Meaning: Yukihiro Matsumoto, also known as Matz, is the creator of the Ruby programming language. The quote in question addresses the concept of "the principle of least surprise" as it pertains to the design of Ruby. The principle of least surprise, often abbreviated as POLS, is a philosophy that suggests the behavior of a system should align with the expectations of its users, minimizing unexpected or surprising outcomes. In the context of software development, this principle implies that the language or framework should be designed in a way that reduces confusion and makes the code more intuitive for developers.

In the quote, Matz clarifies that he did not explicitly claim that Ruby follows the principle of least surprise. Instead, it was a perception that emerged from the design of Ruby. Someone observed the design choices and felt that they aligned with the philosophy of minimizing surprises for developers, leading to the association of Ruby with the principle of least surprise.

It's important to understand the background of Ruby's development to fully grasp the significance of this quote. Ruby is known for its focus on developer happiness and productivity, and Matz has emphasized the importance of human-centric design principles in shaping the language. The design of Ruby prioritizes simplicity and readability, aiming to make the code expressive and easy to understand. These design goals naturally align with the principle of least surprise, as they seek to minimize the cognitive burden on developers and reduce the likelihood of unexpected behavior in the language.

Matz's statement reflects his modesty and humility as a language designer. He acknowledges that the association of Ruby with the principle of least surprise was not a deliberate marketing or branding strategy on his part. Instead, it was a perception that emerged from the community's experience with Ruby. The language's design choices, such as its consistent syntax, coherent object-oriented model, and emphasis on programmer happiness, have contributed to the perception that Ruby follows the principle of least surprise.

In the broader context of programming language design, the principle of least surprise has been a topic of discussion and debate. Different languages and frameworks approach this principle in various ways, and it is not always easy to achieve universal agreement on what constitutes the least surprising behavior. What may be intuitive and expected for one developer could be surprising or counterintuitive for another.

Matz's acknowledgment of the community's perception regarding Ruby's adherence to the principle of least surprise underscores the collaborative nature of language design. While he is the creator of Ruby, the language's evolution and reputation are shaped by the collective experiences and feedback of its users. The fact that the community perceived Ruby as aligning with the principle of least surprise speaks to the success of its design in fostering a positive and productive development experience.

In conclusion, Yukihiro Matsumoto's quote provides insight into the perception of Ruby as a language that follows the principle of least surprise. While he did not explicitly claim this association, the community's experience with Ruby led to the recognition of its design choices as aligning with the philosophy of minimizing surprises for developers. Matz's humility and the community's role in shaping the perception of Ruby's design highlight the collaborative and user-centric nature of language development.