A bit more testing reveals that this seems to be a problem of the mswin version: Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195] (C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp. C:\WINNT>ruby --version ruby 1.6.7 (2002-03-01) [i586-mswin32] C:\WINNT>ruby c:\temp\x.rb 6 17 <<hangs here>> Linux: knoppix@ttyp0[knoppix]$ uname -a Linux Knoppix 2.4.19-rc3-xfs #1 SMP Die Jul 23 21:13:33 CEST 2002 i686 unknown unknown GNU/Linux knoppix@ttyp0[knoppix]$ ruby --version ruby 1.6.7 (2002-03-19) [i386-linux] knoppix@ttyp0[knoppix]$ ruby /mnt/hda1/temp/x.rb 6 17 21 9 26 read: <<start >> 30 knoppix@ttyp0[knoppix]$ I noticed also, that closing STDERR or $stderr does seem to close STDOUT, too. Is this intended behavior or is it a known bug? robert "ts" <decoux / moulon.inra.fr> schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:200305071636.h47GaiX26877 / moulon.inra.fr... > >>>>> "C" == Carlos <angus / quovadis.com.ar> writes: > > C> Doesn't hang here... > > same doesn't hang > > C> Maybe you need to improve your ruby by 0.0.1 ;) > > no, no, work fine with 1.6.7 > > > Guy Decoux > >