I do wish the author described which 'ack' is being lauded. When I attempt to use 'ack' on my linux workstation the results are confusing.
moses@deunan:~$ </etc/mime.types grep application |grep x-ruby
application/x-ruby rb
moses@deunan:~$ </etc/mime.types ack application x-ruby
application: No such file or directory
x-ruby: No such file or directory
moses@deunan:~$ ack -h
ack v1.39 Copyright 1993,94 Ogasawara Hiroyuki (COR.)
usage: ack [-{e|s|j|c[c]}] [-{a|A|o<file>}] [-zCntud] [-{E|S}] [<file>..]