[lawn]

Yes, agree with both posts. You shouldn't care what language or library he's using.

There aren't "Ruby programmers", there are just programmers. I honestly try to stay away from people who claim they are language x programmers and those who think one language is superior, because quite frankly they're often not that good.

Honestly are Ruby programmers really better than those who code in C or haskell and honestly what does it matter which text editor I choose to use?!

What would you learn if he knows and use the same things as you? Wouldn't it be a lot better, and a lot cooler, if your roommate could teach you about compilers, creating games or advanced algorithms or something that you don't know already?

It's a great idea to get a roommate with similar interests, but really I think you're focusing on the wrong things.

[zakkap]

What makes you think I don't already know about compilers, algorithms and game creation.

I happen to know alot. Including Maya/3D Studio and even Final Cut/Vegas Studios.

I am not just a Ruby programmer, I also speak PHP and Objective-C...

I'm not saying a person should ONLY know Ruby, jeez! This person can have other interests and knowledge as well...

[lawn]

Way to go and miss the point. I said that he might know something that you don't know which could be nice to learn, or are you seriously saying that you know everything?

I'm sorry that I offended you, I didn't doubt your knowledge.

And my point wasn't that he must only know ruby, but that you should focus more on programming skills and not focus on a specific language. A competent programmer should be able to jump between languages with relative ease as long as they have some related skill.

I guess I started thinking about a friend of my when I read your post. He's someone who says C is the best language in the world, poet is the only worthwhile site on the web and everyone who didn't use linux was bad and wrong. Different opinions was never allowed and he was right all the time.

Maybe it's me but maybe the post does give out a little smugness, like saying you want (prefer) him to love textmate.

[zakkap]

No you haven't offended me... and I haven't missed your point either.

But I do feel like you are putting words in my mouth: "are you seriously saying that you know everything"

Where the hell did you see myself saying that?

If you read my other replies - I said I have an intense passion for learning. This means I do learn from other people than myself.

You're right... A competent programmer should be able to jump between languages.

I don't think Ruby is the best programming language in the world - but it has suited me well for what I'm doing and allows me to iterate through development cycles quickly with ease, plus there is a large community built around it in San Francisco.

When something better for the job comes along I'll pick it up just as quickly.

[lawn]

No.

Initially I asked you if there isn't something your roommate could teach you which would be good and I gave the examples compilers, creating games or advanced algorithms.

Where you responded What makes you think I don't already know about compilers, algorithms and game creation?

This I read as a you're being offended and/or missing my question or as if you're telling me that you already know everything about compilers and the something (which alas is everything).

It's great that you like to learn, just like me, and I think it's a great opportunity to learn and to get a roommate who knows a lot of good funky stuff. This is also why I don't think purely focusing on programmers who knows Ruby is a good idea, instead you should focus on good programmers who know stuff you'd like to learn.

I don't want to pick on Ruby, in fact I think it's great.

[Retric]

isn't something your roommate could teach you which would be good and I gave the examples

In many ways two specialists in the same area can teach each other far more things than two specialists in different areas. The problem is until you know a lot learning from a wiki is often the best approach, however the more you know about say java script the more things you can learn with that foundation.

Think of it this way, how long would you need to spend with tiger woods before he becomes significantly more useful than the average golf instructor. And how does that change as you go from a beginner to the pro level.