Ruby users in India?

[Premshree Pillai]

Hi,

I have been using Ruby for quite some time now -- I use it for most of
my internal work-related stuff (where I don't have to use _a_
particular language). In the past I have used Python. I used to
evangelize about Python in the past, but no longer (my reasons, if you
care: http://www.livejournal.com/users/premshree/50417.html).

So I have been speaking on Ruby whenever I get the opportunity. I'll
be speaking on another upcoming event in India (at Pune, to be
specific; details at http://gnunify.sicsr.ac.in/shedule.shtml). The
thing is, I have not been able to find many Ruby programmers who talk
about Ruby and stuff -- or if they do exist, they're not interested in
spreading Ruby.

Through this forum I'd like to specifically address Ruby users from
India. I have been doing my best to evangelize about Ruby through
various confs. But, this is not an easy task -- it requires a lot more
evangelists. Ruby, at the moment, is in a position where it _requires_
evangelism first, then education (a fine line here, but I hope you get
the idea).

I'd really like it if I could hear from Ruby users in India -- so
that, if possible, we could form some kind of a user group, and help
in promoting Ruby.

*hopeful*

 

[Zach Dennis]

Hi,

evangelize about Python in the past, but no longer (my reasons, if you
care: http://www.livejournal.com/users/premshree/50417.html).

Kinda vulgar IMO, at least in the first sentence, it made me not want to
go on.

So I have been speaking on Ruby whenever I get the opportunity. I'll
be speaking on another upcoming event in India (at Pune, to be
specific; details at http://gnunify.sicsr.ac.in/shedule.shtml). The
thing is, I have not been able to find many Ruby programmers who talk
about Ruby and stuff -- or if they do exist, they're not interested in
spreading Ruby.

Through this forum I'd like to specifically address Ruby users from
India. I have been doing my best to evangelize about Ruby through
various confs. But, this is not an easy task -- it requires a lot more
evangelists. Ruby, at the moment, is in a position where it _requires_
evangelism first, then education (a fine line here, but I hope you get
the idea).

Sometimes education is the best evangelism.

I'd really like it if I could hear from Ruby users in India -- so
that, if possible, we could form some kind of a user group, and help
in promoting Ruby.

Good Luck!

Zach

 

[Premshree Pillai]

Hi,



Kinda vulgar IMO, at least in the first sentence, it made me not want to
go on.

Umm, vulgar is subjective. Well....

Sometimes education is the best evangelism.

Evangelism involves reasoning. Education is different. As I said, it's
a fine line.

Good Luck!

Thanks

 

[Yogi]

We have a few budding rubyists at ThoughtWorks, Bangalore. We've been
using Ruby a lot recently to automate build-related tasks. In our
spare time, some of us also work on DamageControl
(http://damagecontrol.codehaus.org), a continuous integration server
in ruby, developed by Jon and Aslak at ThoughtWorks.

We've been thinking of starting a dynamic languages user group in
Bangalore (we have some Python, SmallTalk and Scheme fans)... but why
delay the inevitable, it might as well be a Ruby User Group ;-)

- Yogi
Developer, www.thoughtworks.com

 

[Premshree Pillai]

We have a few budding rubyists at ThoughtWorks, Bangalore. We've been
using Ruby a lot recently to automate build-related tasks. In our
spare time, some of us also work on DamageControl
(http://damagecontrol.codehaus.org), a continuous integration server
in ruby, developed by Jon and Aslak at ThoughtWorks.

We've been thinking of starting a dynamic languages user group in
Bangalore (we have some Python, SmallTalk and Scheme fans)... but why
delay the inevitable, it might as well be a Ruby User Group ;-)

Don't you think a dynamic languages user group would quickly
disintegrate? We have a Python user group in Bangalore (started
recently). I was wondering if there are enough Rubyists in India to
form a user group.

 

[Martin DeMello]

I'd really like it if I could hear from Ruby users in India -- so
that, if possible, we could form some kind of a user group, and help
in promoting Ruby.

Count me in! Thus far, my evangelism has been mostly at the
word-of-mouth level, and, of course, using it for everything internal I
can. I had a moment of satisfaction when an officemate of mine (who's
convinced, but hasn't had the time to learn another language yet) told
me "one of my friends was planning on learning Perl, so I told him about
Ruby and showed him ZenTest as an example of the cool stuff you can do
with it". Another friend is interested in Indian scripts, and is eager
to use Ruby for his next project if the Pango bindings are decent (I
wasn't able to tell him anything about that, but he's been hanging out
in #ruby-lang).

martin

 

[Martin DeMello]

Don't you think a dynamic languages user group would quickly
disintegrate? We have a Python user group in Bangalore (started
recently). I was wondering if there are enough Rubyists in India to
form a user group.

I don't know - we might get more of a critical mass here in Bangalore
for a dynamic languages group, and the cross fertilisation would only be
beneficial. Plus I'm trying to learn Common Lisp and it'd be a useful
impetus to actually do something about it

martin

 

[Martin DeMello]

We have a few budding rubyists at ThoughtWorks, Bangalore. We've been

Where were you when I asked for Bangalore rubyists?!

martin

 

[Kingsley Hendrickse]

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You could always join the Dynamic Languages TWIG

Don't you think a dynamic languages user group would quickly
disintegrate? We have a Python user group in Bangalore (started
recently). I was wondering if there are enough Rubyists in India to
form a user group.

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[Yogi]

Don't you think a dynamic languages user group would quickly
How many people would we need to sustain a user group?

Actually, why don't we just meetup and see who turns up. Even if there
are only 4-5 passionate rubyists, I'd love to meet... hopefully some
kind of group will emerge from it.

 

[Eric Hodel]

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How many people would we need to sustain a user group?

Actually, why don't we just meetup and see who turns up. Even if there
are only 4-5 passionate rubyists, I'd love to meet... hopefully some
kind of group will emerge from it.

Forming a solid and active Ruby user group (or any user group) is
something that takes time, advertisement and recruiting. Seattle.rb
hasn't grown much since we first started meeting over 2 years ago, but
we do have a few things that are important for a good user group:

* Regular meeting location
* Regular meeting time
* Mailing list

OMNI Group has been letting us use its space for Ruby meetings for
quite some time, which gives us the advantage of a stable place to meet
and nice big screens for doing demos and so-forth. We've established a
consistent meeting time, and we announce on the mailing list before
each meeting and try (but don't always succeed) in choosing something
to talk about/demo/whatever.

For each meeting we've typically had only 3 or 4 people show up out of
a rotating stable group, and maybe 2 or 3 other new faces. Getting
famous Ruby faces (like DHH) brings in a much larger crowd (17, last
meeting).

Most importantly, you can't give up. Also, try bribing people with
cookies or food or something.

--
Eric Hodel - (e-mail address removed) - http://segment7.net
FEC2 57F1 D465 EB15 5D6E 7C11 332A 551C 796C 9F04

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[Martin DeMello]

How many people would we need to sustain a user group?

Actually, why don't we just meetup and see who turns up. Even if there
are only 4-5 passionate rubyists, I'd love to meet... hopefully some
kind of group will emerge from it.

Sounds good to me. How about the Brigade Road Coffee Day as a convenient
meetup point?

martin

 

[Yogi]

Great... what time? Sundays are best for me, anytme after 1pm. I could
make it on Saturday too between 3pm and 8pm.

Your preferences?

 

[CT]

Count one more for the Bangalore group(just a newbie, but rearing to
go). Can we use the IndiaUserGroup entry[1] on the Rubygarden wiki to
collect info about ruby-enthusiasts in the city?

Sounds good to me. How about the Brigade Road Coffee Day as a convenient
meetup point?

Sounds great! I will be out of station this weekend, but any time
else, I'll be sure to turn up. I'd *really* like to meet other
ruby-enthusiasts, it gets kinda lonely sometimes

martin

1: http://www.rubygarden.org/ruby?IndiaGroup

 

[Yogi]

You could always join the Dynamic Languages TWIG

I have... and I'm still waiting for the ruby nuggets you've promised!

 

[avik.sengupta]

Sounds good to me. How about the Brigade Road Coffee Day as a convenient
meetup point?

Looks like, at the very least, we'll have enuf quorom for a meet at
coffee day. To help plan, I've created a (e-mail address removed). So
lets carry on the discussion there.. jump in folks. (mail to
(e-mail address removed))

Regards
-
Avik

 

[Martin DeMello]

Great... what time? Sundays are best for me, anytme after 1pm. I could
make it on Saturday too between 3pm and 8pm.

Your preferences?

Sunday works for me too.

martin

 

[Premshree Pillai]

Forming a solid and active Ruby user group (or any user group) is
something that takes time, advertisement and recruiting. Seattle.rb
hasn't grown much since we first started meeting over 2 years ago, but
we do have a few things that are important for a good user group:

* Regular meeting location
* Regular meeting time
* Mailing list

OMNI Group has been letting us use its space for Ruby meetings for
quite some time, which gives us the advantage of a stable place to meet
and nice big screens for doing demos and so-forth. We've established a
consistent meeting time, and we announce on the mailing list before
each meeting and try (but don't always succeed) in choosing something
to talk about/demo/whatever.

For each meeting we've typically had only 3 or 4 people show up out of
a rotating stable group, and maybe 2 or 3 other new faces. Getting
famous Ruby faces (like DHH) brings in a much larger crowd (17, last
meeting).

Most importantly, you can't give up. Also, try bribing people with
cookies or food or something.

Ah, that should help.

 

[Premshree Pillai]

How many people would we need to sustain a user group?

Well, at least 3-4 people would be a good number, methinks.

Actually, why don't we just meetup and see who turns up. Even if there
are only 4-5 passionate rubyists, I'd love to meet... hopefully some
kind of group will emerge from it.

Good idea.

 

[Premshree Pillai]

Great... what time? Sundays are best for me, anytme after 1pm. I could
make it on Saturday too between 3pm and 8pm.

Yes, weekends are best. I'm not here this weekend, though -- I'm
giving a talk on... what else... Ruby! at a conf.