Ruby combines functional and imperative programming to create an easy-to-use, powerful language where everything is an object. Introduced in 1995, the open source programming language became popular in the 2000s during the dot-com era, when developers at startups and established companies were under pressure to rapidly launch new web applications.
Ruby on Rails, released in 2004, is a framework for Ruby that provides foundational structures for building and deploying web applications. Ruby on Rails enabled even faster development because it provided most of the nuts and bolts. Thanks to Rails, Ruby’s popularity continued to soar through the early 2010s. Among the many applications built with Ruby on Rails are Airbnb, Basecamp, Github, Hulu and Shopify.
Ruby on Rails took a backseat to JavaScript in the late 2010s, as rich front-end clients and single-page applications became more common. But even in these use cases, many developers continued to use it to rapidly build out an API layer built for Javascript front ends, in large part because Rails makes development so simple. While Ruby on Rails eased development, it also created issues, such as logic appearing in both layers, especially with functions like authentication.
Yet, Ruby on Rails’ popularity has resurged in recent years. Hired’s 2023 State of Software Engineers report found Ruby on Rails was the most in-demand skill for software engineering roles. Proficiency with Ruby on Rails resulted in 1.64 times more interviews than those without it.
This resurgence has been significantly bolstered by innovations like Hotwire and the sorting out of its JavaScript integration. JavaScript’s dominance in creating interactive, client-side applications challenged Ruby on Rails, particularly as single-page applications grew in popularity. Hotwire, a modern tool designed to streamline the use of HTML over the wire, allows developers to create highly interactive applications in Ruby on Rails with minimal JavaScript. This integration simplifies the development process by keeping Ruby on Rails at the forefront of both backend and frontend developments, which enables more seamless, full-stack development experiences. By resolving complexities associated with using JavaScript, Ruby on Rails has enhanced its appeal, enabling quicker development cycles and reducing the need for extensive cross-disciplinary expertise among development teams. This dual-front optimization is crucial for Ruby on Rails’ continued relevance and competitiveness in a fast-evolving tech landscape.
Another reason Ruby on Rails is resurging is its ability to encourage speed of development — an important element in business innovation.
One reason is that Ruby on Rails encourages speed of development — an important element in business innovation. Organizations always want technology innovation, but particularly so when they need to cope with the challenges of doing business in the 2020s. They need resilience, flexibility and scale to remain competitive and grow. Disruption, and not in a good way, has become the norm for business. According to a 2023 IDC report, three in four organizations say their business functions are dependent on innovation, and nearly half (49%) feel keeping pace with technology innovation is a major risk for 2024. That’s exacerbated by uncertainties in business supply chains and other financial uncertainties.
In short, development teams are being asked to produce more with the same or fewer resources, and that’s precisely where Rails shines.
Another driver is the recognition of the importance of developer happiness. The contentedness of professional developers is critical to productivity, as well as attracting and retaining top talent. According to Spiceworks, in 2023, recruiting qualified talent was the software industry’s primary challenge.
Further, in the Hired report, the top two draws for software engineers to their careers were:
- New challenges and continuous learning (69%)
- Building products and problem-solving (66%)
Ruby on Rails enables developers to indulge in exactly these pursuits. They spend much more time on the challenging, creative aspects of projects because the framework takes care of the components that are a part of nearly every web application.
Ruby on Rails is having a much-deserved resurgence because it enables teams to rapidly develop innovative web apps for clients who need to see them deployed quickly. Just as important, it improves developer happiness. And, as a free, open-source project, it’s available to all. So, while it may not be the right framework and language for every project, in many cases, it can be the secret sauce that enables faster-than-expected delivery and more developers to make it home in time for dinner after the arduous commute from the back bedroom office.