What is the correct way to run Ruby code from the terminal?

General Discussions
1

I need to execute a few lines of Ruby code directly from the terminal, but I can’t find the right parameter for it.

Can you explain how to do this using the Ruby console or other methods?

2

To run Ruby code directly from the terminal, the simplest way is to use the ruby command followed by the -e flag, which allows you to execute a string of Ruby code. Here’s an example:

ruby -e "puts 'Hello, world!'"

This will execute the given Ruby code and print Hello, world! to the terminal. It’s great for testing small snippets of Ruby code quickly without needing a script file.

3

Using Ruby Interactive Shell : If you’re looking to interactively run Ruby code and experiment with it in real time, you can use the interactive Ruby shell (irb). To start irb, simply type:

irb

This opens up an interactive Ruby console where you can type Ruby code and see the results instantly. For example:

irb
>> puts 'Hello from IRB'
Hello from IRB

This method is perfect if you want to test code or explore Ruby features in an interactive environment.

4

Both methods are excellent! Another common way to run Ruby code is to place it in a file and execute it with the ruby command.

For instance, if you save your Ruby code in a file called hello.rb, you can run it like this:

ruby hello.rb

This is the most common way to execute a complete Ruby script or project, as it keeps your code organized.