What makes Ruby on Rails an Enduring Web Development Framework in 2019?
When it comes to web development, there is only one name that an expert would give you and that is Rails. Ruby on Rails, is a popular web framework among developers. Even a beginner gets the hang of Rails within a few weeks into learning, and this is what has been driving its popularity among budding web developers. The Rails community is a reliable group of people, to whom a developer could turn for help anytime, and it is this fraternity that keeps Ruby on Rails going.
But what makes Ruby on Rails significant in 2019 is the simplicity of the Ruby language in coding. Ruby has added a real feather into the Rails’ cap. Now, suppose you want to print on the web browser screen the words “Ruby is Red So Is Wine.”
If you go for a language like PHP, the code will look something like this : echo “Ruby is Red So Is Wine”; And a Ruby code will be: puts “Ruby is Red So Is Wine.”
Notice the simplicity of the “puts” command and how the ominous semicolon is missing in Ruby. Now imagine writing codes for days with this and many more complex command styles. Ruby will be a natural and logical choice for many, as it appears more like the spoken - language.
Besides this, there are a plethora of reasons which makes Ruby on Rails popular among web developers. One such factor is the ability of Rails to get things done with fewer codes. Rails are the right fit for the beginners. The experiences from workshops conducted by Rail Girls non-profit group volunteering to help women understand technology shows that Rails is a very convenient way to make an entry into programming.
Origin of the language
Now talking about its origin, Ruby on Rails is the brainchild of a Danish Programmer David Heinemeier Hansson . He is well known among developers for bringing out some phenomenal frameworks for the web-applications. His principles are like the Commandments among the developers, and many new creative structures have also emerged taking a cue from them.
The guidelines provided by Heinemeier has inspired other developers to create frameworks like Laravel, which is a PHP framework. Laravel is also one of the favorites among developers.
You will be astonished to know that some of the big names in the field of social media like Instagram, Twitter took their baby steps through web application frameworks. Instagram came through Pythons framework Django and Twitter came up through Ruby on Rails 2006.
Many other web development companies like Basecamp and the online marketplace and hospitality company Airbnb have all found their way into the hall of fame through web application frameworks. Other than Laravel, there is Express JS, Ruby on Rails, Django, etc.
Rails web framework provides an alternative to the coding of overlong, repetitive process. The Rails community forms a close-knit group complementing the work of one another and making life very easy for web developers.
Latest features in Rails 6.0 version
Rails 6.0 is another reason to look forward to in 2019. The Rails 6.0 Beta 1 pack a prelude to the original version. The two remarkable features in the new version viz. Active Record and Action view has already doubled the excitement surrounding the release of the Rails 6.0. Following are the latest features and advantages it brings to web development :
#1 MVC architecture
MVC architecture calls for the division of software into three components viz. Model, View, Controller.
The Model is the head or the brain of the software and consists of app data and rules. The View component has all the ingredients for the user interface, and it consists of the colour, the layout, fields, etc. It is the presentation layer. The Controller handles the communication between the user and the model. The interface will be enabling the interaction.
This architecture of Ruby on Rails enables complex applications to blend easily with new ideas and utility because it separates the user interface and software logic. Hence the changes in one can be brought out without disturbing the other.
#2 The DRY principle
It happens that when you are writing code which executes identical functions, you may copy and paste the code without realizing the minute differences. It is more so when a large group of programmers is involved. The repetition is evil as it causes bugs later on. Ruby on Rails follows the DRY principle in its internal architecture and thus avoids this pitfall in programming.
#3 It follows Convention over Configuration
It reduces the number of decisions that the software needs to make. It reduces or eliminates the need for any additional configuration thus speeding up the development process, consistency of code and its maintenance.
#4 Provides scope for Test Automation
It allows inbuilt testing without third party dependence. Thus Ruby on Rails makes it easy for creating prototypes for clients, which makes it very attractive for business. It has mainly three environments- development, test, production.
#5 Speeds up web development
Since Rails is standing on Ruby, it can leverage its object-oriented nature. It allows communication with the database, provides a template for page sections and layouts and runs a multitude of plugins to make things easy for programmers. Another feature of Rails that expedite web development is that it makes reuse of codes easy; thus you can make iterations and experiment without much ado.
#6 A prudent choice budget wise
The most excellent feature of Ruby on Rails is that it is an open source framework. When we consider the amount of work that Ruby on Rails can perform, it is one among the top cost-efficient web development frameworks.
#7 Ideal for startups
Its simplicity and flexibility make it attractive for startups, and the open source feature, its ability to teach new ideas without a complete transformation of the whole process makes it simple for startups.
Further, the time it takes to market is very less. There are many famous companies from diverse industries which thrive on Rails like Square in the finance sector, Etsy in e-commerce and Slideshare and many more.
#8 Maintenance and editing are simple
Its predictability and simplicity help modify existing codes easily. So it is easy to maintain and edit. It is easier to manage by third companies or other developers. Hence if you lose a team member to illness or any other unfortunate causes, it won’t be a problem.
#9 Universality
Earlier Ruby on rails was very limited in its application. But now Rails is diversifying to advertising, back-end for mobile application development , content management systems, e-commerce, and e-learning, FinTech, etc.
#10. Additional features in Rails 6.0
Following are some of the additional features in Rails 6.0:
The Active record feature is a new addition which will provide the connection switching support.
- Action mailbox; it offers a range of tools to integrate applications and inbound email flows.
Action review helps to add allocations to get the depth of time spent in collecting objects in process’ memory.
Action Cable, Active storage, Active Model, etc. are some other updates in the coming version.
The swiftness in making the prototype and thus influencing clients and investors will continue to make the Ruby on Rails an attractive framework for budding developers. The Rails community with innovative documentation solves most of the common issues that the developers face. The back-end approach of Ruby in developing web apps and websites unlike HTML, CSS which are front end based makes it one of a kind. With the release of Rails 6.0 on the anvil, the future is all bright for Ruby on Rails.
Finally, Ruby on Rails stands the test of time and continues to be one of the most sought after the framework for web-development among startups and big enterprises alike. The unique features of Rails continue to give it a unique place in the hearts of developers.