Ruby vs jRuby : Which is Better?

Ruby

Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language. Developed by Yukihiro Matsumoto, et al.

License: Open Source

Categories: Development

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux BSD Haiku

jRuby

JRuby is an implementation of the Ruby programming language atop the Java Virtual Machine, written largely in Java. It is free software released under a three-way EPL/GPL/LGPL license.

License: Open Source

Categories: Development

Apps available for Mac OS X Windows Linux

Ruby VS jRuby

JRuby offers the advantage of running on the Java Virtual Machine, enabling integration with Java and better multi-threading. In contrast, Ruby excels in simplicity and rapid development, particularly in web applications, but may struggle with performance in concurrent scenarios.

Ruby

Pros:

Ruby is known for its simplicity and elegance, making it easy to read and write code.
It has a large and active community, providing extensive support and a wealth of libraries (gems).
Ruby on Rails, a powerful web framework, is built on Ruby and has a strong ecosystem.
It is ideal for rapid application development, enabling quick prototyping and iterations.
Ruby has a more extensive set of gems available compared to JRuby, especially for web development.

Cons:

Ruby's performance may not be as high as other languages for CPU-intensive applications.
MRI Ruby has limitations in multi-threading, which can hinder performance in concurrent applications.
Ruby's garbage collection can lead to unpredictable pauses during execution.

jRuby

Pros:

JRuby runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), allowing access to Java libraries and frameworks.
It supports multi-threading, leveraging the JVM's capabilities for concurrent execution.
JRuby can integrate seamlessly with Java applications, making it suitable for enterprise environments.
It offers better performance for CPU-bound tasks due to JVM optimizations.
JRuby can run on any platform that supports Java, providing excellent cross-platform compatibility.

Cons:

JRuby might have slower startup times compared to MRI (Matz's Ruby Interpreter).
Some Ruby gems may not be compatible or may require modifications to work in JRuby.
The complexity of the JVM can add a learning curve for developers unfamiliar with Java.