Why Ruby on Rails is far from dead

Let me back you back to 1995 for a minute. NASA’s Galileo spacecraft touched down on Jupiter, Ebay made its internet debut, and Amazon.com sold its first ever book. It was into this world of fresh promise that a high-level programming language known as Ruby was born from the mind of Japanese developer Yukihiro Matsumoto. Although it didn’t cause much of a stir in the tech world at the time, that all changed a decade later when Ruby on Rails was created by David Heinemeier Hasson – a full-stack, open-source framework which would finally propel Ruby into popular usage.

Maybe 2005 seems like a long time ago, and perhaps 1995 sounds like ancient history. In the tech sector, decades may as well be millennia – web development technologies advance rapidly, and frameworks quickly become outdated. It’s perhaps for this reason that some have been asking if Ruby on Rails is dead. Well, I’m here to tell you that the answer is categorically – no.

Common Criticisms of Ruby on Rails

Sure, I’m an advocate, but I’m not blind to the criticisms of RoR. Let’s run through some of the common reasons the framework comes under fire, and why I feel such criticism is misplaced.

Complex syntax. Despite RoR looking simple on the surface, one line of code can perform lots of actions, or address other libraries and tools, which means some junior developers have difficulties getting to grips with it straightaway. However, more experienced developers usually admire how simple RoR’s syntax is.

Slow performance. It’s true that RoR can be a little slower than other frameworks, and take a little more time to execute compared to compiled programming technologies like C++. However, while it may be slow in terms of performance, it’s fast in terms of MVPs and prototype development speed.

Scalability issues. While some claim RoR isn’t scalable enough, this is only really an issue for junior developers or those inexperienced in the framework. After all, Shopify is able to scale and support over 50,000 businesses at a time using RoR!

Now, let’s dive into (just a few) of the reasons I believe Ruby on Rails will stand the test of time!

Popularity. We’ve already mentioned Shopify, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to big names who utilise the framework within their applications. Twitter is perhaps the most popular example – the website was built with jQuery and Ruby on Rails, enabling the platform’s creators to build a fully functioning product in a very brief period. Although Twitter has since been rewritten using Scala, Ruby is still a part of its back end. Etsy also uses RoR to maintain its database and carry out system integrations, and Shopify uses RoR to address 80,000 requests per second! With companies like these being such big fans, I think it’s clear RoR isn’t going away anytime soon.

Convenience. Quick web development, readable syntax and immeasurable built-in solutions make Rails a top choice for convenience every time. Ruby is a language that’s committed to productivity, and great for those who like to make applications without writing endless lines of code. Competitors will continue to arise, but few will challenge RoR’s sheer practicality. Additionally, due to its open-source nature, its changes and improvements are available to all, meaning it’s easy to keep up with the latest innovations.

Community. RoR is a framework that’s always evolving, which is evident by the active communities on platforms like Stack Overflow and GitHub who discuss problems as well as share tips and tricks. This means it’s super easy for budding developers to learn, and when an issue is encountered, chances are it’s already been solved for you!

Agile development. A major reason many of the startups I work with choose to use Ruby on Rails is that it allows web applications to be developed efficiently, quickly, and often under budget. Not only that, it’s easily scalable, meaning a business’s digital assets can be quickly grown when the need arises.

Maturity. Rails is tried and tested. It’s been around the block a few times. As much as I hate to say it, maybe it’s not even cool anymore. However, in the tech world, this is an asset, as practicality and reliability will always win over novelty in the end. Despite how long it’s been around, nothing has come to steal its crown yet – to me, that speaks volumes.

A strong adherence to standards. Applications made with RoR are expected to follow established software design paradigms, leading to better code readability and making it much easier for novices to learn. For example, users are encourages to avoid code duplication and create abstractions instead, and utilise a specific way of accessing data in the database.?

Hard, cold stats. The buzz around newer and fresher frameworks and technologies may make it seem like Ruby on Rails is no longer present in the debate, but statistics confirm it’s still one of the most relevant and well-loved frameworks, with 49.3% of developers wanting to continue to develop with it according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey from 2020.

Ultimately, my TL;DR conclusion is that Ruby on Rails is far from dead. Sure, it’s not going to be making any headlines in the tech world in 2023, but then neither is the toaster, and most of us would be lost without it. Thanks to its modular approach to code, convenience, agility, and ready-to-develop components, I believe we’ll continue to see RoR as one of the most popular choices for application frameworks well into 2025 and beyond.

Looking for a Ruby on Rails specialist, or on the hunt for your next Ruby on Rails role? At GR4, we work with Europe’s most exciting startups and scaleups to discover and place top tech talent. For a confidential discussion, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me on [email protected].?