You’ve heard of Ruby on Rails, the popular web framework used by many developers to create web applications, but you aren’t sure whether or not it’s the right choice for your next project.
- Is Ruby on Rails good or bad?
- What are its advantages and disadvantages?
- How does it compare to other technologies like PHP and Java?
Keep reading to learn about when you should use Ruby on Rails and what its key strengths and weaknesses are so that you can make an informed decision about your next project.
What is Ruby on Rails?
Ruby on Rails, often simply called Rails or RoR, is an open-source web application framework that runs primarily on Ruby. The two major releases of Rails were 3.0 in 2005 and 4.0 in 2007, with minor revisions since then. As a general-purpose framework, it encourages rapid development by isolating common code into helpers (code libraries) to remove duplicate code from different applications.
How Do We Choose Between Rails And Another Framework?
You may have heard that frameworks are like tools. A hammer can be used to build houses, but it’s also great for driving nails. On one hand, you want something that can do a lot of things well so you don’t have to pick up new tools every time you start a new project. On the other hand, if your tool doesn’t do what you need today, maybe you should go out and buy another one.
What is Ruby on Rails used for and why it’s so popular?
Ruby on Rails, or RoR, is a web application framework (WAF) based on a programming language called Ruby. As mentioned in my post What Is A Web Application Framework? A WAF is more than just a collection of languages.
They generally have their own structure for structuring code and are made to support different types of projects. In fact, if you were to compare two different WAFs side by side you might find that they look nothing alike!
Each is made to work best with certain kinds of applications; which one your project needs largely depends on its purpose, requirements, and priorities.
What types of projects Ruby on Rails is best for
Ruby on Rails is best for web applications. No code reloading means faster debugging, which makes it a good choice for high-velocity applications.
Additionally, there are many gems available to help you build an awesome project quickly. In addition to these inherent advantages, many companies that have built their businesses around open source projects choose to use RoR because of its tight-knit community.
Working with other developers who know (and respect) your work makes collaboration easy and gives you a large pool of potential collaborators in case you ever need help with your project. Additionally, there is also a larger ecosystem of tech support professionals than any other framework out there!
Companies using Ruby on Rails
A whole range of businesses, from small startups to various large companies are using Ruby on Rails. Many of these companies wouldn’t be able to run their businesses efficiently without it. Here’s a list of notable companies that use it:
- Airbnb,
- Kickstarter,
- Shopify,
- Zendesk,
- SoundCloud,
- and much more.
If you’re looking for a way to scale your company in an efficient manner, Ruby on Rails is probably right for you.
What projects work best with Ruby on Rails?
While many types of projects can be implemented with RoR, certain ones work better than others. Projects that need flexibility or have massive data sets tend to work best with Ruby on Rails. If you’re not sure if your project is right for Ruby on Rails, don’t worry!
There are plenty of other platforms out there as well (and no platform is inherently better than another). If one doesn’t seem like it’ll work for your project, simply try another!
Advantages of Ruby on Rails from the business perspective
Developing a web application is not easy. And, most importantly, it should be done right – with a high level of efficiency and quality. There are many factors that influence your decision to choose one language over another for project development.
We will discuss several reasons why you should select Ruby on Rails as your programming language choice for Web Development. As you know, there are a lot of languages that can be used for web development:
- PHP,
- Python,
- ASP .NET
- Java
- etc.
But what if we tell you about a new language that has been gaining popularity lately? What if we tell you about Ruby on Rails? You may have heard about Ruby on Rails before but didn’t really know how it worked or how to use it in practice.
In today’s post, we’ll talk about all these things in detail and explain why RoR is such an excellent tool when developing websites. So let’s get started!
various1. Cost-effectiveness
The level of developer experience is higher than for some other frameworks, meaning it takes less time to hire and train staff. This results in lower costs for development or means that you can use fewer developers to complete your project.
The availability of software developers with Ruby on Rails skills is very high, as many software engineers are working with it daily.
With few exceptions, if you want a website built with Ruby on Rails there will be available, skilled workers to complete your project.
various2. Flexibility
Over half of current RoR users say they started with a different technology but migrated to RoR. This flexibility is due in part to tools that are designed to make it easier for developers.
Many people start using RoR when working with other platforms like Java or .NET; since RoR is based on these platforms, it can be easier for developers who already have experience with them.
As a bonus, most RoR installations come with RailsAdmin—an open-source administrative tool for database tasks such as data entry and search—as well as Rake— a build-management utility. Both of these tools make creating web applications in RoR easy even if you have no prior programming experience.
3. RoR is Flexible, and easily supported by different developers
One of Ruby on Rails’ biggest strengths is its flexibility. Many programming languages are made for specific tasks, but RoR was developed as a general-purpose tool, which means it can be used to solve almost any problem. This makes it easy for developers to switch between projects because they don’t have to learn new language rules when they go from project to project.
In addition, RoR has an active online community where developers share solutions and offer each other advice—and it’s free!
Disadvantages of Ruby on Rails and how to deal with them
Because of how it was designed, Ruby on Rails is a great option for startups. That doesn’t mean that you’ll be more productive with it, though. Since most companies have used other web languages in the past, those organizations may be hesitant to use a new language like Ruby on Rails. They’re also going to want some reassurance that their current team can handle using such a new tool.
And while it’s possible to use programming languages without looking at them (for example, many PHP programmers will have no idea what they’re typing into their console), every programmer who picks up Ruby on Rails is going to have to learn what all of these strange-looking symbols mean, which might make them less productive overall.
Looking for a Ruby on Rails development Expert?
If you are looking for Ruby on Rails developers to help take your business to new heights, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all of your options. There are hundreds if not thousands of reputable companies out there, and many developers are available for hire on various freelancing websites, so you can hire them based on your project requirement, their experience, and who is best suited for you.