‘Ruby on Rails’ is a term frequently tossed around crowds belonging to the IT industry. Without a doubt, it is an excellent ecosystem for developing websites and applications that execute dynamic performance. So, what is the diameter of ‘Ruby on Rails’ and how is it comparable to paramount coding platforms like JavaScript, CSS, PHP and HTML? When you learn the answer, only then can you grasp the true essence and distinctiveness.

Hint: It is not merely a computer language or web framework, but in fact a combination of the two.

Introduction to Ruby

Ruby is an object-oriented general purpose programming language that originated during the 90s in Japan. The creator ‘Yukihiro Matsumoto’ was mainly inspired by languages like Perl/Smalltalk/Lisp, and wanted to make a dynamic version of his own.  Ruby was designed to make programming more fun + productive, and ultimately more user-friendly.

The name ‘Ruby’ was chosen to implicate that it is a gem of a language; also according to Wikipedia it was the birthstone of the founder’s dear colleague. As a scripting language it is simple, portable, complete and liberal.

Defining Rails/Ruby on Rails

Rails is a web application framework written in Ruby, hence commonly referred to as ‘Ruby on Rails’, or ROR. Like many other web frameworks, it features collections of code libraries that help developers save time by eliminating the need for repetitive tasks. ROR operates on the following two principles:

• Don’t Repeat Yourself – Every component/fragment must be represented in a way that it is prominent and self-regulatory. This way they will not have to be written again, making the system easier to manage and less prone to bugs.
• Convention over Configuration – Details and lengthy series of configurations are not required; appropriate actions are predefined and executed by default.

The Scope

Ruby on Rails has suffered tremendous rumors insisting it’s demise, yet we see it breathing and alive better than ever. Currently, it is being employed by hundreds of thousands of live websites, including big names like Airbnb, GitHub, SlideShare, SoundCloud and KickStarter. It is a common practice to learn HTML and CSS as a beginner in the programming field. Although these two are fundamental languages extensively utilized in front-end development, every app requires an equally competent back-end framework.

Back-end coding is responsible for controlling core functionalities of an app, and empowering the front-end experience. Ruby on Rails is an excellent choice for background development, even for beginners. Compared to languages like C, it is way easier to learn. One can actually master the basics within a day, and be capable of building elementary apps within a month. Despite being a readily readable language, it offers a lot to learn and creating complex applications will take time and practice.

The great thing about ROR is that it is a collaborative framework which is often integrated with HTML, CSS and JavaScript for the frond-end. Compared to other back-end languages, apps constructed with Ruby on Rails tend to be durable, requiring minimum maintenance and/or upgrades. It is great tool for developers to add in their list of skills because it’s community and support are huge.

Jobs for ROR developers are plentiful around the globe, as it is the preferred web framework for startups and basic/standard websites. Ruby works differently than fellow languages such as PHP, as in relying on commands that are closer to plain spoken language. It is independent of the superfluous semicolon (;) that is infamous for tormenting developers.