Ruby-based data representation and the performance in Java programs

This paper describes the development of Ribbon, a new data representation written in text-based data format using Ruby syntax to take advantage of Ruby's features. A program generator was also developed to read Ribbon definitions and write Java programs that are read/write Java objects from/to persistent storage media. Experiments reading Ribbon files showed the performance penalty of the Ruby interpreter. Therefore, a new version of the program generator was developed that eliminates the interpreter and enhances the design and implementation of generated programs that manipulate graph data structures.