Pry

Pry is a powerful runtime developer console designed to enhance the Ruby development experience. It serves as an advanced alternative to the standard IRB shell, offering a wide range of features that facilitate efficient coding and debugging. Pry allows developers to browse source code, including core C source with the pry-doc gem, and view documentation directly within the console. It also features a live help system, syntax highlighting, and command shell integration, enabling users to execute shell commands and edit code directly from the console.

One of Pry's key strengths is its ability to navigate through different scopes within a program, allowing developers to explore and interact with objects and methods in real-time. This capability is particularly useful for debugging and understanding complex codebases. Additionally, Pry supports runtime invocation, which means it can be called at any point during a program's execution to inspect and modify the current state. This feature is invaluable for debugging and applying hot patches to running applications.

Pry also offers a flexible command system, allowing users to extend its functionality with plugins. These plugins can provide additional features such as remote sessions and full debugging capabilities. Overall, Pry is designed to streamline the development process by providing a more intuitive and interactive environment for Ruby developers.