The Digital Press

RubyGems is a package management system that simplifies installing, managing, and distributing Ruby software libraries called gems. It supports multiple versions and makes it easy for developers to use and share Ruby code efficiently.

Why it matters: RubyGems streamlines Ruby development by automating library management and version control across different platforms.

The big picture: RubyGems fills the gap analogous to Perl's CPAN, providing a centralized, standardized method to share and maintain Ruby software.

The stakes: Conflicts may arise when RubyGems coexists with system package managers, especially with gems containing non-Ruby code requiring compilation.

Commenters say: Users appreciate RubyGems for easing dependency management but note the complexity introduced by mixing it with OS-level package systems.