I know, I can use ruby 1.8.7 and download XCode 3 for free. But in the long term, what will happen?
Any other solution?
What, you don't have five bucks? Where did the at-least-$200 computer come from? Can't you get five bucks the same way?
The other obvious alternative is Linux. I'm told Ubuntu runs fine on your Mac hardware.
And if Apple ever were to charge $1k for Xcode -- an event which has not happened and almost certainly will not happen -- it would work approximately like the Windows ecosystem works today. (Have you priced Visual Studio lately?) Casual programmers and many (if not most) pro web developers would promptly switch to Linux or to FOSS development packages on Mac OS; professional Mac OS/iOS devs would pay, just as they pay for tools like Photoshop or Flash. Meanwhile, the signal-to-noise ratio in the App Store might actually go up. (Which is the only reason why I think the idea is merely crazy, not too-crazy-to-contemplate. In the past, I believe I have heard various professional iOS developers state that they would be happy to pay Apple $999 per year for app-review privileges, if the result was faster, better app reviews with better feedback.)
The point is I do not care about Xcode and iPhone development. The point is I want to compile and run the last version of Ruby.
I really frustrating that all easy mechanisms (install developer tools and you have everything) is gone in the paid land.
If I have to leave the Apple ecosystem, fine. But I was looking for less drastic way. Someone who made a "get-all-these-app-witout-apple-xcode-stuff-because-you-shoud-pay-for-that" will be a good solution.
In last instance, like "mechanical_fish" pointed out, you can always use Linux (or event Windows) and run them on a VM.
The easy way to install the last version of ruby is to compile and install from source. If I want to do that, I need make, gcc, etc... Actually, if I want to install that tools easily I need to install Apple developer tools... and now I have to paid for that.
Okay, I can download and install each software from the apple.com/opensource... put it is such a pain. I can download XCode 3.... but it is not the lastest nor the greatest. Okay, I can change my OS, but I love it. It is sad that I have to move from it.