Ruby has been known pretty well in the world of software development.
However, people have still questioned whether Ruby can compete with Python as an all-purpose language in software development.
What Is Ruby In Software Development?
Ruby is a general-purpose, high-level programming language that was developed during the 1990s. Used for building web applications, it is pretty similar to Python.
Additionally, it also includes several other features, including prototyping and data analysis. Ruby is an interpreted language written in C.
Furthermore, Matsumoto Yukihiro developed it as it was initially a part of the zeitgeist that became popular during the late 19th century.
The main aim was to create a better experience for web developers. Therefore, research has shown that 380,996 websites have been built using Ruby in rails in 2021.
Yukihiro wanted to develop a language that was easier to read and was less involved. The goal was pretty common to JavaScript and Python, which were developed during the same time.
Ruby was initially pictured as an object-based scripting language. It was envisioned to fit the same space as Perl. However, Yukihiro did not expect Ruby to become a success in the world of web development.
A few years after Ruby was initially launched and released to the public, Hanson came up with the server-side web application framework known as Rails on Basecamp’s project management tool.
Rails did not notice until 2006 when Apple announced they would incorporate Ruby On Rails in the MacOS X15.
This significant turning point at ruby produced an entire generation of developers who adopted it as a solution for their web applications.
The main idea was to give developers tools that would help them create web applications quickly and effortlessly.
Ruby is a straightforward and understandable programming language. Give ay non-developer an easy Ruby script, and they will be able to grasp an idea of what the language is trying to establish.
This has become one of the biggest strengths Ruby.
Moreover, Rails has become a backend solution for some of the most popular website pages, such as Airbnb, GitHub, Hulu, and Shopify.
With years of continuous development, the resources and community of Ruby are showing steady growth.
As a result, it is expected to become the most compatible framework in the web development market. Right now, there are over 160k open-source libraries available that are programmed by ruby.
Since Ruby was straightforward to use, It set the programming language apart from its rival programming languages and adopted this framework.
However, despite the success, a recent study has shown that Rails is running out of popularity.
Are Rails Running Out Of Popularity?
Python 3.0 was first released in 2008 that revamped many elements of the language for its ease of use and readability.
Due to this reason, Python became extremely popular with widespread adoption. Moreover, it became widespread for developers to use this language in python-based frameworks like the minimalist flask.
One of the biggest competition for Ruby On Rails is the NodeJS programming language. During that time, JavaScript was one of the most popular programming languages in the world.
Thanks to the V8 engine for allowing it to run outside of the browsers. It also has become a go-to backend solution for web developers all around the world.
While Rails is not as popular as before, it is not going out of sight anytime soon. Rails are actively developed and still widely used by software developers.
It has created a strong community that is initiating its adoption.
The Workings Of Ruby As A Programming Language
Ruby is an all-purpose programming language. It can do almost anything that Python can do.
While Python is considered faster and utilizes lesser memory to run smoothly, it’s still an exquisite language for most developers. Moreover, it is effortless to read and deal with.
Ruby has some essential elements underlying its choice for design.
A Keen Focus On Humans
Matsumoto believes that humans have to work like machines to create code is very unnatural. On the other hand, programming languages exist and work naturally, just like humans speak and perform everyday actions.
In short, he says that a programming language must make the life of a developer easy.
A Way Of Least Shock
Software developers believe that Ruby fits this statement perfectly. Learning something new using Ruby as a programming language must be the less surprising thing any developer has ever experienced.
In simpler words, it means that a programming language must be accessible and transparent enough so that you are aware of the consequences when running a specific code related to that language.
The Happiness Of Programming
It must not be denied that creativity breeds freedom, and Matsumoto strongly believes that developers are most happy when they work on the creative side of writing a code.
Nevertheless, Ruby is created keeping creativity and uniqueness in mind. One of the most vital points of Ruby is that it offers several solutions for the same problem than just providing a single one.
Python Vs. Ruby: A Tough Competition
Since Ruby shares the same space as one of Python’s most popular programming languages, it has it pretty rough.
However, it is still regarded as a language that is easy to grasp and has a broad community backing it up. Being famous does not necessarily mean being good.
Developers who think Ruby is a good programming language often talk about its flexibility and a loose structure. In simpler terms, Python is considered a straightforward language to use, while ruby has an elegant touch to it.
Ruby can be used in places where using Python becomes difficult. For example, it can become more flexible to use Ruby, whereas Python is a little rigid.
However, it is not a very big difference but a very transparent case of each language’s philosophies. Another strong point for Ruby is that it is entirely OOP, and Python is not.
Therefore, it does not support encapsulation even though it has a substantial inheritance and method.
The developer community of Python is awe-inspiring. On the other hand, even though Ruby takes longer to create new technologies and needs more consistency, it is more stable than Python.
Both Python and Ruby communities have created exceptional tools, but there are fewer possibilities of running into bugs with the libraries inside Ruby.
Is Ruby A Mock-Up Language?
Outside the era of web development, Ruby has gained a reputation of being a solid language to write mock-ups and prototypes. This might make Ruby sound like a second-class language, but that is not far from the truth.
Prototypes must be built quickly. Moreover, they need to be very simple and easy to use. This would require a code that is easy to modify and follow when newer ideas are tested. Since Ruby has so many strengths, it has become easier and quicker to write scripts and create programs that will be seeing a drastic change in a minimal amount of time.
While Ruby may not be on the top list of the most preferred programming languages, it still has a dedicated and robust community that keeps it alive in the software developing world.
Moreover, this community is spreading its love for the language and making it as popular as any other language in the market.
The Most Incredible Advantages Of Using Ruby On Rails
Here are some of the most important benefits of using Ruby:
Has Gained The Trust Of Developers
Ruby has become a legitimate choice for developing websites and web applications. It runs on Linux and is 100% free. Therefore, from a developer’s perspective, ruby is extremely easy to work with.
In addition, it can save much time since it has a ton of plugins available.
Easy To Maintain
Moreover, creating and maintaining a website with Ruby is extremely easy. It assures excellent quality and performance without spending much money.
With Ruby, you can easily modify the existing code and add newer features to the website. You can also make changes quickly and add new elements to the website even after it has launched.
Safe And Secure
Since it is very stable and predictable, it can be best used for long-term projects. In addition, there are several security measures included in the programming language by default.
This means, when you use Ruby, you are following a secure development lifecycle. As a result, the community of Ruby in Rails can easily spot new vulnerabilities.
Rails
The framework is developed well both officially and unofficially. Developers who create larger applications with lots of data and computation may experience lagging with rails, but this can be tackled easily by optimizing the code.
Rails have frontend and backend capabilities that can be used in web applications. These applications need robust and uninterrupted communication with the server to load a webpage smoothly. Single-page web applications can use rails for backend support.
Third-Party Usage
When combined with third-party libraries, Ruby becomes a precise language that allows you to develop features faster than ever.
As a result, it is known to be one of the most productive languages in the world of software programming.
Other Plus Points
Moreover, using Ruby saves time since the file storing process is highly standardized, keeping the project readable and structured.
Ruby is one of the most popular languages on the platform GitHub. The ruby community has several developers who constantly enhance code and serve it to others on their projects.
Ruby has an abundance of free plugins that allow you to customize a website according to the needs of the business.
Nevertheless, Rub is an efficient language and can produce exceptional outputs when appropriately used despite the decreasing popularity.
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