To summarize options:

   - Linux VM in VirtualBox (ubuntu, fedora, centOS, etc.)
   - Groovy (dynamic JVM language) is an excellent cross-platform option,
   one I use daily.  Especially if you are coming from a Java background.
    The Groovy web framework comparable to rails is "Grails".

Packaging in Ruby is one of the worst downsides of an otherwise compelling
language, and getting it onto Windows is more than I would bother with.

If you are doing Groovy, I'd still develop it on linux (for ease of
integration with various documentation and tutorials, and of course
personal preference).

--Joe

On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 5:13 PM, Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I'm using Windows 7 x64 SP1. I am using the most recent RubyInstaller
> (2.0.0-p247 x64) and DevKit (DevKit-mingw64-64-4.7.2-2013022-1432-sfx).
>
> That's disappointing to hear that most folks use Ruby exclusively in *nix
> environments. That really limits its utility for me. I am trying Ruby
> because dealing with HTTP in Java is a huge pain, and I was having
> difficulties setting up a Python environment in Windows, too (go figure).
>
> Josh Welker