> When I read that ruby could be used to replace PHP I got really
> excited. But, the link on the application pages rates its status as
> 'unstable'. Is this correct or just out of date?

    Well, any programming language *can* be used to replace PHP. There were
web apps long beofre PHP came into the spotlight.

> Could someoene please help me with the following questions:
>
> 1) Is mod_ruby (ie with Apache) ready for prime time?

I doubt it, though I don't know for sure..

> 2) Is it as fast as php3

*shrug* perhaps, perhaps not. I'd say the difference is minimal between ruby
and PHP, mod_ruby could add quite a bit of overhead though.

> 3) Does it consume more resources than php?

Does Python more than Perl?  I'm not sure anyone can say for sure..

> 4) Can the scripts for it, or are there plans for it, be compiled like
> PHP4 (ie Zend).

There are compilers in the works (see the application archive) but they look
like they're not being developed anymore.

> 5) Does mod_ruby require eruby?

No idea.

> 6) If not, what is the advantage of using both?

No idea here either.

> I know it is a lot of questions.
> Thanks for any answers.


    PHP is designed to be a web based application programming language, it's
great at it's (very specialized) job. Ruby is a much more well rounded
programming language that can sure be used to create web apps but then
again, so can any other language... I prefer PHP as a web app language
because that's the one (and only) thing it's designed for and it's very,
very easy to develop web based apps in.. It has it's limitations and I go to
lower level languages (C) when I run into them but for the most part, it's a
very capable language. I think Ruby is suited to everything, it's an awesome
language, I wouldn't say it's better than PHP for web apps though...

    Good luck!

-Mitch