What is Ruby for?

May 30, 2024 Roberto Magalhães

Unlock the full potential of your web application with specialized development in Ruby on Rails. Create robust, scalable and secure websites tailored to your business needs.

Despite speculation that Ruby on Rails is in decline, it is actually very much alive and being used to develop many of today's most popular and robust platforms. This flexible structure is at the heart of popular online services like Shopify, Groupon, and Kickstarter.

Although software engineers using it may encounter certain challenges, Ruby on Rails development also offers many benefits. Here we discuss the pros and cons of using Ruby on Rails for software development, as well as the types of projects that are ideal for creating using Ruby on Rails.

What is Ruby on Rails?

Ruby has been a consistently popular general-purpose programming language since it was developed in the mid-1990s. Rails is a software library that extends the Ruby language. Taken together, Ruby on Rails is a back-end or server-side web application framework. Combines Ruby with JavaScript, HTML and CSS to develop web applications.

Software engineers appreciate Ruby on Rails because it is useful for building products through the minimum viable product (MVP) approach. Here are some other advantages of Ruby on Rails development that justify why RoR is used by popular services like Airbnb, GitHub, Hulu, and Basecamp:

Provides protection against popular web application attacks.
Includes a modular design and plugins for maximum flexibility.
Consistent structure and coding practices.
Largely self-documenting, making it easier for engineers to work on ongoing projects.
Engineers can create automated tests of code snippets.
Reduces development time and therefore software creation costs.
Active developer community.

Developers considering using Ruby on Rails should also consider the following disadvantages:

Some web hosts do not support Rails.
Limited availability of engineers (as other languages such as Java and PHP are more commonly used).
Rails applications are slower than those built with Java or C.

Ruby on Rails can be used in virtually every industry for a wide variety of projects, including those listed here.

#1 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Apps

If you want to build a custom customer relationship management (CRM) application, Ruby on Rails is a good platform choice for several reasons. You can build (or build) a CRM application cost-effectively as Ruby on Rails is well known and can be efficient during and after development, even as team members come and go.

Ruby on Rails development is also useful when building a CRM application because its versatility allows you to add unique functionality, such as a sophisticated behavior tracking component, based on how you prefer to interact with your customers. Engineers can use libraries and other tools to easily create these custom features. Also, it can help you add more custom features later.

#2 Software as a Service

Software-as-a-Service projects should be built to run on any system, and Ruby on Rails provides a good foundation for this style of software. Basecamp is an example of software as a service (SaaS) created using Ruby on Rails. This popular work tool allows teams to manage projects, communicate, and store files to stay organized and efficient. It's especially useful for dispersed teams.

For any project, the service includes a message board for posting updates and collecting feedback without needing to use email, a task list for assigning work and seeing status updates, a project timeline that shows important milestones and deadlines, and a “campfire”. ” which works like a chat room. Each project can have specific people assigned to it.

Additionally, because it uses ActiveRecord object-relational mapping (ORM) to describe each database request, Ruby on Rails can be used to create functionality for developing granular reports, spreadsheets, charts, and other database requests.

Because of this flexibility, you can experiment with various modules to determine which ones work best for your business model.

#3 Open source repository

One of the best-known Ruby on Rails projects is GitHub, a highly popular developer hub with millions of users. The site is a community where software engineers can post and receive answers to questions they have about their development projects. It uses a database that monitors and connects background data.

#4 Ecommerce

Ruby on Rails development can be used to build the necessary components for a robust eCommerce platform, including a strong database. Etsy is an example of an ecommerce platform built with Ruby on Rails. Etsy, which has millions of merchants and users, connects individual sellers of mostly handmade products with people who want to buy those items.

Like any good eCommerce site, it allows sellers to upload photos and descriptions, provide shipping, and collect payments. It allows shoppers to browse, search, explore “related items,” create a shopping cart, and post reviews.

#5 Social Media

With Ruby on Rails, you can create social media sites like Goodreads. This platform is similar to Facebook for bookworms, where users can review books they've read, view and comment on other people's reviews, and create a “to read” list. The site also includes other features, such as reading goals and integration with Amazon's Kindle software.

Twitter, an extremely popular social media site that allows users to post brief messages and respond to other people's comments, was also created using a combination of Ruby on Rails and jQuery, although it was later rewritten using Scala.

#6 Media Streaming

Hulu, later rewritten, was originally developed using Ruby on Rails, which is still used on the platform's backend to provide seamless functionality. Hulu is a media streaming platform that allows users to watch TV shows and movies on demand. Although not as popular as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, Hulu supports millions of active subscribers in the US

#7 Online Market

Airbnb is one of the most famous examples of successful applications created with Ruby on Rails development. The concept behind it is to connect travelers with “hosts” who have space to rent in their homes. This method offers an alternative to staying in hotels that can be more comfortable, convenient and less expensive.

Hundreds of millions of people use the site, which allows hosts to upload photos and descriptions as well as other information that can help travelers feel comfortable staying with them and collect information from travelers to ensure their own comfort as well. . The Ruby on Rails framework supports website performance and functionality.

Conclusion

In summary, Ruby on Rails is a versatile framework that works well for a wide range of projects. Its simplified code structure, scalability, and flexibility make it an excellent choice for developing multiple applications. Whether you're building a CRM system, a SaaS platform, or an open source project, Ruby on Rails provides a robust and efficient development environment to bring your ideas to life.

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