There is a wide range of approaches to learning to code a web developer, as well as a plethora of web development languages to select from, with practically everyone claiming to know which is the finest, simplest, or quickest to learn.
Clients are also increasingly interested in the technologies that will be used to develop their web app solutions. You'll need time to discuss why you choose Ruby on Rails (also known as Rails or RoR) if you do. After all, common back web development languages and frameworks such as Python, Java, and PHP exist. So, why should you utilize RoR? Is Ruby on the Rails app development the right way? There are several reasons for this selection, the most important of which is that it is frequently a better option than any other resource.
What you will learn from this article:
- What types of projects is Ruby on Rails best suited for?
- How does Ruby on Rails address security concerns in web development?
- What makes Ruby on Rails a preferred choice for developing online stores and social networks?
- How does Ruby on Rails perform in terms of runtime speed and performance?
- What are the key factors that have contributed to the popularity of Ruby on Rails?
- What is the future outlook for Ruby on Rails, and how is it adapting to modern development needs?
Table of Contents
What is Ruby on Rails?
Ruby is an object-oriented programming language that is versatile, dynamic, and interpreted. Even someone who doesn't know how to code can comprehend Ruby code to some level since it is so human-like and similar to English.
It's made to help you develop more rapidly so you can see the fruits of your labor sooner. You'll soon be doing what you've always wanted to do: creating fantastic websites. It's also quite popular, and it appears to be so for the time being.
What is Ruby on Rails used for?
Why do you want to use Ruby on Rails? Ruby's major purpose is to make it simple to build new high-performance web apps. However, because Ruby, like any various other programming languages, is suited for a broad range of web projects, there is no final definition as to what Ruby is used for.
No website development company would approach coding as something apart from the project's commercial objectives.
"Each programming language and technology stack is created to address a specific issue. RoR may or may not be the best solution for your online project, depending on the aim (but rather yes than no)."
What types of projects Ruby on Rails is best for:
- E-commerce, i.e.Online stores with sophisticated options
- Informational portals
- Stock exchange platforms
- Dating websites and ad platforms
- Social networks
- Non-standard complex projects
- SaaS-solutions
Pros and cons of Ruby on Rails
Take factors like the learning curve, scalability, hosting needs, simplicity of installation, documentation, and so on under consideration while making the selection.
The most important advantages and disadvantages of Ruby on Rails are listed here.
Pros of Ruby on Rails
Here are the pros of Ruby on Rails:
Security
Many firms have been concerned about cybersecurity risks in the past few years. According to Cybint Solutions' disturbing data, 64% of businesses have been targeted by web-based assaults, while 62% have been targeted by phishing and social engineering attempts.
According to the graph below, the latter type of cybersecurity threats mostly targets SaaS, financial institutions, and e-commerce platforms.
Ruby on Rails' built-in techniques ensure that a web page or application created with its assistance is secure and impenetrable to the following typical threats:
- Cross-Site Scripting
- SQL Injection
- Cross-Site Request Forgery
- Insecure Direct Object Reference or Forceful Browsing
Simplicity in Use
This technology's syntax is very straightforward, succinct, and easy to understand, ensuring Rails offers the best usefulness for programmers.
Ruby on Rails developers can write less code, which speeds up the development of online applications. There are no justifications for adding comments based on the framework readability. As a consequence, code is becoming easier to comprehend for programmers.
High development speed
The framework includes a large number of free, open-source libraries known as gems. They produce many Ruby on Rails community-specific websites, forums, and discussion forums where developers can get solutions from coders who have solved problems similar to theirs.
One main reason for choosing Ruby on Rails is its fast development pace. This technology enables them to expedite the MVP app development process and create a high-quality web application on a budget.
Enthusiastic community
Ruby on Rails is well-known for its active community. Its active individuals contribute to the advancement of technology, assist one another, and provide new features to the code base. They produce many Ruby on Rails-specific websites, forums, and discussion forums where developers can get solutions from coders who have solved problems similar to theirs.
Easy business logic implementation
Ruby on Rails makes it easy to implement complicated business logic in a web application. If you require an API, for example, developers that utilize this framework will be able to implement one quickly. All you have to do now is add a front-end framework like Vue or React, and you're done. Your web application is now complete. Ruby on rails development.
Compatibility with front-end frameworks
Today, front-end frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular are becoming incredibly common. These tools are frequently used in conjunction with Ruby on Rails due to RoR's ease of interoperability. You can create front-end components fast and easily using whatever framework you like.
Cons of Ruby on Rails
Here are the cons of using Ruby on Rails on your project.
Runtime speed and performance
When it comes to the success of an application, these two characteristics are critical. Users have gotten pickier as a result of the abundance of apps accessible on the marketplace. They anticipate online apps to load promptly and without glitches.
Ruby on Rails' runtime performance isn't its strongest point. It will undoubtedly suffice for tiny apps with a limited user base and little traffic, but it may become an issue when developing a robust project.
Lack of flexibility
Ruby on Rails is appropriate for ordinary web applications since it has a strict dependence between components and modules. Customization, on the other hand, might be difficult when it comes to an app with a unique feature set.
Configuring routing, database migrations, and other features lengthens the product development time. As a result, you must pick between app uniqueness and development time.
Lower popularity
Ruby on Rails has experienced a drop in prominence over the previous few years. We can notice a disengagement in this framework by looking at the official figures offered by Google Trends.
5 Most Popular Ruby on Rails Websites
Here is a list of the top 5 most popular websites using Ruby on Rails:
Github
Github is the most popular software development platform on the planet. Github was founded in 2008 and is now used by over 40 million people. It was built using Ruby on Rails. Github is a platform for coders to host open-source projects, and it offers numerous collaboration tools for each project, including bug tracking, feature requests, task management, and wikis.
Basecamp
Ruby on Rails was built in 2004 by David Heinemeier Hansson, a Basecamp partner. Basecamp is a project management and internal communication platform that is used by remote teams all around the world.
Hansson bundled his Ruby shortcuts and published them as Ruby on Rails five months after Basecamp (then 37signals) started in February 2004.
Shopify
Ottawa-based Shopify is a multibillion-dollar e-commerce business that creates online storefronts and retail POS systems.
Tobi Lutke, co-founder, and CEO created the initial version of Shopify, called Snowdevil, in 2004 as a method to sell snowboards online. Shopify now powers over one billion companies in 175 countries, and it employs a handful of Lighthouse Labs web development alumni and mentors.
Hulu
Ruby on Rails is used to power Hulu, an American streaming service. It's a big subscription streaming service in the same league as Disney+, Netflix, Crave (in Canada), and others.
Hulu is not accessible up north without a VPN, which is disappointing for Canadians.
Twitch
An online streaming service that has become very popular with the gaming community, Twitch has an impressive 1,000,000+ broadcasts per month and suffers no scalability problems.
What Is The Future Of Web Development With Ruby?
For a long time, there have been rumors on the internet that the Ruby on Rails framework is losing popularity and importance. Why? There are several reasons for this, but the most common concerns are that it is outdated and lacks the functionality that developers want in today's environment.
However, with Ruby on Rails 5, which tackles some of these issues, things have altered considerably. The framework's development community has worked hard to ensure that this version is not only jam-packed with advanced functionality to keep it fresh and fascinating but also that it is poised to expand and welcome the future of technology.
Ruby on Rails 5 was the community's most significant release since June 2013. It included a slew of advanced functionality and tweaks, including real-time communication with ActionCable, API Mode for using Rails just as a backend, and simpler terminal commands.
Whatever perspective you choose, Ruby on Rails is a fast-paced environment with many new advancements ahead. Because of the Ruby on Rails community's active participation and open-source nature, no one who uses this programming framework will be kept out of the loop. Ruby on Rails will continue to be one of the most fascinating and creative programming frameworks to learn and work with for the coming years.
Let's not forget that programmers like Ruby on Rails, as Schneems' Richard Schneeman explains:
"The Ruby language focuses on developer happiness, and programmers seem to agree, it surged in popularity in the latest TIOBE index. Don't let its ease of use fool you though, this expressive language powers more than a few of the top 500 websites."
Summary
RoR is well-known as a tool for developing technically challenging web applications. With all of its benefits, a Rail is a powerful tool for creating market-ready MVPs, launching successful businesses, and being utilized by huge corporations.
If you are searching for the best software house to develop your project using Ruby on Rails framework, you can check the outcomes of our Ruby on Rails technology solutions in our profile.
