7 famous Ruby on Rails websites

In recent years, Ruby on Rails (RoR) has evolved into one of the most famous web development frameworks on the market today. From small startups to large corporations and enterprises, companies that use Ruby on Rails as well as many companies and development teams choose to adopt the flexibility and simplicity of the technology to build their websites and applications.

What is the Ruby programming language?

Ruby is a high-level interpreted programming language created in the mid-1990s by Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto , a computer scientist and programmer from Japan. Ruby was intended to remain simple and easy to learn, while also being flexible and powerful enough to handle complex programming tasks. It is an object-oriented language, which means that everything in Ruby is treated as an object and is dynamically typed, which means that variables have the ability to change their type at runtime.

One of Ruby's main features is its emphasis on readability and simplicity. Ruby code is often described as “elegant” or “beautiful” because it is easy to read and understand, even for people who are new to programming. The language achieves this by using a syntax designed to be as close to natural language as possible. For example, instead of using parentheses and semicolons to separate statements, Ruby uses a more natural syntax based on indentation and keywords.

Another important feature of Ruby is its flexibility. Ruby is a highly dynamic language, which means that developers can change the behavior of the language itself, as well as the behavior of individual objects, at runtime. This makes it possible to create complex, highly customizable programs that can adapt to changing circumstances.

Ruby is also known for its extensive library of pre-built code called gems. Gems are packages of code that can be easily added to a Ruby program to provide additional functionality such as database access, web development tools, and more. There are thousands of gems available for Ruby, which means developers can quickly and easily build complex programs without having to write all the code from scratch.

One of the most popular uses for Ruby is web development. Ruby on Rails, or simply Rails, is a popular web development framework built on top of Ruby. Rails provides a set of conventions and tools that make it easy to build web applications quickly and efficiently. Developers know that Rails emphasizes convention over configuration, which means developers can spend less time configuring their applications and more time building them.

Ruby is a flexible, dynamic and elegant programming language that is easy to learn and use. With its focus on readability and simplicity, as well as its extensive library of pre-built code and popular web development framework, Ruby is a great choice for developers of all levels who want to build powerful, customizable programs quickly and efficiently. .

Why use Ruby on Rails?

• Fast development time: Ruby on Rails allows developers to build web applications quickly and efficiently, thanks to its set of conventions and pre-built code. This saves time and resources for companies and startups.
• Easy to learn: Ruby on Rails has a simple and intuitive syntax that is easy to learn, making it a great option for beginners looking to start web development.
• Extensive gem library: Ruby on Rails has a vast library of pre-built code, or gems, that can be easily added to web applications to provide additional functionality. This can save time and effort for developers who don't want to write all their code from scratch.
• Scalability: Ruby on Rails is scalable, which means it can handle large and complex web applications with ease. This makes it a great option for businesses and organizations that need to create applications that can grow and adapt over time.
• Convention over configuration: Based on the principle of “convention over configuration”, RoR developers have the ability to spend less time configuring their applications and more time building them. This leads to faster development times and fewer errors.
• Active community: Ruby on Rails has a large and active community of developers who contribute to the framework and provide support to others. This means that developers can get help and advice from others in the community, as well as contribute to the development of RoR.
• Security: Ruby on Rails has built-in security features that help protect web applications against common security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. This can help ensure the security and privacy of user data.

Ruby on Rails is a highly useful framework with many benefits for a wide range of applications. A significant number of companies employ their own in-house RoR specialist.

The History of Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails, commonly known as Rails, is a popular web application framework built on top of the Ruby programming language. Rails was created in 2003 by David Heinemeier Hansson a Danish programmer who was working on a web application project for his company, Basecamp.

Hansson realized there was a need for a more efficient way to build web applications and decided to create a new framework that would make developing complex web applications easier and faster. He released the first version of Rails as open source software in 2004, and it quickly gained popularity among web developers.

Rails utilized a number of principles that were new at the time, such as convention rather than configuration, which meant that developers could spend less time configuring their applications and more time building them. Rails also introduced a new way of handling database access called Active Record, which made working with databases easier and reduced the amount of code needed to access them.

In 2006, the first RailsConf took place, which brought together developers from all over the world to discuss the framework and share their experiences. Rails continued to gain popularity, and by 2008 it was being used by many major web applications, including Twitter, Hulu, and Shopify.

Over the years, Rails has continued to evolve and improve, with new features and improvements added with each new version. Rails 3, released in 2010, introduced a number of important changes, including a new way of dealing with middleware and a new asset pipeline for managing JavaScript and CSS files.

Today, Rails is one of the most popular web application frameworks in the world and continues to be constantly used by developers of all levels to build complex, scalable web applications quickly and efficiently.

Sites that use Ruby on Rails to great effect

There are many companies that use Ruby on Rails including:

#1Twitter

Twitter , without a doubt, is one of the most recognized names in the social media industry. The microblogging platform is widely recognized as the most prominent example of a RoR website. The company initially used a combination of jQuery and RoR to build the platform, which allowed developers to create a fully functional product in a short amount of time.

Despite a brief period of using Scala as a backend, Twitter still relies heavily on Ruby for its day-to-day operations. The platform's Ruby-based backend supports multiple functionalities such as robust search engine, content caching, and data processing.

In fact, Twitter is often credited with popularizing the RoR framework. It was one of the first major websites to use the framework, and its success helped establish RoR as an ideal choice for building web applications.

Twitter's use of Ruby on Rails has also had a significant impact on the framework itself. The platform's developers have contributed countless improvements and features to the Rails codebase over the years, and the Rails community has benefited from the platform's scalability and reliability.

Overall, Twitter's history with RoR is a testament to the power and versatility of the framework. It allowed the company to build a hugely successful platform, used by millions of people around the world, and continues to be a fundamental part of its infrastructure to this day.

#2 Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce solutions in use today and uses Ruby on Rails to streamline the online store development process. By adopting RoR, developers can work more efficiently and effectively, providing a better user experience to customers.

Through Shopify, developers can access a variety of libraries and services built on RoR, helping to speed up online store development. For example, the Rails Engine and generators allow developers to create RoR applications that incorporate the Shopify API, allowing them to create highly customized online stores.

Additionally, Shopify has created a POS app SDK that is highly regarded in the industry. Through this SDK, developers can create point-of-sale applications that can be embedded in an online store. Shopify has even published a POS-integrated app that uses RoR, showcasing the versatility and power of this language in e-commerce development.

Additionally, by using RoR, developers are able to manage complex databases and server-side applications easily and effectively. Ruby on Rails also allows developers to create responsive and scalable web applications that can handle high levels of traffic and user demand. As such, it's no surprise that RoR is now a reference language for many ecommerce companies looking to create robust, user-friendly online stores.

#3 GitHub

Anyone familiar with web and app development is already familiar with GitHub . This platform is widely considered to be the most popular software hosting service and has a huge open source library. In fact, more than 1.8 million companies, software development companies, and startups currently use GitHub to store and manage their code.

One of GitHub's main strengths is its community of software developers, which has grown to nearly 40 million members. This community is incredibly active, having contributed to over 100 million repositories on the platform. As a result, GitHub has become an invaluable resource for developers of all levels, providing access to a wealth of knowledge and experience.

In terms of the technology behind GitHub, Ruby on Rails is a crucial component. In fact, almost all of the code that powers it uses RoR as its base. This powerful and versatile framework allowed GitHub developers to create an easy-to-use and highly functional platform.

In August 2019, GitHub released version 6.0 of Ruby on Rails. This update represented a significant milestone for the platform as it introduced a number of new features and improvements that improved the overall user experience. As a result, GitHub remains one of the most popular and widely used software hosting services in the world and is an essential tool for developers looking to build and manage their code.

#4 Airbnb

Airbnb 's UX/UI design is a standout feature of the company, connecting travelers in need of accommodation with hosts who are willing to rent out their apartments or rooms.

Ruby on Rails, as well as several other technologies, power the Airbnb system. The skilled team of developers who built the site used a variety of libraries, such as Raven.js, Moment.js, and React.js, to create an intuitive and seamless user experience. Thanks to these powerful tools and technologies, Airbnb has become one of the most popular and widely used hosting services in the world, with a reputation for excellence in both design and functionality.

#5 Hulu

Hulu is a video streaming platform that is currently only available in the United States. While it may not be as big as HBO Go or Netflix, it is quickly gaining popularity thanks to the regular release of new and exciting shows.

Despite being limited to a single country, the platform has approximately 28 million active subscribers, a testament to the quality and appeal of its content.

From the beginning, Hulu has relied on Ruby on Rails to power its platform, and the framework has proven to be a perfect fit for the company's needs. Using RoR helped speed development and ensure the platform is stable and easy to use. As a result, Hulu has established itself as a major player in the video streaming industry, and its popularity is expected to continue growing in the coming years.

#6 Fiverr

Fiverr is an online platform that offers freelance services. With a simple interface, the platform allows users to buy or sell services quickly and easily, starting from just $5. Fiverr offers a wide range of services, including graphic design, web development, digital marketing, UX/UI design and mobile development. Its technology stack features a combination of Ruby on Rails and other technologies such as jQuery, Python, and React.

#7 Base Camp

As the Rails user base exploded from 45 accounts in 2004 to over 2 million in 2016, the Rails framework has proven to be a vital component in scaling the platform effectively and efficiently. Basecamp's team of skilled developers, well-versed in the Rails framework, was able to leverage its power and flexibility to create a stable and reliable platform that could meet the demands of millions of users.

In addition to providing a robust and scalable foundation for Basecamp, Ruby on Rails has also played a significant role in the success of many other web applications and services.

As one of the most popular web development frameworks in use today, RoR continues to drive innovation and growth in the technology industry. Its impact on Basecamp and the broader web development community is a testament to the strength and flexibility of this powerful framework.

Conclusion

Ruby on Rails continues to prove to be a powerful and versatile web development framework used by some of the web's most successful and innovative companies. The success of these famous RoR sites demonstrates the framework's ability to allow developers to build robust, scalable web applications quickly and easily, focusing on building features and functionality that users want.

Ruby on Rails' emphasis on clean, readable code and convention over configuration has made it possible for developers to build web applications more efficiently. Whether building a social media platform, an e-commerce store, or a project management tool, RoR provides a solid foundation for building complex web applications.

As the web continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, it's clear that Ruby on Rails will continue to play a vital role in the future of web development. For both experienced developers and those just starting out, Ruby on Rails offers a flexible and powerful framework that will continue to meet the needs of developers and users for years to come.

If you liked this, be sure to check out our other Ruby articles.

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• Why Ruby on Rails is the best choice for eCommerce development