this_item (some_list)
</code>

==== Ruby naming conventions ====

    * Ruby enforces some naming conventions.
      * If an identifier starts with a capital letter, it is a constant.
        * Method names, however, are also allowed to start with capital letters.
      * If it starts with a dollar sign ($), it is a global variable.
        * such as the built-in **$stdin** global object
          * See the [[http://rockhopper.monmouth.edu/~jchung/RubyCheat.pdf|cheatsheet]] for other global objects (a.k.a. Predefined Variables).
      * If it starts with @, it is an instance or object variable.
        * instance vars have scope within the current object
      * If it starts with @@, it is a class variable.
        * like ''static'' variables in Java
        * class vars have scope within the entire class
    * Some other conventions
      * Boolean methods end in ?
        * Hash#has_key? ( key )
      * Methods can be made to mutate their argument(s), by appending !
        * Str#downcase!

<code>
mystring = "Are strings mutable?"

mystring.downcase

puts mystring + " No."

mystring.downcase!

puts "#{mystring} It Depends!"
</code>

==== Everything except nil and false considered true ====

<code>
# in Ruby, 0 is considered true.
if 0
  puts "0 is true"
else
  puts "0 is false"
end
</code>

==== Symbols ====

    * Symbols, a feature of languages such as LISP
    * begin with :
    * don't contain values or objects, unlike variables
    * can be considered literal constants that have no value

<code>
current_situation = :good
puts "Everything is fine" if current_situation == :good
puts "PANIC!" if current_situation == :bad

# as opposed to

current_situation = "good"
puts "Everything is fine" if current_situation == "good"
puts "PANIC!" if current_situation == "bad"
</code>

  * Symbols often used in hash creation

<code>
person1 = { :name => "Fred", :age => 20, :gender => :male }
person1 = { :name => "Laura", :age => 23, :gender => :female }
</code>

==== Ruby methods (functions) ====

    * Methods must be defined before they are called.
    * The last expression that is evaluated is automatically returned by the method.

<code>
def say_hello( name )
   "Hello, " + name   # Same as: return "Hello, " + name
end
</code>

  * Method calls typically leave out the parens
    * Future Ruby versions could require parens, so should retain habit of using parens in method calls.

<code>
puts say_hello "Chris"   # Same as: puts say_hello( "Chris" )
</code>

----

===== Ruby Classes and Objects =====

==== Discovering methods ====

  * Ruby is sometimes referred to as an "introspective" language. See http://phrogz.net/ProgrammingRuby/ospace.html and https://wikiless.tiekoetter.com/wiki/Type_introspection.

  * It is possible to query almost any object in Ruby for the methods that are available to it.
<code>
a = "This is a test"
puts a.methods.sort.join(' ')
</code>

==== Classes ====

  * The Ruby on Rails web app framework necessitates a working knowledge of classes in Ruby.

<code>
class Person
   attr_accessor :name, :age, :gender
	  # note use of symbols
end

person_instance = Person.new

person_instance.name = "Robert"

person_instance.age = 52

person_instance.gender = "male"

puts person_instance.name
</code>

==== Intro to class inheritance in Ruby ====

<code>
class Pet
   attr_accessor :name, :age, :gender, :color
end

class Cat < Pet
end

class Dog < Pet
   # Dog-specific method
   def bark
	  puts "Woof!"
   end
end

class Snake < Pet
   attr_accessor :length
	  # additional attribute for Snake
end
</code>

==== Using instance or object variables (@varname) ====

<code>
# base class Shape
class Shape
end


class Square < Shape
   # consider initialize method to be the "constructor"
   def initialize( side_length )
	  @side_length = side_length
   end
   
   # Instance variables are private by default, so
   # @side_length is private unless made public with
   # attr_accessor :side_length

   # Methods are public unless declared private:
   def area
	  @side_length * @side_length
   end

   def perimeter
	  @side_length * 4
   end
end


class Triangle < Shape
   def initialize( base_width, height, side1, side2, side3 )
	  @base_width = base_width
	  @height = height
	  @side1 = side1
	  @side2 = side2
	  @side3 = side3
   end

   def area
	  @base_width * @height / 2
   end

   def perimeter
	  @side1 + @side2 + @side3
   end
end


my_square = Square.new( 5 )
my_triangle = Triangle.new( 6, 6, 7.81, 7.81, 7.81 )
puts my_square.area
puts my_square.perimeter
puts my_triangle.area
puts my_triangle.perimeter

# Attempt to change @side_length of my_square:
my_square.side_length = 10 # will fail without an attr_accessor for :side_length
puts my_square.area
puts my_square.perimeter
</code>

  * Note the lack of an ''attr_accessor'' for these class definitions.
    * Without ''attr_accessor'', instance variables are private by default.

==== Using class variables (@@varname) ====

  * particularly useful for storing information relevant to all objects of a certain class.
    * like static class member variables in C++/Java
    * Example: Store the number of objects created so far in a certain class using a class variable.

<code>
class Square
   def initialize
	  if defined?( @@number_of_squares )
		 @@number_of_squares += 1
	  else
		 @@number_of_squares = 1
	  end
   end


   # A class method begins with the name of the class itself
   def Square.count
	  @@number_of_squares
		 # "return" is optional
   end
end


a = Square.new
puts Square.count
b = Square.new
puts Square.count
</code>

----

===== Rubygems: Ruby packaging system =====

  * RubyGems is a packaging system for Ruby programs and libraries.
    * Provides //gem// command
      * Can be thought of as Ruby equivalent of [[cs498gpl:using_the_cpan_module_shell | CPAN]] in Perl and 'pip' in Python.
      * Try running 

<code>
# List all available gems; hit q to quit the more pager
gem list --remote | more       

# Download and install gems
gem install nokogiri open-uri sqlite3 
</code>

  * Each individually packaged Ruby library (or application) is called a //gem// or //RubyGem//.
  * https://rubygems.org - The Ruby community’s gem hosting service

----

===== Ruby and databases =====

  * Databases and dynamic languages
    * Perl and Python also have commonly used modules that allow these languages to use SQL databases.
      * The techniques learned in Ruby are probably applicable to Perl and Python programs that manipulate databases.
    * Most common use is in web applications that use a database back-end for data storage.
  * Why databases w/ Ruby?
    * The Ruby on Rails web app framework is optimized for the creation of database-driven web apps.

==== SQLite with Ruby ====

  * SQLite is a lightweight SQL database that does not require a DB server running in the background.
    * Widely-adopted for configuration management, e.g. Firefox, Chrome and related browsers store user profiles, browsing history, etc. in SQLite databases.
  * Example: Menu-driven program that allows you to create, manipulate and search a database table.
    * See [[https://piazza.com/class_profile/get_resource/lrg17jwbqqe603/lumzt8zhtqu4pc|rbdb2.rb]]
    * After you finish running //rbdb2.rb//, you will have a //dbfile// in the same directory as the Ruby program.

----
----

===== Ruby on Rails: An introduction =====

  * Ruby on Rails (RoR or Rails) is an open source Web application development framework.
  * Goal: Make it possible to develop Web applications in an easy, straightforward manner, //with as few lines of code as necessary.//
    * For this to be possible, Rails makes assumptions and uses default configurations that work for most Web apps.
    * The attraction of Rails is that it removes much of the groundwork needed to develop Web apps.
      * Features such as database access, dynamic page elements (AJAX), templating and data validation are either preconfigured or take only a few lines of code to configure.

==== Rails & the Model-View-Controller architecture ====

  * Like many contemporary Web app frameworks, Rails uses the [[https://www.codecademy.com/article/mvc|Model-View-Controller]] (MVC) architecture for organizing application programming.
  * Splits Rails apps into three sections: models, views and controllers
    * Models
      * Used to represent forms of data used by the app and contain the logic to manipulate and retrieve that data.
      * //In Rails, a model is represented as a class.//
    * Views
      * The templates and HTML code that users of the Web app see.
      * Turn data into formats that users can view.
      * Can output data as HTML for Web browsers, XML, RSS and other formats.
    * Controllers
      * Form the logic that binds together models, data and views.
      * Process input and deliver data for output.
      * Call methods that are made available by models and deliver it to the views.
      * Contain methods known as //actions// that generally represent each action relevant to that controller, such as "show," "hide," "view," "delete," and so forth.

==== Ruby on Rails: More Information ====

  * Ruby on Rails home: http://www.rubyonrails.org/
  * A complete production-level Rails system requires Ruby, the Rails framework (the 'rails' and other Rubygems), a Web server such as Apache or nginx, a database such as MySQL or sqlite, Node.js, and more.
  * A Rails [[https://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html#creating-a-new-rails-project-installing-rails|development environment]] requires Ruby, SQLite3, Node.js and Yarn.
    * I will be working on the CSSE remote [[https://cssegit.monmouth.edu/cshelp/csseremote/-/wikis/MUCSremote|Linux cluster environment]] on which a Rails development environment is already set up.
      * Install the MUCSremote package for your operating system, and run the linuxlab script to start the remote login process.

==== Sample app - mydiary ====

  * See [[cs498gpl/sample_ruby_on_rails_app_-_mydiary]].

----