In 1995, Ruby emerged as a top-tier programming language, known for its C-style syntax and interpreter. Matsumoto Yukihiro, a software engineer from Japan, was Ruby’s main developer and visionary, earning the nickname “Matz”.
In the 1990s, Ruby was a flagship language for programming efficiency. Matsumoto created Ruby to be easy for everyone to use, just like languages such as JavaScript and Python.
Matsumoto intended Ruby to be an object-oriented language, drawing inspiration from Perl. However, unbeknownst to him, it would go on to become an influential tool in web development.
Ruby on Rails Emerges.
A decade after Ruby’s debut, David Heinemeier Hansson leveraged his experience in creating the project management software Basecamp to build Rails, a server-side web application framework founded on the Ruby programming language.
In 2006, Apple’s proclamation that MacOS X 15 would include Ruby on Rails was a crucial turning point for the framework, bringing it to the forefront of developers’ attention. Following this event, many developers began to adopt Rails as the bedrock for their web applications, ushering in widespread recognition of its capabilities.
Released around the same time as Django, this Python-based framework was created with the goal of equipping developers with an array of tools for rapid construction of web applications, albeit with some limitations on customization. This development philosophy is not unlike the ‘Do It Yourself’ approach.
Ruby, the programming language, is celebrated for its comprehensibility and user-friendliness, enabling non-developers to comprehend the fundamental principles of a Ruby script. Rails fully harnesses these benefits and more.
Rails has proven to be a powerful backend solution, as evidenced by the likes of Airbnb, GitHub, Hulu, Shopify, and Zendesk all adopting it for their popular sites. Built over 16 years, the platform has amassed a significant user base and a host of useful tools, positioning it as a formidable contender among competing frameworks.
Ruby on Rails’s success can be attributed in part to the framework’s ease of use, with numerous developers selecting it as their go-to platform. This claim is upheld by the findings of the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, indicating that Rails is no longer a novel technology but rather a well-established and universally accepted one.
Is Rails Losing Relevance?
Considerable advancements have been achieved over the past sixteen years, particularly with Python 3.0, released in 2008, that included significant language modifications to improve its readability and user-friendliness. As a result, frameworks such as Django and Flask, which are built on Python, have gained traction and become more widespread.
NodeJS, with JavaScript being one of the most prevalent programming languages, has emerged as a robust competitor to Ruby on Rails. The advent of the V8 engine has made it the preferred choice for back-end systems.
Ruby is a widely adopted and persistently evolving language, buoyed by its passionate community. Yet, one must ponder the prospect of Ruby enduring without the backing of its formidable framework, Rails.
A Look at the Ruby Programming Language
With a plethora of possible applications, Ruby is a scripting language that is comparable in ability to Python. Although Python is quicker and consumes fewer resources, many developers prefer Ruby for its appealing aesthetics and user-friendliness.
The design philosophy of Ruby is founded on a concise collection of essential principles:
People-centric approach:
According to Matsumoto, having programmers replicate computer logic is unpleasant and unnatural. He proposes that computer languages should aim to simulate human thought and language as closely as possible, making tasks easier for programmers.Minimize surprise factor:
Nearly all programmers agree that Ruby adheres well to this guideline. The language should not be unexpected, with code written in simple terms and outcomes foreseeable.Celebrating the joys of programming:
Matsumoto contends that developers are the happiest when they can focus on the artistic aspect of programming. Ruby is designed with this in mind, offering multiple solutions to a problem, akin to Perl.
Comparing Ruby and Python Programming Languages
Ruby contends with significant competition from Python, celebrated for its user-friendly aspects and thriving developer community. Python is one of the most sought-after programming languages in its class, making it a challenging competitor for Ruby.
Popularity does not always indicate quality. The appeal of Ruby lies in its adaptability and pliable structure. In a nutshell, Python is more user-friendly, while Ruby is more intricate, albeit with a steeper learning curve.
Programming with Python can feel restrictive, whereas Ruby offers more leeway; for example, strings are unchangeable in Ruby, while Python permits manipulation. This slight contrast between the two languages underscores their fundamental disparities.
Ruby’s robust backing of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) makes it an appealing selection for OOP enthusiasts. Despite having classes, inheritance, and methods, Python, on the other hand, does not have good encapsulation.
Python boasts an extensive and active development community, whereas Ruby’s community, though possibly slower, is more dependable and steady. It would be unfair to say Ruby is superior based solely on its community producing better tools; however, Ruby’s libraries tend to have fewer bugs.
Ruby: The Language that Impresses from the Start
Ruby is more than just a language for web programming, and is now an excellent option for prototyping and showcasing proof of concept during the early stages of software development. This does not indicate a language of inferior quality; it is, in fact, highly esteemed.
Quick prototyping necessitates a codebase that is easy to read and can be easily altered to accommodate fresh ideas. In such situations, Ruby proves to be a fitting language, permitting speedy creation of brief scripts or projects that may require frequent modifications.
While not counted among the most widely used programming languages, Ruby’s devoted user base continues to preserve its presence and actively endorses its potential as a viable alternative to the dominant languages in the industry.
