Abstract

Studying Ruby’s “gems" offers us insight into the nature of modern software modules and the ecosystems they form. To get to this insight, we will start by taking apart some gems and understanding how they are structured and how they work. Then we will explore how gems are hosted and distributed, and what this reflects about open-source development in the Ruby community. Understanding the design of open-source module ecosystems allows us to to appreciate the cultural differences between different open-source programming language communities. Finally, we will see that software modules are not just for developers to consume. As academic researchers, we have an opportunity and responsibility to study and help sustain these module ecosystems that form the bedrock of modern software development.

Bio

Soumya Ray is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Service Science in the College of Technology Management at National Tsing Hua University. His research is at the cross-section of information technology and human behavior, covering such issues as technology switching costs, online community engagement, online security, software development, and research methodologies. He teaches classes on service oriented architecture, information service security, and business analytics using statistical modeling.