Advantages of Using Ruby on Rails for Web Development

One of the general-purpose scripting languages, Ruby was developed in the year 1995, almost two decades ago. Still, it is considered to be the fully object-oriented, dynamic ones among the top 10 programming languages. A beautiful aesthetic blend of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files in Ruby helps in shaping clean and high-quality web apps.

However, a decade later after its development, David Heinemeier Hansson took the Ruby programming language to the next level, with the addition of a powerful library while he was building Basecamp. He utilized the app’s foundational base to create building blocks for use in the future from which the Rails framework originated.

And now, we know how Ruby on Rails originated. The new version was versatile, adaptable, expandable, extensible and a part of the open-source industry. Over time, Ruby on Rails was enhanced with new functionalities and features, marking a great advancement in the future of web development.

Advantages of Ruby on Rails

Today, Ruby on Rails has emerged as one of the most preferred server-side web frameworks, which is one of the reasons why we have this article for you. If you would like to understand how it could be one of the best choices for your web development process, here, read this:

1. Built on Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architecture

This framework is built on the most popular design principle, the MVC architecture, which breaks complex systems into a simplified structure:

The MVC architecture comprises three interconnected layers, and speaking of the model – it includes a coding structure that is organized to take up application data. Now, it captures the business logic of the app and focuses all attention on this along with rules to deploy the app data.

Next comes the ‘view’, which comprises HTML files, which embeds the Ruby code, determining how users interact with the app, along with the data presentation to users in their preferred formats, such as RSS, PDF, HTML, XML, and others. Then, the controller connects models and views – it breaks down the requests received from the browser, and gets along with the model to process the request and finally, it reaches the view with instructions on how to display the requested information correctly to the user.

The web apps that are built using Ruby on Rails programming language have a well-defined structure, along with creating basic divisions across the layers, which define routes, controllers, models and bounded views within the framework. The MVC architecture is capable of maintaining and facilitating the decoupling and testing processes.

2. Ease of Use Comes Above Everything Else

The convention ousts configuration, which helps developers to save a lot of their time and effort. The framework is quite intuitive and knows very well what the developers are up to and very well know how it has to be done – which means the developers need not worry about the details of the configuration files. Now, developers can focus on other parts of the app since they need not spend too long a time worrying about the coding part, but still, the product arrives with the same quality.

3. There is no Iteration in the Process

This system is so well-suited for your development process that whenever there is a repetition of a particular functionality or information, the redundancy is eliminated. With this, there is no need for modification and all errors in the software development cycle are removed. This is mainly beneficial for complex websites, as it would be too tedious to repeat certain functionalities over and over again, but with this simple functionality, everything is taken care of.

4. Simple and Easy

Ruby on Rails has the advantages of the Ruby programming language. The syntax is in English, and this gives a native and logical feel to the developer as most parts of the code are English declarations. With this simple and readable syntax, Ruby developers can, in fact, do a lot with lesser code, as we discussed earlier. With this readability, you will find that Ruby is also self-documenting.

This means that developers need not write out separate comments or help text for understandability. Now, programmers or anyone else who is working on the project can take a look at one another’s code and understand what is actually going on across other parts of this project.

It is ok if you do not have a clear understanding of Ruby when using the Rails framework, however, you can learn Ruby in the process of understanding Rails. Even if you are a non-technical person, you can easily learn Ruby, in fact, it is much easier to pick up Ruby than most of the other programming languages. But if you have a clear picture of Python, then too, it is easier to grasp Ruby on Rails. There are a number of useful libraries and plugins within the Ruby programming language, which makes it easier for beginners to learn and understand this language with ease.

Not only is it easier to learn Ruby on Rails, but the framework also offers in-built solutions to some of the problems that most developers are faced with on a common basis. Some of the common benefits include modules, gems, and generators. In fact, for any virtual function that you are planning to use for your app, you can find a gem within the Ruby gem repository. Or you can always find help within the Ruby community and get experts to assist you with developing gem in no time. The framework has a set of rules and patterns, which further helps in the development of excellent, high-quality web apps.

Since it comes with a specific set of standards, developers need not spend time searching for a proper structure for their apps. There are a lot of conventions and assumptions that can be used to furnish certain tasks as Ruby on Rails is highly intuitive. Several tasks, such as code generation, naming, and organization of components, a structure of files, object-database mappers, and others are already in-built to make the process easier and simpler.

Again, you need not to worry about the maintenance of your web apps as the above-mentioned functionalities help in increasing productivity, as the same kind of structure is used in every app, it makes it easier to transit from one project to another, with no worries about a complex coding structure that never happens in Ruby.

5. Development Process is Easier

When compared with other popular frameworks, if you are using Ruby on Rails, the development time is minimized by 25 to 50%. The MVC of your project can go live may be within hours if an expert is working on it, though it won’t take long even if an amateur is working on it.

Not only is it due to the MVC structure, but the object-oriented part that helps in improving the speed of the web development process – the leaner code base, open-source code that is extensive and modular design is developed by the Rails community along with a wide range of in-built plugins that further make the development process easier. Since there is no need of writing all the code, and a powerful infrastructure helps the developers to avoid the unnecessary effort of developing the entire app from the scratch.

6. Save Money

Regardless of whether you are the business owner or the developer, the investment would never be a problem. In fact, when working with Ruby on Rails, you can, in fact, cut a lot of overhead costs. The framework is available for free and runs on Linux, which is again open source. This makes the developer’s job further easier. If you are using Microsoft Windows and Java for your projects, it is high time, you tried a transition from these to Linux and Ruby, and save a lot of your money.

7. Save Time

We have already discussed how MVC structure comes with a clean interface that makes the app development easier and saves a lot of time. Since there is no hardcore coding involved and with an easier learning curve, developers can master the language in no time and hence apply whatever they have learned along with the in-built functionalities of the language to develop a great product in no time.

8. Code Maintenance and Updates are Easier

The stability and predictability of Ruby on Rails are much easier than any other projects and we have been discussing this all along. It is easier to modify the existing code while also adding new features to the site is easier. This is the best option for a complex project but can be used for start-up or small projects.

In case, at any point of time, if you want to update the app or make changes to the code even after it has been developed and the project has gone online, but still the conventions within the project will help others in the team or new joiners to begin from the point where the other developers left it, without having to understand the entire project.

Do You Need Any More Reasons to Use Ruby on Rails for Your Project?

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