install ruby1.9.1

[Lucas Nussbaum]

On 21/01/11 at 15:21 -0800, Clint Byrum wrote:
> I happen to think that /usr/bin/ruby should be managed by alternatives,
> and I also think that Debian is the place to raise that point, as I
> think Ubuntu should continue to follow Debian, to do otherwise would be
> preposterous.

I think that managing /usr/bin/ruby via alternatives is a goal worth
considering. But I'm not sure that you realize the changes that need to
happen before we can actually do that to avoid breaking every ruby
reverse-dependency.

Also, using alternatives to manage Ruby has drawbacks. You assume that
the various Ruby implementations provide the same level of
compatibility. That is absolutely not true, since there's not that much
coordination going on between the various implementations. Using
alternatives for Ruby means that many packages will break if you use the
non-default Ruby version.

Anyway, there's one simple thing missing for Debian to switch to
alternatives for Ruby: contributions. Patches are welcomed, and I think
that the recent discussions on debian-ruby@ describe quite well where
work is needed. Test gem2deb, report problems, provide patches.

> > > Your best bet is probably to use rvm.
> > 
> > You realize that the installation instruction for RVM are to run:
> > bash < <( curl http://rvm.beginrescueend.com/releases/rvm-install-head )
> > ?
> > (from http://rvm.beginrescueend.com/rvm/install/)
> > 
> 
> I do. Most ruby developers I discuss this issue with outside the Ubuntu
> and Debian world are quite comfortable with this solution, even with the
> problems it brings. I think I understand why its not packaged.. because
> we have an alternatives system for that in Debian and Ubuntu.
> 
> I guess if you think rvm is really awful, then I can see how you might
> see my suggestion to use it as negative commentary.
> 
> I'm curious what would be another solution to this issue?

ln -sf /usr/bin/ruby1.9.1 /usr/local/bin/ruby?
Works for all users, doesn't involve compiling Ruby by hand or hacking
your .bashrc.

- Lucas