Cleaned up code supporting Ruby < 2.0
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/binary_protocol_spec_shared.rb b/lib/rb/spec/binary_protocol_spec_shared.rb
index c83f5ae..d8edf85 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/binary_protocol_spec_shared.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/binary_protocol_spec_shared.rb
@@ -38,25 +38,25 @@
 
   it "should make strict_write readable" do
     expect(@prot.strict_write).to eql(true)
-  end    
+  end
 
   it "should write the message header" do
     @prot.write_message_begin('testMessage', Thrift::MessageTypes::CALL, 17)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([protocol_class.const_get(:VERSION_1) | Thrift::MessageTypes::CALL, "testMessage".size, "testMessage", 17].pack("NNa11N"))
   end
-  
+
   it "should write the message header without version when writes are not strict" do
     @prot = protocol_class.new(@trans, true, false) # no strict write
     @prot.write_message_begin('testMessage', Thrift::MessageTypes::CALL, 17)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\000\000\000\vtestMessage\001\000\000\000\021")
   end
-  
+
   it "should write the message header with a version when writes are strict" do
     @prot = protocol_class.new(@trans) # strict write
     @prot.write_message_begin('testMessage', Thrift::MessageTypes::CALL, 17)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\200\001\000\001\000\000\000\vtestMessage\000\000\000\021")
   end
-  
+
 
   # message footer is a noop
 
@@ -64,44 +64,44 @@
     @prot.write_field_begin('foo', Thrift::Types::DOUBLE, 3)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([Thrift::Types::DOUBLE, 3].pack("cn"))
   end
-  
+
   # field footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should write the STOP field" do
     @prot.write_field_stop
     expect(@trans.read(1)).to eq("\000")
   end
-  
+
   it "should write the map header" do
     @prot.write_map_begin(Thrift::Types::STRING, Thrift::Types::LIST, 17)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([Thrift::Types::STRING, Thrift::Types::LIST, 17].pack("ccN"));
   end
-   
+
   # map footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should write the list header" do
     @prot.write_list_begin(Thrift::Types::I16, 42)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([Thrift::Types::I16, 42].pack("cN"))
   end
-  
+
   # list footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should write the set header" do
     @prot.write_set_begin(Thrift::Types::I16, 42)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([Thrift::Types::I16, 42].pack("cN"))
   end
-  
+
   it "should write a bool" do
     @prot.write_bool(true)
     @prot.write_bool(false)
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\001\000")
   end
-  
+
   it "should treat a nil bool as false" do
     @prot.write_bool(nil)
     expect(@trans.read(1)).to eq("\000")
   end
-  
+
   it "should write a byte" do
     # byte is small enough, let's check -128..127
     (-128..127).each do |i|
@@ -120,11 +120,11 @@
   it "errors out with a Bignum" do
     expect { @prot.write_byte(2**65) }.to raise_error(RangeError)
   end
-  
+
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil byte" do
     expect { @prot.write_byte(nil) }.to raise_error(StandardError, 'nil argument not allowed!')
   end
-  
+
   it "should write an i16" do
     # try a random scattering of values
     # include the signed i16 minimum/maximum
@@ -133,17 +133,17 @@
     end
     # and try something out of signed range, it should clip
     @prot.write_i16(2**15 + 5)
-    
+
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\200\000\374\000\000\021\000\000\330\360\006\273\177\377\200\005")
-    
+
     # a Bignum should error
     # lambda { @prot.write_i16(2**65) }.should raise_error(RangeError)
   end
-  
+
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil i16" do
     expect { @prot.write_i16(nil) }.to raise_error(StandardError, 'nil argument not allowed!')
   end
-  
+
   it "should write an i32" do
     # try a random scattering of values
     # include the signed i32 minimum/maximum
@@ -153,14 +153,14 @@
     # try something out of signed range, it should clip
     expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\200\000\000\000" + "\377\376\037\r" + "\377\377\366\034" + "\377\377\377\375" + "\000\000\000\000" + "\000#\340\203" + "\000\0000+" + "\177\377\377\377")
     [2 ** 31 + 5, 2 ** 65 + 5].each do |i|
-      expect { @prot.write_i32(i) }.to raise_error(RangeError)  
+      expect { @prot.write_i32(i) }.to raise_error(RangeError)
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil i32" do
     expect { @prot.write_i32(nil) }.to raise_error(StandardError, 'nil argument not allowed!')
   end
-  
+
   it "should write an i64" do
     # try a random scattering of values
     # try the signed i64 minimum/maximum
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@
       "\177\377\377\377\377\377\377\377"].join(""))
     expect { @prot.write_i64(2 ** 65 + 5) }.to raise_error(RangeError)
   end
-  
+
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil i64" do
     expect { @prot.write_i64(nil) }.to raise_error(StandardError, 'nil argument not allowed!')
   end
-  
+
   it "should write a double" do
     # try a random scattering of values, including min/max
     values = [Float::MIN,-1231.15325, -123123.23, -23.23515123, 0, 12351.1325, 523.23, Float::MAX]
@@ -192,58 +192,42 @@
       expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq([f].pack("G"))
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil double" do
     expect { @prot.write_double(nil) }.to raise_error(StandardError, 'nil argument not allowed!')
   end
 
-  if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
-    it 'should write a string' do
-      str = 'abc'
-      @prot.write_string(str)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63])
-    end
+  it 'should write a string' do
+    str = 'abc'
+    @prot.write_string(str)
+    a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63])
+  end
 
-    it 'should write a string with unicode characters' do
-      str = "abc \u20AC \u20AD".encode('UTF-8')
-      @prot.write_string(str)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0B, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x20,
-                                0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC, 0x20, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAD])
-    end
+  it 'should write a string with unicode characters' do
+    str = "abc \u20AC \u20AD".encode('UTF-8')
+    @prot.write_string(str)
+    a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0B, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x20,
+                              0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC, 0x20, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAD])
+  end
 
-    it 'should write should write a string with unicode characters and transcoding' do
-      str = "abc \u20AC".encode('ISO-8859-15')
-      @prot.write_string(str)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x07, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x20, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
-    end
+  it 'should write should write a string with unicode characters and transcoding' do
+    str = "abc \u20AC".encode('ISO-8859-15')
+    @prot.write_string(str)
+    a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x07, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63, 0x20, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
+  end
 
-    it 'should write a binary string' do
-      buffer = [0, 1, 2, 3].pack('C*')
-      @prot.write_binary(buffer)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03])
-    end
-  else
-    it 'should write a string' do
-      str = 'abc'
-      @prot.write_string(str)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63])
-    end
-
-    it 'should write a binary string' do
-      buffer = [0, 1, 2, 3].pack('C*')
-      @prot.write_binary(buffer)
-      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03])
-    end
+  it 'should write a binary string' do
+    buffer = [0, 1, 2, 3].pack('C*')
+    @prot.write_binary(buffer)
+    a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03])
   end
 
   it "should error gracefully when trying to write a nil string" do
@@ -300,36 +284,36 @@
     @trans.write([Thrift::Types::DOUBLE, Thrift::Types::I64, 42].pack("ccN"))
     expect(@prot.read_map_begin).to eq([Thrift::Types::DOUBLE, Thrift::Types::I64, 42])
   end
-  
+
   # map footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should read a list header" do
     @trans.write([Thrift::Types::STRING, 17].pack("cN"))
     expect(@prot.read_list_begin).to eq([Thrift::Types::STRING, 17])
   end
-  
+
   # list footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should read a set header" do
     @trans.write([Thrift::Types::STRING, 17].pack("cN"))
     expect(@prot.read_set_begin).to eq([Thrift::Types::STRING, 17])
   end
-  
+
   # set footer is a noop
-  
+
   it "should read a bool" do
     @trans.write("\001\000");
     expect(@prot.read_bool).to eq(true)
     expect(@prot.read_bool).to eq(false)
   end
-  
+
   it "should read a byte" do
     [-128, -57, -3, 0, 17, 24, 127].each do |i|
       @trans.write([i].pack("c"))
       expect(@prot.read_byte).to eq(i)
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should read an i16" do
     # try a scattering of values, including min/max
     [-2**15, -5237, -353, 0, 1527, 2234, 2**15-1].each do |i|
@@ -337,7 +321,7 @@
       expect(@prot.read_i16).to eq(i)
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should read an i32" do
     # try a scattering of values, including min/max
     [-2**31, -235125, -6236, 0, 2351, 123123, 2**31-1].each do |i|
@@ -345,7 +329,7 @@
       expect(@prot.read_i32).to eq(i)
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should read an i64" do
     # try a scattering of values, including min/max
     [-2**63, -123512312, -6346, 0, 32, 2346322323, 2**63-1].each do |i|
@@ -353,7 +337,7 @@
       expect(@prot.read_i64).to eq(i)
     end
   end
-  
+
   it "should read a double" do
     # try a random scattering of values, including min/max
     [Float::MIN, -231231.12351, -323.233513, 0, 123.2351235, 2351235.12351235, Float::MAX].each do |f|
@@ -362,46 +346,30 @@
     end
   end
 
-  if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
-    it 'should read a string' do
-      # i32 of value 3, followed by three characters/UTF-8 bytes 'a', 'b', 'c'
-      buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63].pack('C*')
-      @trans.write(buffer)
-      a = @prot.read_string
-      expect(a).to eq('abc'.encode('UTF-8'))
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
-    end
+  it 'should read a string' do
+    # i32 of value 3, followed by three characters/UTF-8 bytes 'a', 'b', 'c'
+    buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63].pack('C*')
+    @trans.write(buffer)
+    a = @prot.read_string
+    expect(a).to eq('abc'.encode('UTF-8'))
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
+  end
 
-    it 'should read a string containing unicode characters from UTF-8 encoded buffer' do
-      # i32 of value 3, followed by one character U+20AC made up of three bytes
-      buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC].pack('C*')
-      @trans.write(buffer)
-      a = @prot.read_string
-      expect(a).to eq("\u20AC".encode('UTF-8'))
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
-    end
+  it 'should read a string containing unicode characters from UTF-8 encoded buffer' do
+    # i32 of value 3, followed by one character U+20AC made up of three bytes
+    buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC].pack('C*')
+    @trans.write(buffer)
+    a = @prot.read_string
+    expect(a).to eq("\u20AC".encode('UTF-8'))
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
+  end
 
-    it 'should read a binary string' do
-      buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*')
-      @trans.write(buffer)
-      a = @prot.read_binary
-      expect(a).to eq([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*'))
-      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-    end
-  else
-    it 'should read a string' do
-      # i32 of value 3, followed by three characters/UTF-8 bytes 'a', 'b', 'c'
-      buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x03, 0x61, 0x62, 0x63].pack('C*')
-      @trans.write(buffer)
-      expect(@prot.read_string).to eq('abc')
-    end
-
-    it 'should read a binary string' do
-      buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*')
-      @trans.write(buffer)
-      a = @prot.read_binary
-      expect(a).to eq([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*'))
-    end
+  it 'should read a binary string' do
+    buffer = [0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*')
+    @trans.write(buffer)
+    a = @prot.read_binary
+    expect(a).to eq([0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03].pack('C*'))
+    expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
   end
 
   it "should perform a complete rpc with no args or return" do
@@ -433,7 +401,7 @@
   def get_socket_connection
     server = Thrift::ServerSocket.new("localhost", 9090)
     server.listen
-    
+
     clientside = Thrift::Socket.new("localhost", 9090)
     clientside.open
     serverside = server.accept
@@ -463,14 +431,14 @@
     server.close
   end
 
-  class SrvHandler 
+  class SrvHandler
     def voidMethod()
     end
-    
+
     def primitiveMethod
       1
     end
-    
+
     def structMethod
       Fixtures::COMPACT_PROTOCOL_TEST_STRUCT
     end
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/bytes_spec.rb b/lib/rb/spec/bytes_spec.rb
index 2e8653c..c3ec087 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/bytes_spec.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/bytes_spec.rb
@@ -21,140 +21,79 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 describe Thrift::Bytes do
-  if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
-    describe '.empty_byte_buffer' do
-      it 'should create an empty buffer' do
-        b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer
-        expect(b.length).to eq(0)
-        expect(b.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      end
-
-      it 'should create an empty buffer of given size' do
-        b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer 2
-        expect(b.length).to eq(2)
-        expect(b.getbyte(0)).to eq(0)
-        expect(b.getbyte(1)).to eq(0)
-        expect(b.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      end
+  describe '.empty_byte_buffer' do
+    it 'should create an empty buffer' do
+      b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer
+      expect(b.length).to eq(0)
+      expect(b.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
     end
 
-    describe '.force_binary_encoding' do
-      it 'should change encoding' do
-        e = 'STRING'.encode('UTF-8')
-        expect(e.encoding).not_to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.force_binary_encoding e
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      end
+    it 'should create an empty buffer of given size' do
+      b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer 2
+      expect(b.length).to eq(2)
+      expect(b.getbyte(0)).to eq(0)
+      expect(b.getbyte(1)).to eq(0)
+      expect(b.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '.force_binary_encoding' do
+    it 'should change encoding' do
+      e = 'STRING'.encode('UTF-8')
+      expect(e.encoding).not_to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+      a = Thrift::Bytes.force_binary_encoding e
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '.get_string_byte' do
+    it 'should get the byte at index' do
+      s = "\x41\x42"
+      expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 0)).to eq(0x41)
+      expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 1)).to eq(0x42)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '.set_string_byte' do
+    it 'should set byte value at index' do
+      s = "\x41\x42"
+      Thrift::Bytes.set_string_byte(s, 0, 0x43)
+      expect(s.getbyte(0)).to eq(0x43)
+      expect(s).to eq('CB')
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer' do
+    it 'should convert UTF-8 String to byte buffer' do
+      e = "\u20AC".encode('UTF-8') # a string with euro sign character U+20AC
+      expect(e.length).to eq(1)
+
+      a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer e
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+      expect(a.length).to eq(3)
+      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
     end
 
-    describe '.get_string_byte' do
-      it 'should get the byte at index' do
-        s = "\x41\x42"
-        expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 0)).to eq(0x41)
-        expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 1)).to eq(0x42)
-      end
+    it 'should convert ISO-8859-15 String to UTF-8 byte buffer' do
+      # Assumptions
+      e = "\u20AC".encode('ISO-8859-15') # a string with euro sign character U+20AC, then converted to ISO-8859-15
+      expect(e.length).to eq(1)
+      expect(e.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xA4]) # euro sign is a different code point in ISO-8859-15
+
+      a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer e
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+      expect(a.length).to eq(3)
+      expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
     end
+  end
 
-    describe '.set_string_byte' do
-      it 'should set byte value at index' do
-        s = "\x41\x42"
-        Thrift::Bytes.set_string_byte(s, 0, 0x43)
-        expect(s.getbyte(0)).to eq(0x43)
-        expect(s).to eq('CB')
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer' do
-      it 'should convert UTF-8 String to byte buffer' do
-        e = "\u20AC".encode('UTF-8') # a string with euro sign character U+20AC
-        expect(e.length).to eq(1)
-
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer e
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-        expect(a.length).to eq(3)
-        expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
-      end
-
-      it 'should convert ISO-8859-15 String to UTF-8 byte buffer' do
-        # Assumptions
-        e = "\u20AC".encode('ISO-8859-15') # a string with euro sign character U+20AC, then converted to ISO-8859-15
-        expect(e.length).to eq(1)
-        expect(e.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xA4]) # euro sign is a different code point in ISO-8859-15
-
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer e
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-        expect(a.length).to eq(3)
-        expect(a.unpack('C*')).to eq([0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC])
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.convert_to_string' do
-      it 'should convert UTF-8 byte buffer to a UTF-8 String' do
-        e = [0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC].pack("C*")
-        expect(e.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_string e
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
-        expect(a).to eq("\u20AC")
-      end
-    end
-
-  else # RUBY_VERSION
-    describe '.empty_byte_buffer' do
-      it 'should create an empty buffer' do
-        b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer
-        expect(b.length).to eq(0)
-      end
-
-      it 'should create an empty buffer of given size' do
-        b = Thrift::Bytes.empty_byte_buffer 2
-        expect(b.length).to eq(2)
-        expect(b[0]).to eq(0)
-        expect(b[1]).to eq(0)
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.force_binary_encoding' do
-      it 'should be a no-op' do
-        e = 'STRING'
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.force_binary_encoding e
-        expect(a).to eq(e)
-        expect(a).to be(e)
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.get_string_byte' do
-      it 'should get the byte at index' do
-        s = "\x41\x42"
-        expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 0)).to eq(0x41)
-        expect(Thrift::Bytes.get_string_byte(s, 1)).to eq(0x42)
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.set_string_byte' do
-      it 'should set byte value at index' do
-        s = "\x41\x42"
-        Thrift::Bytes.set_string_byte(s, 0, 0x43)
-        expect(s[0]).to eq(0x43)
-        expect(s).to eq('CB')
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer' do
-      it 'should be a no-op' do
-        e = 'STRING'
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_utf8_byte_buffer e
-        expect(a).to eq(e)
-        expect(a).to be(e)
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe '.convert_to_string' do
-      it 'should be a no-op' do
-        e = 'STRING'
-        a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_string e
-        expect(a).to eq(e)
-        expect(a).to be(e)
-      end
+  describe '.convert_to_string' do
+    it 'should convert UTF-8 byte buffer to a UTF-8 String' do
+      e = [0xE2, 0x82, 0xAC].pack("C*")
+      expect(e.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+      a = Thrift::Bytes.convert_to_string e
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
+      expect(a).to eq("\u20AC")
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/rb/spec/json_protocol_spec.rb b/lib/rb/spec/json_protocol_spec.rb
index 9acaf86..e53fd3e 100644
--- a/lib/rb/spec/json_protocol_spec.rb
+++ b/lib/rb/spec/json_protocol_spec.rb
@@ -221,25 +221,18 @@
       expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq("\"-Infinity\"")
     end
 
-    if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
-      it 'should write string' do
-        @prot.write_string('this is a test string')
-        a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-        expect(a).to eq('"this is a test string"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      end
+    it 'should write string' do
+      @prot.write_string('this is a test string')
+      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+      expect(a).to eq('"this is a test string"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
+    end
 
-      it 'should write string with unicode characters' do
-        @prot.write_string("this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD")
-        a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
-        expect(a).to eq("\"this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD\"".force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
-      end
-    else
-      it 'should write string' do
-        @prot.write_string('this is a test string')
-        expect(@trans.read(@trans.available)).to eq('"this is a test string"')
-      end
+    it 'should write string with unicode characters' do
+      @prot.write_string("this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD")
+      a = @trans.read(@trans.available)
+      expect(a).to eq("\"this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD\"".force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::BINARY)
     end
 
     it "should write binary" do
@@ -509,25 +502,18 @@
       expect(@prot.read_double).to eq(12.23)
     end
 
-    if RUBY_VERSION >= '1.9'
-      it 'should read string' do
-        @trans.write('"this is a test string"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
-        a = @prot.read_string
-        expect(a).to eq('this is a test string')
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
-      end
+    it 'should read string' do
+      @trans.write('"this is a test string"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
+      a = @prot.read_string
+      expect(a).to eq('this is a test string')
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
+    end
 
-      it 'should read string with unicode characters' do
-        @trans.write('"this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
-        a = @prot.read_string
-        expect(a).to eq("this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD")
-        expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
-      end
-    else
-      it 'should read string' do
-        @trans.write('"this is a test string"')
-        expect(@prot.read_string).to eq('this is a test string')
-      end
+    it 'should read string with unicode characters' do
+      @trans.write('"this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD"'.force_encoding(Encoding::BINARY))
+      a = @prot.read_string
+      expect(a).to eq("this is a test string with unicode characters: \u20AC \u20AD")
+      expect(a.encoding).to eq(Encoding::UTF_8)
     end
 
     it "should read binary" do