Ruby on Rails, often abbreviated as Rails, is an open-source framework for Web development written in Ruby. It was introduced in 2004 by David Heinemeier Hansson and has since had a major impact on the world of Web development. Rails is designed to help developers build powerful Web applications quickly and efficiently.
Rails uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, which provides a structured and organized way of developing. In addition, there are some principles that make Rails unique:
Convention over Configuration (CoC): Rails enforces a set of conventions so that developers spend less time on configuration.
Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY): Rails encourages reusable code, which increases efficiency and reduces errors.
Automation: Many tasks such as database migrations and code generation are handled automatically, allowing developers to focus on the core functionality of their application.
Rails quickly became popular because of its speed and ease of use. Many startups and companies chose Rails because it allowed them to quickly develop and test MVPs (Minimum Viable Products). Well-known platforms such as GitHub, Airbnb and Shopify are built with Ruby on Rails.
Ruby on Rails has long been a favorite among Web developers, but with the rise of other frameworks such as Django (Python) and Node.js, the question arises: is Ruby on Rails still relevant?
Rails was designed with a number of core principles that make Web application development more efficient as mentioned before:
Convention over Configuration (CoC)
Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY)
Automation
Fast development: Built-in tools and conventions allow developers to build Web applications quickly.
Large community: There is a strong, active community that regularly releases updates and new gems (libraries).
Stable and reliable: Rails has proven itself as a solid framework with years of practical experience.
Many available gems: RubyGems offer a huge amount of ready-to-use solutions to common problems.
Performance: Rails is not as fast as some other frameworks such as Node.js or Go, especially for very large applications.
Hosting and scalability: Although Rails is scalable, it can be more expensive to host and maintain compared to lighter alternatives.
Popularity declined: Many new projects choose alternatives such as JavaScript-based frameworks, making Rails less likely to be the first choice.
Although Rails is not as dominant as it once was, it is still being actively used and maintained. Many companies with existing Rails applications continue to use and improve the framework. Rails is not “dead,” but has competition from more modern technologies.
To properly understand Rails, it is important to know its technical structure. Rails is a full-stack framework and uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern.
Rails applications are based on the following three components:
Model: Manages the database and business logic.
View: Contains the front-end presentation of the application.
Controller: Processes requests, retrieves data through the model and passes it to the view.
This pattern provides a clear separation between data, logic and view, making the codebase uncluttered and manageable.
In addition to its core structure, Rails integrates with several technologies:
HTTP servers and request handling: Rails can run on servers such as Puma and Unicorn to handle requests.
JavaScript integration: Rails supports JavaScript frameworks such as Stimulus and Hotwire for interactive front-ends.
Web services and APIs: Rails makes it easy to build and integrate RESTful APIs.
CSS and templates in Rails: Views in Rails use ERB (Embedded Ruby) for dynamic content, and CSS frameworks such as Tailwind or Bootstrap can be easily integrated.
Deploying a Rails application can be done in several ways:
Heroku: Popular for fast deployments without complex server configurations.
Docker & Kubernetes: For larger applications that require scalability and containerization.
Cloud platforms: AWS, Google Cloud and DigitalOcean offer support for Rails apps.
In addition, Rails applications typically follow Ruby's own version control, with LTS (Long-Term Support) versions being recommended for stability.
Rails is popular for different types of applications, from startups to large enterprises.
Rails is often used for:
Startups: Rapid MVP development and iteration.
E-commerce: Shopify, one of the largest e-commerce platforms, is built on Rails.
SaaS platforms: Web applications such as Basecamp and GitHub have a strong Rails architecture.
Enterprise software: Many internal enterprise applications use Rails because of its productivity and robustness.
Many large companies have used Ruby on Rails to develop their platforms quickly and efficiently. Here are some well-known names that have embraced Rails:
GitHub - One of the largest code hosting platforms. Ruby on Rails helped GitHub grow rapidly and build a solid infrastructure for developers worldwide.
Airbnb - Initially developed in Rails, later migrated to other technologies. Rails offered a quick start, but Airbnb later switched to other technologies to improve scalability.
Shopify - One of the best-known e-commerce platforms, still runs on Rails. The flexibility of Rails allows Shopify to support and extend millions of online shops.
Basecamp - The creators of Ruby on Rails are still using the framework for their products. Basecamp proves how effective and sustainable Rails can be for project management software.
Although the popularity of Ruby on Rails has declined, it remains a powerful framework for Web development. Especially startups and companies looking to quickly launch a Web application can benefit from the speed and simplicity offered by Rails.
For whom is Ruby on Rails still a good choice?
Startups that want to quickly develop an MVP.
Companies that already have an existing Rails codebase.
Developers who want to use an elegant and well-structured framework.
Ruby on Rails may not be the first choice for new projects, but it remains a solid and reliable technology.
Ruby is a programming language, while Ruby on Rails is a Web framework built on Ruby. Ruby itself is used for various types of software development, while Rails is specifically for Web applications.
Yes, although its popularity has declined, Ruby on Rails is still used by many companies, especially for rapid Web development. It is a solid choice if you are looking for a stable and well-documented framework.
Major companies such as GitHub, Shopify, Airbnb and Basecamp have (partially) built their platforms with Ruby on Rails, showing that the framework still has value in the industry.
