Whether you are a newbie or a pro in the field of web development, then Ruby on Rails is a must subject you will encounter. When you dig deeper into RoR, you will find that it is not a programming language but actually a coding skill. 

So, what actually is Ruby on Rails?

It is an open-source framework that is the favorite choice of web application developers. It is one of the top backend frameworks used by many prominent organizations like Github, Shopify, Dribble, etc.

Current web applications can be very complex with many features. Rails make web development more accessible, providing a pre-built structure for growth and everything you need to build a web app.

In this article, we’ll give a deeper insight into the Ruby on Rails web application framework. Without further ado, let’s get started!

What is ruby on rails?

It is a website framework, web application framework, or web development framework that provides developers with a time-efficient technique for writing code. 

A web development framework is a group of code libraries that provide developers with built-in solutions for repetitive and time-taking tasks. It means that developers don’t have to write codes from scratch. Instead, they click on the web development framework and locate their code.

Rails is a framework written over Ruby-a programming language known as Ruby on Rails. Also, Ruby is the programming language, and Ruby on Rails or Rails is its particular web framework.

Principles of ruby on rails

Here are the top 3 principles of ruby on rails.

  1. Model-View-Controller(MVC)
  2. Do Not Repeat Yourself (DRY)
  3. Convention over Configuration (COC)

1.Model-View-Controller(MVC)

Ruby on Rails is an MVC framework first introduced in 1979 by Trygve Reenskaug. The Model View Controller principle divides the work of an application into three separate but closely cooperative subsystems.

Model– It carries codes that work on the application data. All the commands given by the user must go through this layer. 

View– This layer is visible to users. It determines the interaction between the user and the application and how data is presented to the user.

Controller– As the name implies, it controls both the model and the view. It receives the command from the user, works with models to process it, and instructs the view to display it to the user appropriately.

2. Do Not Repeat Yourself (DRY)

This principle helps to reduce the repetition of information as much as possible within a complex system. The information should be clear-cut and relevant to the rest of the system. The libraries in RoR help the code to remain “DRY.” 

3. Convention over Configuration (COC)

This framework aims to reduce the time and effort taken by programmers to develop web applications. It does not certainly reduce flexibility in development. 

History of ruby on rails (RoR)

David Heinemeier Hansson created Ruby on Rails in 2003. Back in 2003, David was working on some code for Basecamp, but somehow he ended up developing a new custom framework in order to build it. He used Ruby to develop the framework and named it Ruby on Rails. And then, in 2004, Hansson released it to the public. It spread like fire among people due to its ease of use and endless customization options.

While Rails was a fantastic achievement, Hansson didn’t exactly do it independently. There would be no Ruby on Rails without Ruby. Yukihiro Matsumoto created Ruby in 1995

Web apps that are built using ruby on rails

Web Apps that are Built Using Ruby on Rails
Web Apps that are Built Using Ruby on Rails

Since Ruby is an object-oriented programming language, Rail is a framework with utilities to simplify development. So Ruby on Rails framework helps to develop applications quickly and efficiently.

GitHub, Shopify, Hulu, Airbnb, Yellow Pages, Dribbble, Fiverr, Crazy Egg, etc are famous web apps built with Ruby on Rails. Let’s have a look at some famous apps built using Ruby on Rails:

GitHub– Github is the largest Repository Hosting Service with more than 20 million users and more than 57 million repositories. This easy-to-use and mature website is built using Ruby on Rails.

Shopify– It is one of the most popular e-commerce websites. It serves millions of customers’ requests with the help of the Ruby on Rails architecture of the website. 

Airbnb– Airbnb is an online hotel reservation site. A site to connect hosts and travelers worldwide is built using Ruby on Rails. Airbnb is serving more than 800,000 offers in 190 countries.

Yellow Pages– It is the most popular local business listing around the world. Yellow Pages is one of the most excellent Ruby on Rails websites; IT&T runs that.

Is ruby on rails the correct choice for businesses in 2022?

Ruby on Rails is helpful in every business, from retail to healthcare. So, if you’re looking for a framework in a new industry, RoR technology might be able to help. Here is why Ruby on Rails is the right choice for businesses in 2022:

It is cost-effective 

As we know, Ruby on Rails is an open-source framework, so it is absolutely free for everyone; plus, it is super easy to use, and with so many features, it saves time while building your website.

Easy to learn 

Ruby on Rails is a very simple language and similar to English.

Fast & secure 

It has default settings for all necessary security features, which means you will follow a secure development process without even being aware of it.

It’s readable 

Its structure is similar to the English language, that’s why it is easy to read.

Ruby on Rails makes the process more efficient and accessible for anyone who wants build-in features to their website.

It’s flexible 

Ruby on Rails is so flexible that it makes the building of applications more simple. An application might use Rails on the backend, but it can also use some other programming language on the frontend. This allows developers to control Ruby on Rails based on what suits their needs, smoothly combining different coding languages.

Is RoR the right choice for new projects?

RoR is one of the top frameworks for startups and a good choice for application building with a rigorous timeframe or having to deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) as fast as it can.

Since RoR is an open-source framework, it does not charge any fees to use, and it is also suitable for businesses with low budgets.

Furthermore, RoR’s Model-View-Controller (MVC) principle allows developers to write complex codes quickly and efficiently, making it the perfect choice for new projects.

Are you planning to migrate from RoR?

Ruby on Rails is not a simple, guaranteed solution for all the problems. You will do well if you keep learning more and more daily, keeping a strict routine. Here are some drawbacks of RoR:

Slow runtime speed and performance

The slow runtime speed of the framework makes it harder to scale your applications compared to other frameworks. 

Not easy to fix structural defects

Rails is an open-source, and components are highly interconnected; one wrong decision leads to severe problems.

Documentation

It might be harder to get good documentation for the less-used libraries. You may be left with a test suite that acts as documentation, which may not be enough when you need written documentation. 

Is ruby on rails slow?

Many developers complain that “Rails is slow.” But it is usually caused by the method Rails can be used to build apps.

Many challenging things are abstracted away from developers. So they stop doing hard work of understanding what’s happening beneath and fall into a trap where they just upgrade everything hoping for magic. 

Is RoR boring?

Whenever a new framework is introduced in the market, there are high chances of huge popularity overnight. After a specific time, developers start considering the mature framework, and suddenly, rumors come out considering this platform a boring one.

Here, software developers‘ miss maturity stands for framework stability and refined code. Adding new features will undoubtedly help you address the most common issues associated with web development

Implementations of ruby on rails

RoR may not be suitable for every project. Here are some implementations:

  • Generate Migrations that simplify the development and maintenance of database tables and columns.
  • Generate Views to present your data through User Interface.
  • Develop Rails Active Records because they are the business objects you’ll be working within your controllers.
  • Arrange the application to know where your database is located.

Drawbacks of ror

Just because a new framework is trending or a tech behemoth has endorsed it does not mean it’s the perfect choice for your following product.

When talking about concurrency and performances, you want to avoid full-blown, homegrown nightmares. For these situations, both Rails and Django are not advisable. If it’s a vast application and you will have to scale it, explore something like Phoenix.

If you are expecting millions of users and very high-traffic web apps, look for some other framework.

For simple requirements like setting up a blog, RoR is something you should never touch.

Ruby conferences in 2022

Ruby programmers around the globe get together to share reports on work-in-progress, discuss the future of Ruby, and welcome newbies to the Ruby community.

Upcoming Ruby conferences are:

  • Sin City Ruby- March 24–25, 2022
  • Venue- Las Vegas, NV
  • Railconf- May 17–19, 2022
  • Venue- Portland, OR
  • Brighton Ruby- June 30, 2022
  • Venue- Brighton, England
  • Rails Camp West- August 30–September 2, 2022
  • Venue- Diablo Lake, WA

Conclusion

If you’re new to the programming world, Ruby on Rails web application framework can be a great start. Learning to code can seem difficult initially, but Ruby on Rails’s human-friendly design makes it a great starting point for newcomers. 

You’ll go from wondering, “what is Ruby on Rails?” to an absolute expert in no time.

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