Ian Macdonald wrote:

>Hi,
>
>This is to announce Ruby/DICT.
>
>  
>
Interesting: (I hope matz won't be forced to change ruby's name <g>):

 From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (09 FEB 02) [foldoc]:

  Ruby

     1. A {relational language} designed by Jones and M. Sheeran in
     1986 for describing and designing circuits (a {hardware
     description language}).  Ruby programs denote {binary
     relation}s and programs are built-up inductively from
     primitive relations using a pre-defined set of {relational
     operator}s.  Ruby programs also have a geometric
     interpretation as networks of primitive relations connected by
     wires, which is important when layout is considered in circuit
     design.

     Ruby has been continually developed since 1986, and has been
     used to design many different kinds of circuits, including
     {systolic array}s, {butterfly network}s and arithmetic
     circuits.

     {(ftp://ftp.cs.chalmers.se/pub/misc/ruby/)} (129.16.225.66).
     E-mail: <graham / cs.chalmers.se>.

     ["Ruby - A Language of Relations and Higher-Order Functions",
     M. Sheeran, Proc 3rd Banff Workshop on Hardware Verification,
     Springer 1990].

     (1994-10-27)

     2. One of five pedagogical languages based on {Markov
     algorithm}s, used in Higman's report (below).  The other
     languages are {Brilliant}, {Diamond}, {Nonpareil} and {Pearl}.

     ["Nonpareil, a Machine Level Machine Independent Language for
     the Study of Semantics", B. Higman, ULICS Intl Report No ICSI
     170, U London (1968)].

     (1994-10-27)

====

The ruby we all know and love doesn't shop up at all !

Cheers,

Han Holl