When is Ruby on Rails better for your project and why should you use it?

Our clients occasionally inquire about the technology we will employ in the development of their web applications. We spend some time outlining why we chose Ruby on Rails (commonly known as Rails or RoR). After all, popular back-end web development languages and frameworks such as Python, Java, and PHP exist. So, why should you utilize RoR? There are a variety of reasons for this selection, the most important of which is that it is frequently a better option than any other instrument. Since 2006, we've been developing websites with Ruby on Rails.

Ruby On rails Overview

Ruby is an object-oriented programming language that is general-purpose, dynamic, and interpreted. It is so human-like and similar to English that even someone who does not know how to code may understand Ruby code to some level.

Creating new software with solely Ruby, on the other hand, is a time-consuming task. As a result, a unique tool called Rails was designed to streamline the development process.

Rails is a Ruby-based web development framework that was introduced 9 years after Ruby's initial release. It was intended to make web app programming easier and to assist in the creation of websites of any complexity. It also signaled the beginning of Ruby's tremendous popularity, as well as the introduction of Ruby on Rails firms, including ourselves.

What is the purpose of Ruby on Rails, and why is it so popular?

Why do you want to use Ruby on Rails? Ruby's major purpose is to construct new high-performance web platforms quickly. However, because Ruby, like any general-purpose programming language, is suited for a wide range of programming jobs, there is no definitive answer as to what Ruby is used for. No web development company would approach coding as something separate 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 choice for your online project, depending on the aim (but rather yes than no).

Ruby on Rails is ideal for the following types of projects:

E-commerce, or online retailers with advanced features. The advantages of employing Ruby on Rails developers for your next e-commerce project are covered in a separate article.

·        Portals that provide information.

·        Platforms for stock exchanges.

·        Websites and web platforms for dating.

·        Social media sites.

·        Complex tasks that aren't typical.

·        SaaS-solutions.

In response to the issue of why Ruby on Rails is so popular, even though Node.js (an open-source cross-platform JavaScript environment) has recently grown in popularity, Ruby on Rails remains a popular framework. Rails is employed by startups, non-profit enterprises, and large corporations alike because to its ease of prototyping. Ruby is the 11th most popular programming language according to the TIOBE index (which measures how popular a programming language is based on how many people use it).

Ruby is the 14th most popular programming language in the world, according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, with 7.1 percent of respondents being Ruby on Rails engineers. There are more than 1 million live websites and online platforms built using Ruby on Rails throughout the world (with more than 4 million having existed at one point), and the number is growing.

Ruby on Rails is used by a number of businesses.

Ruby on Rails is a popular choice among startups, but it has also attracted several Fortune 500 companies. Basecamp, Airbnb, Shopify, Goodreads, Kickstarter, Hulu, and others are among the companies that use Ruby on Rails. To put it another way, Rails is "enterprise-ready."

So, why Ruby on Rails, and why did these companies choose RoR for their web development projects? The solution can be found in the following list of Ruby on Rails benefits and drawbacks.

From a business standpoint, Ruby on Rails has a lot of advantages.

Faster Development

Ruby is straightforward, concise, logical, and has a lean codebase (allowing for fewer lines of redundant code), all of which contribute to faster development. When you add Rails to the mix, you'll see how it allows RoR engineers to spend less time coding and more time creating better solutions. Simply said, less code means less effort spent writing it while maintaining the same functionality.

Cost-effectiveness

As previously stated, the customer's money is spent on development time. The longer it takes to develop anything, the more it costs. Because Rails websites can be constructed and adjusted quickly, less money is spent on their creation and maintenance. Considering that an application is appropriately developed and its development process is adequately structured in a given firm that provides Ruby on Rails development services.

Furthermore, Ruby on Rails is open-source, therefore there are no licencing fees.

Flexibility

The Rails framework is extremely adaptable, allowing websites to be updated in response to changes in business processes. In the event that you require additional functionality in the future, different modules are available. Furthermore, Ruby allows you to remove or redefine specific pieces as needed. Individual components of a software or application can also be freely updated and enhanced in the future.

It's a very expressive and versatile language that allows Ruby on Rails developers to handle an issue in a variety of ways, providing them a lot of freedom and possibilities to discover the best solution for a project.

Scalability

The majority of Rails scalability difficulties were handled in Rails 6, which was released last year. By default, Rails 6 is deemed scalable.

Some of the RoR apps we've been working on recently can run many instances of the same code (including on different servers) and still function properly. This pertains to horizontal scalability (when you scale by adding more machines into your pool of resources). When it comes to vertical scalability, things are a little different (when you scale by adding more power to an existing machine). However, that isn't much of a problem because you shouldn't get too carried away with it or it will end up being too expensive due to server costs.

High-level data security

Ruby on Rails improves the security of your app. SQL injections and XSS attacks are not allowed while using RoR tools, and all input parameters are escaped by default, as are output variables in templates. There is just no way for a developer to commit a security mistake (unless he "shot himself in the foot" on purpose). RoR has password and credit card data encryption, among other features. SQL injection and XSS attacks are guarded against with certain precautions.

High levels of dependability

TDD (test-driven development) is commonly used in Ruby on Rails development, and the toolkit enables comprehensive testing capabilities. The framework is also covered by automated tests, making it trustworthy. Unlike other frameworks, RoR provides good automated testing tools, which accelerates the project's transition from "software is written" to "program operates without mistakes." And believe me when I say that the most time-consuming part of practically any project's implementation is the transition.

SMBs and Startups

Cost-effectiveness, speed, scalability, access to the broadest knowledge base and other variables are all RoR advantages that give startups and small/medium businesses a competitive advantage. Ruby on Rails services are popular among startups and small enterprises because they enable them to compete with larger corporations. We couldn't agree more like a Ruby on Rails development company that uses RoR for the majority of our web projects.

Ruby on Rails: Myths and Facts

Some developers unfamiliar with Ruby on Rails assume that digital projects developed with the language do not scale properly. The well-known "Twitter case" is frequently used as an example of a company that abandoned RoR for internal reasons.

Consider Kickstarter, Groupon, or Basecamp: all of these projects are built with Rails and have no scaling concerns. In any case, project performance issues are not caused by a poor platform or programming language selection. The most common source of these issues is poor project architecture, data caching, or database optimization.

Ruby on Rails in the Future

Every year, it seems like new articles arise heralding Ruby on Rails' extinction, to the point where it's become something of a running joke in the developer community. Why are people talking about it in the first place? The Ruby programming language was introduced in 1995, and the Rails framework in 2004. In the realm of web development, things move at a breakneck pace, with new cutting-edge technology emerging on a regular basis. It's sometimes owing to the need to solve some new problems. Sometimes it's simply because something is popular. Developers, like everyone else, are prone to favor new and intriguing trends from time to time.

The crucial thing to remember is that, despite the fact that Ruby on Rails is almost 15 years old, it is still being improved to meet the demands of the business. Rails 3.0 is the most recent stable version. It is 3x quicker than the previous one, with better memory utilization, static analysis, and new features like ractors and schedulers. These additional features allow it to stay current and competitive.

Looking for a Ruby on Rails Development Company?

Ruby on Rails is one of our favourite frameworks for a variety of projects because it allows us to quickly construct custom software solutions. We are working with Ruby on Rails development at KPi-Tech to provide you with an excellent framework that can create potential leads. RoR is well-known as a tool for developing technically challenging web projects. With all of its benefits, Rails is a powerful tool for creating market-ready MVPs, launching successful startups, and being used by huge corporations.

Hopefully, we've answered why Ruby on Rails is so popular nowadays, as well as described its primary benefits and drawbacks. To create products that perform flawlessly, we combine the finest of proven Ruby on Rails development processes with cutting-edge technologies.