NextLogic Singapore Blog: Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)

Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)

Peter Bohm — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:50:00 -0400

Around a year ago I posted a long article on my blog about no Ruby programmers in Singapore. Back then I didn't manage find any programmer leave alone any company using Ruby (with or without Rails) in production. I started playing with Ruby a little less than 2 years ago and by that time I had several applications in production, and RoR had become our obvious choice for pretty much all of our new projects.

Year on, there are still not many companies using RoR here but the situation seems to be rapidly changing. Last Thursday National Library hosted a meeting of 20+ Ruby and RoR developers. Sure, 20+ may seem pathetic, considering the hopelessly sold out RailsConf and huge popularity that Ruby has gained around the world, but for the local “environment” this is really an achievement and great success for organizers (namely Doug, Sausheong and Choon Keat). It was really great to see that there are like-minded people around.

Let's cut to the chase - there were a few questions/issues raised during the meeting that I'd like address:

1) relationship with library – this question was raised by “the Rambling Librarian” Ivan, thanks to whom we were able to meet in a proper environment rather then a coffee house. I must say that I would really love if we could find ways to not only cooperate with library but find ways beneficial to more general public. We claim that we use the most advanced and cutting edge technology today and how great it is and how much fun it is, but based on the number of participants it seems that Singapore really couldn't care less. Whether it's true or not I see this as the biggest opportunity for cooperation. Library is (and should be) a perfect venue (or avenue?) for spreading this latest know-how. It will be years before it reaches formal educational system – if ever as there's no strong vendor to support the “buy-in”. In fact, I cannot think of a better opportunity to contribute to the goal set in the motto I found in library's corporate brochure: “We aim to provide Knowledge that ignites Imagination and transforms Possibility into reality”. Isn't this exactly what RoR strives to stand for? Just look at the the highlighted words – isn't this exactly how the creators and early adopters (DHH, Dave Thomas, etc.) used to sell RoR? Now unlike many other libraries in countries I lived in, NLB is highly respected among Singaporeans – and I must say rightly so (it could sure use some update of IT section – but overall it's the best library I've been a member of). As such it is in a perfect position to spread this latest knowledge through informal communities that gather around it. It brings due credibility to the scene and of course, it's up to us to show and prove that we are really worth our salt and we are worth of being NLB's partner. After all, I started RoR course in Changi Prison and I believe there's something we could do with library as well :-)

I'd suggest to meet up and discuss the possibilities and ideas – possibly together with Ivan so that we can better understand library's views and goals.

2) What's the purpose of those meetings – this question was raised by me as well as by Ivan. We discussed it quite a bit with Doug but I don't think we managed to close it on anything. Doug's idea is to simply build and grow RoR community in Singapore. I would be interested in slightly more than that. I think this roughly follows the informal divide in RoR community around the world – a divide between the free hackers inclining more to DHH and more corporate (or enterprise) developers inclining towards Dave Thomas. Doing what I do, I think it's quite clear to which category I belong. This is really not to say that one or the other is better – definitely no – they just have slightly different needs and as such they look for slightly different things. Ever since I came to Singapore (actually ever since I came to Asia 7 years ago) I've been trying to find a professional community of actual developers, people who work with the technology (whatever the technology I was using at the time). This seems to be the only one worth mentioning (so far) – I am not picking on the “sales” communities around the biggest vendors – they just weren't my cup of coffee. Thursday's meeting was a very interesting mix of people with representation from actual developers, potential developers as well as potential customers and partners. Each and every of those groups has its place and purpose in the community but all of them need and expect very different things. As such I hope we will be able to structure the meetings so that everybody can benefit and that nobody will have to sit through 2 hours of something that sounds like total gibberish to them. Again, I think this is for a longer discussion and I am very open to meet up and discuss the possibilities.

Lastly, we are a high-tech community – aren't we? All of us create huge, complicated systems every day – don't we? And yet – let's look at our presentation – just count how many times Ivan uses a word “guy” as opposed to the number of names. I think we could do much better in profiling ourselves – even the most techless business / marketing communities have websites nowadays :-)

Yes – it's a PDI (to myself as well).

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Doug

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:45:28 -0400

I think the question of whether the group is committed to making the partnership mutually beneficial was succinctly answered during the July 07 meeting. That was when the GECL representative (Hwee Miang) asked if people would be able to contribute time to help the NLB and the question was met with a deafening silence :).

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Peter

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:01:17 -0400

Hi Kent, of course you're welcome to come we meet last Thursday of the month and you can get more info here: http://groups.google.com/group/singapore-rb?hl=en

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by kent

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 10:11:19 -0400

Hi, I'm not a very active ruby/rails development, but I did look and was fairly taken by it. Would be good to know more ruby developers/learners in singapore and attend such sessions if you have anymore (if you don't mind a hobbyist/beginning ruby guy), and how we can get to know about such sessions. My personal opinion of new languages/technology is to not dismiss them, but see how they can redefine how I design and develop software, so even if I do not do ruby actively, I definitely would like to hear how professional developers work with it. Oh, and ruby's closures do rock totally ;)

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Michael Lim

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:53:42 -0400

Sure thing, they're a great bunch of people (I am volunteering my time to them as well, to do my small little part for the community).

E27 - http://entrepreneur27.org/sg/
The Digital Movement - http://www.thedigitalmovement.org/

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Peter

Tue, 01 May 2007 18:37:02 -0400

Hi Michael,

thanks for all the inputs - I pretty much agree with all the suggestions. The only extra thing I can think of is to bring it some social aspect as well.

Having the ideas, now's a good time to transfer them to action.

As for your questions, I know of E27 but never attended their functions before - maybe you can let me know about the next one? :-)

Peter

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Michael Lim

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:03:58 -0400

Hey Peter, Nice meeting you. As for Ruby Brigade, I believe Ruby itself has a strong buzz and brand attached to it. Like you say, two different niche crowds can be targeted: 1) Non-techies: People who are into entrepreneurship or Internet in general, but don't do development. E27 or The Digital Movement would be a good platform and place to preach to the masses, as it were. How RoR can help them easily deliver portals that can transform their plans to reality. Not sure if you've attended E27 or TDM's events before, but past events were full of passionate, energetic students and young adults who are interested in business, web, and entrepreneurship in general. 2) Techies: Again this can be divided into different levels of proficiency with software development and Ruby in general. But in this group, you can focus on the technical aspects of the language, agile methodologies, future development of the language/toolsets. Underlying these would be the standard purpose: What's the Mission, Vision of this? To promote Ruby? To bring Ruby development to the next higher level? To promote a Silicon Valley-like culture of knowledge information sharing, and collaborative technical discourse. Definitely different groups have their own niche crowds to cater to. But at least Singapore is no longer boring, much thanks to the powers of Internet which allows all these grassroots activities to be formed easily.

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by Peter

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:35:02 -0400

Hi Sausheong, sorry for late reply - I've been really crazed out over the past week. I think we should definitely meet up for discussion. I think we can start of a discussion on the forum first and then arrange for personal meeting. As for the purpose of the whole group - of course knowledge sharing is one of the primary purpose (we're a professional group after all). For me, I would really like to see how we can involve other parties I mentioned in blog as well - as that would help us to reach to broader audience. In the same breath I must, however, add that it would be really great to crystalize an Advance RoR Team - where we could focus on more advanced issues.

"Ruby on Rails in Singapore (finally :-)" by sausheong

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:38:11 -0400

Peter,

Excellent questions raised in your post!For (1) I agree with you -- we'd probably have to meet up some time in a discussion to see how to move forward with the NLB. It's great that we have sort of a sponsor who's willing to go with us to a degree and is candid enough to ask what we can give in return.

For (2), this was a question that was raised way back during our first meeting and we didn't come to a conclusion then and I'd expect us to have a healthy discussion on it as well. For me, my personal purpose is to share and to meet up with a community of like-minded people who likes the same things as I do, namely Ruby and Rails. I'd be happy just to share knowledge and know people.