match

pattern = ',*,foo,bar,baz'
path = 'cat/foo/bar/baz'

# rules for match method:
# - return boolean value
# - asterisks are wildcards
# - compare pattern and path
# - matching letter rated higher over asterisk
# - if same # of asterisks, prefer wildcards that appear further to right

def match(pattern, path)
  patt_arr = pattern.gsub(/,/, ' ').split
  path_arr = path.gsub(/\//, ' ').split

  if patt_arr.count == path_arr.count
    while patt_arr.include?('*')
      ast_index = patt_arr.index('*')

      patt_arr.delete_at(ast_index)
      path_arr.delete_at(ast_index)
    end
    patt_arr == path_arr
  else
    false
  end
end

# asterisks are wildcards
p match('a,b,c', 'a/b/c') == true
p match('*,b,*', 'a/b/c') == true

puts

# ignores beg/end dashes and commas
p match('*,b,*', 'a/b/b/') == true
p match('*,b,*,', 'a/b/b') == true
p match('*,b,*', '/a/b/b/') == true
p match(',*,b,*', 'a/b/b') == true

puts

# false if array size isn't equal
p match('*,b,*', 'a/b/c/d') == false
p match('*,b,*', 'a/b') == false

In regards to the following:

patt_arr = pattern.gsub(/,/, ' ').split
path_arr = path.gsub(/\//, ' ').split

What happens if the input contains spaces between '/' or ','? The Problem Description and Input Format does not note any thing about no white spaces being included in the input.

Otherwise, looks good. Now how would you tie it all together?