gistfile1.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby

def get_values(string, expression)
  regex = Regexp.new(expression.gsub(/\{([^\}]+)\}/) { "(?<#{$1}>\\S+)" })
  (match = regex.match(string)) ? Hash[match.names.zip(match.captures)] : {}
end

p get_values "Alice is 23 years old", "{name} is {age} years old" #=> {"name"=>"Alice", "age"=>"23"}