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Computer Terms Beginning with "R"

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MysteRy:
Ruby

While in the physical world, "ruby" refers to a red gemstone, in the computer world, ruby is an object-oriented programming language. If a special woman in your life asks for a ruby for her birthday, I would recommend choosing the gemstone for the gift.

The Ruby programming language was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto and is named after the birthstone of one his colleagues. Interestingly, the pearl (as in the Perl language) is the June gemstone, while ruby is the July gemstone. This makes the subtle suggestion that Ruby is a step forward from Perl.

Like Perl, Ruby's strength lies in it's simplicity. The syntax is very basic and it is completely object-oriented. This means every type of data handled by the language is treated as an object, even data types as simple as integers. The source code can be interpreted by the official Ruby interpreter or by JRuby, a Java-based interpreter.

Ruby is an open-source language, like PHP, which means it is free to download and use. It can be compiled and run on just about any operating system, including Unix, Windows, and Mac OS X. For more information on Ruby and to download the Ruby software, visit the Ruby Home Page.

MysteRy:
Runtime

When a program is running, or executing, it is said to be in runtime. The term is mostly used by software developers to specify when errors in a program occur. A "runtime error" is an error that happens while the program is executing. For example, if a program told you that 2 + 2 was 5000, that would be a runtime error. A memory leak, where the program sorrys up excessive amounts of system memory is also a runtime error. The other major type of program error is a compile-time error, where the application will not even compile into an executable program. Examples of compile-time errors are syntax errors in the program code and file linking errors. Runtime is a good term to know, but you most likely won't hear it used very often unless you like to hang out with computer nerds.

MysteRy:
RUPStands for "Rational Unified Process." RUP is a software development process from Rational, a division of IBM. It divides the development process into four distinct phases that each involve business modeling, analysis and design, implementation, testing, and deployment. The four phases are:


Inception - The idea for the project is stated. The development team determines if the project is worth pursuing and what resources will be needed.

Elaboration - The project's architecture and required resources are further evaluated. Developers consider possible applications of the software and costs associated with the development.

Construction - The project is developed and completed. The software is designed, written, and tested.

Transition - The software is released to the public. Final adjustments or updates are made based on feedback from end users.

The RUP development methodology provides a structured way for companies to envision create software programs. Since it provides a specific plan for each step of the development process, it helps prevent resources from being wasted and reduces unexpected development costs.

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