# Ruby > functional programming language targeting relational algebra and used as a hardware description language **Wikidata**: [Q7376262](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7376262) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_(hardware_description_language)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ruby ## Summary Ruby is a functional programming language designed for relational algebra and hardware description, created in 1986 by Mary Sheeran. It combines functional programming principles with the ability to model hardware systems, making it unique in its application to both software and hardware design. ## Key Facts - Ruby is a functional programming language targeting relational algebra and hardware description. - It was designed by Mary Sheeran and first documented in 1986. - The official website for Ruby is [https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/](https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/), available in English. - Ruby is distinct from the popular Ruby programming language due to naming conflicts. - It is classified as both a hardware description language and a functional programming language. - Ruby has been used in research papers on retiming, slowdown, and describing butterfly networks. - The language is referenced in academic literature, including works on relational algebra and higher-order functions. ## FAQs - **What is Ruby used for?** Ruby is used as a hardware description language and for modeling systems using relational algebra, particularly in functional programming contexts. - **Who designed Ruby?** Ruby was designed by Mary Sheeran, with contributions documented in academic papers from the 1980s and 1990s. - **How does Ruby differ from other programming languages?** Unlike general-purpose languages, Ruby is specialized for functional programming and hardware description, with a focus on relational algebra. - **Where can I find more information about Ruby?** The official website is [https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/](https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/), and academic references are available in sources like Google Scholar and DBLP. - **Is Ruby still in use today?** While not widely known, Ruby has been referenced in research papers and remains relevant in niche areas of functional programming and hardware design. ## Why It Matters Ruby plays a specialized role in the intersection of functional programming and hardware description, offering a unique approach to modeling systems through relational algebra. Its development in the 1980s contributed to early research in functional hardware design, though it has not achieved the same level of mainstream adoption as other languages. The language remains significant in academic circles for its theoretical contributions to functional programming and hardware modeling. ## Notable For - Being one of the earliest functional programming languages targeting hardware description. - Its use in research on retiming and slowdown in hardware systems. - Distinction from the popular Ruby programming language due to naming conflicts. - Contributions to the study of relational algebra in functional programming contexts. ## Body ### History Ruby was developed in 1986 by Mary Sheeran, with early research documented in papers such as "Retiming and slowdown in Ruby" and "Describing Butterfly Networks in Ruby." These works established Ruby as a tool for functional hardware description, leveraging relational algebra. The language was further explored in academic literature, including "RUBY-a Language of Relations and Higher Order Functions," which highlighted its theoretical foundations. ### Design and Features Ruby is a functional programming language designed specifically for hardware description, using relational algebra as its core framework. Unlike general-purpose languages, Ruby focuses on modeling hardware systems through functional principles, making it distinct in its application domain. The language's design emphasizes higher-order functions and relational operations, which are critical for hardware modeling. ### Academic and Research Context Ruby has been referenced in multiple academic papers, including works on retiming, slowdown, and the description of butterfly networks. These references demonstrate its role in early research on functional hardware design. The language's development was supported by contributions from researchers like Geraint Jones, whose website serves as the official resource for Ruby. ### Distinction from Other Languages Ruby is not to be confused with the widely used Ruby programming language, which is a general-purpose language. The naming overlap is a result of a naming conflict, with Ruby (the hardware description language) being distinct in its specialized domain. This distinction is documented in Wikidata, where the language is explicitly marked as different from the popular Ruby due to naming conflicts. ### Availability and Documentation The official website for Ruby is hosted at [https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/](https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/people/geraint.jones/ruby/), providing access to resources and documentation in English. Academic references, including Google Scholar and DBLP entries, further document Ruby's contributions to functional programming and hardware description. ## References 1. [Retiming and slowdown in Ruby](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=7016045221085398033) 2. [Describing Butterfly Networks in Ruby](https://dblp.org/rec/conf/fp/Sheeran89) 3. [RUBY-a Language of Relations and Higher Order Functions](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=6767855558455719472) 4. [Source](https://foldoc.org/Ruby)