This screencast demonstrates how to use Rake to build .NET solution, run unit tests and build documentation. Rake with Ruby is a perfect combination which will eliminate Nant and MSBuild hell.

In this screencast Mohammad Azam introduces Rake. Rake is a build framework for Ruby language but it can also be used to build, compile .NET applications.

Jimmy Schementi is a Program Manager (and developer) on the IronRuby team. IronRuby is an Open Source implementation of the Ruby programming language for .NET, heavily relying on Microsoft’s Dynamic Language Runtime. IronRuby is Ruby, but implemented on top of the DLR (which of course provides the capability for dynamic languages to interact with the BCL and CLR). Here, Jimmy explains the thinking behind the IronRuby project. Why are we doing this, anyway? When/Why would Ruby developers use IronRuby? What’s the current status of the project? What’s the future hold …

Microsoft has delivered multiple technologies that focus on interoperability with non-Microsoft and Open Source technologies. In this video you will learn how to use the Eclipse tools today to build Silverlight applications that run on PCs and Macs, how to develop using combinations of Java, Ruby and PHP in addition to the standard Microsoft languages, and how Microsoft’s commitment to openness with the Azure Services Platform and the use of claims-based identity supports heterogeneous identity systems.

This videos reviews the key differences between statically typed languages like VB or C# and the dynamic nature of Rub with some light on the history of the Ruby language. There are some live coding demos so everyone can get a taste of what Ruby programming is really like.

Video reference and slides