**Course Title:** Ruby Programming: From Basics to Advanced Techniques **Section Title:** Introduction to Ruby and Setup **Topic:** Setting up a development environment (RubyInstaller, RVM, or rbenv) **Introduction** In the previous topics, we covered the history and features of Ruby, and now it's time to set up a development environment that will allow us to write, run, and test our Ruby code. A well-configured development environment is essential for any programming language, and Ruby is no exception. In this topic, we will explore three popular options for setting up a Ruby development environment: RubyInstaller, RVM, and rbenv. **What is a Development Environment?** A development environment is a set of tools and software that allow you to write, compile, and run your code. In the context of Ruby, a development environment typically includes: * A code editor or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) * A compiler or interpreter for Ruby * A package manager for installing and managing dependencies * A debugger for stepping through your code **RubyInstaller** RubyInstaller is a popular choice for setting up a Ruby development environment on Windows. It provides a simple and easy-to-use installer that installs Ruby, RubyGems, and other dependencies. **Installation Steps:** 1. Download the RubyInstaller from the official RubyInstaller website: <https://rubyinstaller.org/> 2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to install Ruby and its dependencies. 3. Once installed, open a command prompt or terminal and type `ruby -v` to verify that Ruby is installed correctly. **RVM (Ruby Version Manager)** RVM is a popular choice for setting up a Ruby development environment on Linux and macOS. It allows you to install and manage multiple versions of Ruby on your system. **Installation Steps:** 1. Install RVM using the following command: `curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable` 2. Once installed, run `rvm install 2.7.2` to install Ruby 2.7.2 (you can install any version you like). 3. Once installed, run `rvm use 2.7.2` to set the default Ruby version. **rbenv** rbenv is a lightweight alternative to RVM for managing Ruby versions on Linux and macOS. **Installation Steps:** 1. Install rbenv using the following command: `curl -fsSL https://github.com/rbenv/rbenv-installer/raw/master/bin/rbenv-installer | bash` 2. Once installed, run `rbenv install 2.7.2` to install Ruby 2.7.2 (you can install any version you like). 3. Once installed, run `rbenv global 2.7.2` to set the default Ruby version. **Key Concepts** * RubyInstaller: a simple and easy-to-use installer for Windows * RVM: a popular choice for managing multiple versions of Ruby on Linux and macOS * rbenv: a lightweight alternative to RVM for managing Ruby versions on Linux and macOS * Package manager: RubyGems (on RubyInstaller) or RVM (on Linux and macOS) **Practical Takeaways** * Install RubyInstaller, RVM, or rbenv to set up a development environment on Windows, Linux, or macOS. * Use the package manager (RubyGems or RVM) to install and manage dependencies. * Use a code editor or IDE to write, compile, and run your Ruby code. * Use a debugger to step through your code and identify errors. **Conclusion** In this topic, we covered three popular options for setting up a Ruby development environment: RubyInstaller, RVM, and rbenv. We also discussed the key concepts and practical takeaways for each option. By the end of this topic, you should have a well-configured development environment that will allow you to write, run, and test your Ruby code. **Leave a comment or ask for help if you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the topics covered in this topic.**