The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Types will win in the end (Interview)
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Jul 13, 2023 Jake Zimmerman, a lead at Stripe and the driving force behind Sorbet, shares insights into the transformative power of type checking in Ruby. He discusses the monumental Stripe codebase and why he believes "types will win in the end." The conversation touches on the gradual acceptance of type systems, the challenges of large codebases, and the balance between Ruby’s dynamic nature and type safety. Jake also highlights the future of typing in Ruby and the evolution of community perspectives on tools like Sorbet.
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Internal Desire for Types at Stripe
- At Stripe, developers loved their jobs but disliked using Ruby without types.
- The large codebase made it difficult to understand how anything worked.
Types and Prototyping vs. Iteration
- Types are less crucial in prototyping but essential for long-term iteration and understanding.
- They enable easier refactoring and system changes.
Changing Perceptions of Ruby
- Developers used to be excited to use Ruby professionally, but now some dislike it.
- Many developers coming from other languages find Ruby weird.