In this episode, I’m joined by Victor Shepelev, a member of the Ruby Core team and the author of Ruby’s new Data class. We dive into why Ruby needed the Data class, exploring how it fits into the language and enhances Ruby’s capabilities. Victor also shares insights on some other exciting Ruby features, including Numbered Block Parameters, the "it" keyword, and the growing role of functional programming in Ruby.

Beyond coding, Victor has a unique perspective as he’s officially enlisted in the Ukrainian Army. I had the chance to talk with him about what it’s like to balance life as a Rubyist and a soldier, and we discuss meaningful ways to support him and Ukraine.