Agile Web Development with Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails (also known as RoR or simply Rails) is an object-oriented, multi-level, full-stack framework running via Ruby’s programming language. Many web developers choose to work in Ruby on Rails due to its numerous advantages.

Why do developers love RoR?

The best-known advantage of Ruby on Rails web development is the speed. A variety of handy instruments and Ruby’s support on the Rails community increase development speed by about 30-40%.

With Ruby on Rails, you get excellent built-in testing, caching, localization, validation, and deployment tools. And that’s not it. You also get an opportunity to customize the routing and titles of the website sections so that your projects always have simple and beautiful URLs. The database migration process is perfect in Rails. The database structure always stays in the repository, and every change in structure gets instantly documented.

Plus, the general rules of programming in Ruby on Rails are simple once you understand them. An RoR project looks very structured and readable. Safety in Rails is top-notch. An RoR developer will have to try hard to make a safety mistake working with Rails.

The advantages of RoR over PHP

Ruby on Rails developers are a lot more expensive than PHP developers; that’s a fact. But RoR developers are actually worth more because programming with Rails is not as simple and straightforward as PHP. It takes a qualified web developer who feels confident using other programming languages to learn to use RoR. The bar for entry to PHP is shallow, which is a good point for an aspiring web developer. But it also a big drawback. Over the years, PHP’s friendliness and simplicity have led to a lot of sloppy code writing. Of course, it’s not the PHP problem itself, and it’s the way developers use the language. But the fact remains.

An RoR beginner is usually an experienced developer who already knows how to code well using Java/C/PHP. Therefore bad code is out of the question. Sure, there are quite a few automated features that accelerate and simplify the development process. But calling Ruby on Rails simple is a big mistake. The entry point is very high, and the learning curve is very steep; it takes time and practice to learn to use Rails. But the development process is gratifying for an RoR developer, and the end product is of the highest quality, so Ruby on Rails is a win-win for both a client and a developer.

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