RubyGems is a special program for Windows that gives you the ability to easily download, install, and use Ruby packages on your personal computer. Each such software distribution is called a gem, and contains an app or library.

Principle of operation

Gems may be used to extend or modify functionality in Ruby applications. Generally, they are employed to distribute reusable features that are shared with other enthusiasts. Some gems provide command line capabilities to help automate tasks and speed up your work processes. It is necessary to mention that many gems use extensions to wrap libraries that are written in C with a Ruby wrapper. Examples include mysql and mysql2 which provide an interface to the MySQL database.

Name and share gems

Since naming your gem is important, it is recommended to do a quick search on the official website and GitHub to see if someone has taken the name you have in mind. In order to create a unique ID, you can use underscore for multiple words and dashes for extensions, and mix them appropriately. The simplest way to share a gem is to distribute it in source code form. You can do so by uploading the data to a public git repository via a third-party tool called SourceTree.

Features

free to download and use;
compatible with modern Windows versions;
allows you to install and modify Ruby packages;
you can design unique apps and software libraries;
it is possible to share projects with other users.