Question: I'm trying to get Apache to interpret my Ruby files but I don't understand how to do it. I'm not concerned with Rails right now, only Ruby. What I've found by Googling only confuses me. Any advice?

Answer: 
The most common way to run ruby code in a webserver environment is by having the code implement a rack interface. It is a very simple API that allows the webserver to speak to your ruby application. For Apache, the most common rack handler is passenger (aka. mod\_rails and mod\_rack). Almost all current ruby web frameworks (like rails, sinatra, camping, ...) connect to the webserver using a rack handler. You can use one of those frameworks, but you can also write rack apps directly without those. All ruby application servers (mongrel, thin, unicorn, rainbows, ...) implement the rack interface.

Another alternative would be to use (f)cgi, but I'd advise you to stay away from that route, as the interface and protocols are awkward and do not really provide modern management facilities.
Try [modruby](http://www.modruby.net/en/).