Ruby and linux, preferred setup?

Question

Mac's have TextMate as there preferred application for ruby development, but what would be the preferred application for linux? I need something where it's easy to work with multiple files, project structure and setup commands to run my ruby app or if it is one my merb app.Syntax highlighting is also a must.

Now I typically use Vim, but it's not the best for working with multiple files or with a project structure, even with VTreeView plug-in or multiple VIM windows.

So what would you guys suggest?

If you have better plugins to use for VIM feel free to mention them, I'm not ruling out VIM here.

Answer 1

+1 for Netbeans for Rails. Each release gets better and better and with 6.7 beta it's better yet. Using it on Windows and Mac -- under Linux it's what I'd use as well.

Answer 2

Since you are a vimmer, have you looked at this? I have no experience with it, but looks quite good in the screencast.

Answer 3

Given that you use vim, this post might be interesting.

Her is the Fuzzyfinder Textmate vim plugin that the post refers to.

Answer 4

I use Vim on both Windows and Linux for development in Rails (we have to use Windows in work, and I only use Linux at home). The environment is almost exactly the same for both platforms. Especially important for me is easy navigation between the various Rails components - from Controllers to views, partials and models, and quick navigation to test files.

Here are the plugins I use:

• Vim Rails by Tim Pope. The :R, :A and gf commands are the ones I use mostly for navigation.
• NERDTree for a project/explorer view.
• NERDCommenter for easy multi-line commenting.
• FuzzyFinder and "FuzzyFinder - Textmate" - allows you to quickly find files based on portins of a file name.
• Ctags
• Bufexplorer
• dbext for executing SQL commands and getting the results in a Vim buffer.
• Ack and the ack plugin for a better grepping experience from within Vim.
• VividChalk colour scheme.

Answer 5

With Linux there are 3 really good IDEs and all are free. You have Eclipse, Netbeans, and Aptana... They are all very good and each have some benfits over the other, its more a matter of preference. I would suggest downloading all 3 and giving them a try to see which you prefer.

Answer 6

Aptana with the Rails plugin is pretty good.