[cppsnob]

Serious question: has anyone gotten anything out of these browser-based language playgrounds? I just don't think it's hard to download the real thing to try it, so I thought I'd ask if anyone has really been inspired by it.

[cubicle67]

Yeah, I'll put my hand up for this

I first tried Ruby about 2004/5 or so. downloaded it, did a few examples, thought meh and forgot about it.

2007 and I came across the try ruby site (during lunch at work, I think). Started on the tutorial and by about exercise 4 I "got it". Downloaded the Windows 1-click installer and couldn't get enough. Became very proficient at using the win32ole library to automate office apps and found Ruby a great tool for scripting my job away :)

fast forward a year and I got into Rails, then was able to move from enterprise Java dev into a small Rails shop, then onto the life of a freelance dev. I'd like to assume I'd have ended up here without that kick from TryRuby, but you never know

[keen]

It's not hard, but it's another barrier to entry.

On a personal note, I'd much rather try a language in a browser, then download it if I like it.

[djhworld]

It's not the 'try' aspect that's useful, it's the interactive tutorial that comes with it that's engaging

[gurkendoktor]

I have a friend who knows some HTML and wants to start programming. I sent him this and the JavaScript variant (on HN recently) so he can see if either language looks less scary to him.

Personally, I love browser based language introductions. On OS X for example, many Rubyists will tell you to install brew or rvm or rbenv, then a more recent Ruby (1.9.2 or 1.9.3 or...), then TextMate or more stuff for vim, ...

[petercooper]

I use tools like http://jsbin.com/ and http://jsfiddle.net/ a lot. But it's a different kettle of fish for JavaScript / HTML / CSS, since they can be a lot more practical, running directly in the browser.