From Zed Shaw's "Learn Python the Hard Way":

>If a programmer tells you to use vim or emacs, tell them no. These editors are for when you are a better programmer. All you need right now is an editor that lets you put text into a file. We will use gedit because it is simple and the same on all computers. Professional programmers use gedit so it's good enough for you starting out.

gedit with this https://github.com/gmate/gmate

Been suggesting Ubuntu+gedit+gmate to my friends who are starting with programming. It's better than the editor that ships with Windows (most in my geographic region use windows... like 99%).

Any text editor will be able to save .rb files; they're just plain text files. Also, you didn't say which OS you're on, but assuming you're on Windows, notepad++ is a good free editor.

http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

You should try http://sublimetext.com

It's sort of like textmate but also cross-platform, so in theory you won't have to learn another editor. I'd learn it myself if I wasn't already used to textmate.

I like this editor a lot also. Sublime Text 2 is quite nice. Enables me to use a nice editor across all of the platforms on which I have to develop.

You might as well skip past all the toys and get Emacs and start on the lifelong journey of understanding it. Vim might be worth looking at too, but it's not my cup of tea.

Since you said installer I might assume use of windows, take a look at notepad++ (http://notepad-plus-plus.org/)

OS x or linux check out gedit. (http://projects.gnome.org/gedit/ Downloads on right side of front page.) Also available for windows, but notepad++ is a little easier to use if you are used to windows programs.

it looks like you could use most any text editor. most os's have a default text editor.

if you want a ruby IDE, try redcar - http://www.redcareditor.com.

On my Ubuntu netbook, I love GEdit http://grigio.org/pimp_my_gedit_was_textmate_linux

My setup on Ubuntu is as follows. I use a drop down terminal called Yakuake. It drops down from the top of my screen when I press F12. From there I can create a ruby document by typing

vim example.rb

You don't have to use or learn all of vims features straight away. I probably use 1% of it but I like it. :w to save, :wq to save and quit.

Vim has good coloring and you can add completion to it.

Do you need anything else in an editor?

Thank you, Vim is definitely helpful!

I mostly use TextMate (OS X) and GEdit (on Linux), but perhaps 1/4 of the time I use RubyMine because autocompletion and immediate flagging of syntax errors can help.

komodoedit is very nice http://www.activestate.com/komodo-edit

I've used Textmate for about four years now and I'm really happy with it. But if it's not for you, just use iTerm2 and learn the Vim.