Hi, A new version of ruby-defaults will be uploaded to unstable very soon. This new version will make Ruby 1.9 the default Ruby interpreter on Debian systems, i.e. when users install the `ruby` package, they will actually get Ruby 1.9 instead of Ruby 1.8. Also, when both Ruby 1.9 (ruby1.9.1) and Ruby 1.8 (ruby1.8) are installed, Ruby 1.9 binaries will have a higher priority on the alternatives system, so that the programs `ruby`, `gem`, `irb` etc will by default point to their Ruby 1.9 versions. # What it means for users /usr/bin/ruby and associated binaries (/usr/bin/irb, /usr/bin/gem, etc) will by default point to their 1.9 variants. You may have code that depends on the fact the /usr/bin/ruby and related binaries point to their 1.8 variants, maybe because of local Ruby applications that are not compatible with Ruby 1.9. There are some options here: * Change shebang lines to use /usr/bin/ruby1.8 instead of /usr/bin/ruby. * Switch your system to use ruby1.8 as the system Ruby interpreter, by installing the `ruby-switch` package and running `ruby-switch --set ruby1.8`. This will change the Ruby-related alternatives entries (currently `ruby` and several slave entries, and `gem`) to use Ruby 1.8. More information for Ruby users can be obtained at the [Debian Wiki](http://wiki.debian.org/Ruby). # What it means for package mantainers If you maintain a program that is written in Ruby and it is not compatible with Ruby 1.9, then you should change shebang lines to use `/usr/bin/ruby1.8` instead of `/usr/bin/ruby`, and make your package depend explicitly on `ruby1.8`. Both programs an libraries should be [updated](https://lists.debian.org/debian-ruby/2012/04/msg00066.html) to use the new Ruby policy, which basically means that: * Packages that work with any Ruby version must depend on `ruby | ruby-interpreter` instead of just `ruby`. * Ruby library code must be installed under /usr/lib/ruby/vendor\_ruby instead of /usr/lib/ruby/{1.8,1.9.1}. * Library packages must be named ruby-$foo instead of lib$foo-ruby{,1.8,1.9.1}. A library package called ruby-$foo must install code for all supported Ruby versions, and transitional packages for the old lib$foo-ruby{,1.8,1.9.1} packages must be provided. These transitional packages can be dropped on Wheezy+1. The easiest way to support the new Ruby policy is to use [gem2deb](http://packages.debian.org/gem2deb), our new Ruby packaging helper. It is not mandatory, though, and as long as package follow the the new Debian Ruby policy, everything is good. # Get in touch If you have questions or need help adapting your package, feel free to get in touch with debian-ruby@lists.debian.org. For the Ruby team,