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April 02, 2009

Web Development with Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails hit the scene in 2004 and has quickly become one of the most talked about frameworks in existence.  More developers are realizing that the Ruby language is a faster and more efficient way to create web-based applications.  So, what gives Ruby on Rails a variety of advantages over other development tools?  Many factors contribute to a plethora of advantages.  This article will explain why the Rails framework helps you work smarter, not harder at building your applications.

Ruby Features

In terms of features, Ruby on Rails doesn't offer anything that hasn't been done before.  Truthfully, it is very similar to other object-orientated programming languages such Perl and Python.  The major difference is how Rails does it, allowing you to complete simple applications in a matter of days instead of weeks and more complex applications in weeks instead of months.  Ruby on Rails facilitates good programming practices, resulting in clean code that is easier to manage.

Below are some of the essential ingredients that make the Rail framework so special.

The Language

Most of Rails' power originates from the Ruby language itself.  The unique design of Ruby enables the easy creation of domain-specific languages, something the Rails framework takes full advantage of.

Less Code

Rails programming allows you to write fewer lines of code into your applications.  Keeping code smaller results in faster deployment of applications with fewer bugs.  With this framework, code tends to be easier to comprehend, manage and enhance.

Time-Effective

Rails utilizes metaprogramming and runtime reflection to eliminate a large portion of the boilerplate code you would otherwise need to create.  In most cases, you can avoid the little remaining code by allowing the built-in generator scripts to create it for you.  This frees up your time to focus on the code that is the most important to your applications.

Turnaround

When changes are made to a web application, the application typically has to go through a cycle before they are reflected.  Stages of this cycle generally include configuration, compilation, deployment, reset and finally testing.  The Rails development environment avoids this time consuming cycle, letting you make a change and instantly see the results.  Though it all might sound trivial, this dramatically improves productivity by allowing you to work without interruptions.

In general, you can place web application frameworks in two categories.  There are heavy-duty frameworks geared towards seasoned developers and more lightweight, user-friendly frameworks that cater to amateurs.  Ruby on Rails offers a little of both and is attracting developers from both sides of the spectrum.  Serious developers are fed up with the highly repetitive, less productive routine related to their existing frameworks while beginners are frustrated with unmanageable code that adds complexity to simple web applications.  Both groups are discovering that Ruby on Rails is a solution to their frusterating problems.

Tags: Python,  Perl,  metaprogramming,  Scripting,  runtime,  ruby on rails,  Ruby language,  Rails framework