>> ...
>> In message "[ruby-talk:00443]"
>>     on 99/07/09, Michael Hohn <hohn / math.utah.edu> writes:
>> 
>> >o   What is the "standard" way to use ruby interactively, like a shell?   
>> 
>> A ruby program `irb' (interactive ruby) is known. 
>> irb is very easy to setup.  I asume you use ruby 1.3.x. 
>> 
>> ...

Thanks, I just installed irb.  There is one minor problem; the README
files with documentation are in Japanese...  (German or English would
be better ;-)) 
Only some option names are in English;
of particular interest to me are the descriptions of

  --tracer  
  --back-trace-limit n
  --irb_debug n  

if anyone could please translate them... 

Cheers, 
Michael