What is Ruby on Rails and how does it differ from Ruby?

Ruby and Ruby on Rails are both popular choices for web development, but they are not the same thing. In this article, you will learn what Ruby and Ruby on Rails are, how they differ, and why you might want to use them for your next project.

1 What is Ruby?

Ruby is a general-purpose, interpreted, object-oriented programming language that was created in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. Ruby is known for its expressive, elegant, and concise syntax, as well as its dynamic features and metaprogramming capabilities. Ruby also has a rich set of libraries, or gems, that provide various functionalities and extensions. Ruby can be used for a wide range of applications, from web development to data analysis to scripting.

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Braian Mendes Corrêa

Sr FullStack Software Developer / Engineer | Blockchain / ML / Machine Learning Engineer | Data Scientist | Expert in React, Next.js, Angular, Ruby on Rails, Python, R, PHP (Laravel), .Net, Node.js (Nest.js)
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Ruby is like the Swiss Army knife of programming languages. Created in 1995 by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto, it's all about making coding fun and efficient. Think of Ruby as your coding buddy – it's friendly, flexible, and you can use it for just about anything from web apps to data science. Plus, its elegant syntax is like poetry for programmers.

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2 What is Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails, or Rails for short, is a web application framework that was created in 2004 by David Heinemeier Hansson. Rails is based on Ruby and follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, which separates the data, logic, and presentation layers of an application. Rails also follows the convention over configuration (CoC) and don't repeat yourself (DRY) principles, which reduce the amount of code and configuration needed to build a web application. Rails provides many features and tools, such as scaffolding, routing, migrations, validations, testing, and security, that make web development faster and easier.

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Braian Mendes Corrêa

Sr FullStack Software Developer / Engineer | Blockchain / ML / Machine Learning Engineer | Data Scientist | Expert in React, Next.js, Angular, Ruby on Rails, Python, R, PHP (Laravel), .Net, Node.js (Nest.js)
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Ruby on Rails, affectionately known as Rails, is more like that specialized chef's knife. Born in 2004 from the mind of David Heinemeier Hansson, it's a framework that sits on top of Ruby. It's the go-to for web development, following the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern. Rails is all about making life simpler with its 'Convention over Configuration' mantra, meaning you can build something awesome with fewer lines of code.

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3 How do Ruby and Ruby on Rails differ?

Ruby and Ruby on Rails differ in several ways. First, Ruby is a programming language, while Ruby on Rails is a framework. This means that Ruby is more flexible and versatile, while Ruby on Rails is more specific and opinionated. Second, Ruby can be used for any kind of programming task, while Ruby on Rails is mainly designed for web development. This means that Ruby has a broader scope and applicability, while Ruby on Rails has a narrower focus and purpose. Third, Ruby and Ruby on Rails have different learning curves. Ruby is relatively easy to learn and read, while Ruby on Rails has a steeper learning curve and requires more familiarity with its conventions and best practices.

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Oleksii Kudriashov

IT Consulting | Team lead | Full-stack Developer
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This question is something like "What is the difference between wood and wooden cubes" =) Ruby on Rails are written in Ruby. The framework is written in a language. This language can be used to write another framework or any other code. And the framework is great for creating web applications. It scales easily, is beautifully structured and is open to expansion by a variety of libraries, which are called `gems` here.

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Braian Mendes Corrêa

Sr FullStack Software Developer / Engineer | Blockchain / ML / Machine Learning Engineer | Data Scientist | Expert in React, Next.js, Angular, Ruby on Rails, Python, R, PHP (Laravel), .Net, Node.js (Nest.js)
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Imagine Ruby as clay - you can mold it into anything. Ruby on Rails, however, is like a pre-built pottery kit; it's designed specifically for web development. Ruby offers flexibility and freedom, while Rails provides structure and speed for web apps.

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Don Anh Nguyen
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Ruby is the programming language you write to execute code, and Ruby on Rails is the framework, or so-called "template" or tool to develop applications written in Ruby and other languages. It can be an MVC framework that provides a model, view, controller, oriented around an object.

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4 Why use Ruby?

Ruby is a great choice for web development because it is expressive, elegant, and concise. Ruby allows you to write less code and achieve more functionality. Ruby is also dynamic, which means that it can adapt to changing requirements and environments. Ruby is also object-oriented, which means that it supports encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and metaprogramming. Ruby also has a large and active community that contributes to its development and offers many gems and resources.

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5 Why use Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails is a great choice for web development because it is fast, easy, and secure. Ruby on Rails enables you to create web applications quickly and efficiently by following the CoC and DRY principles. Ruby on Rails also provides many features and tools that simplify common web development tasks, such as scaffolding, routing, migrations, validations, testing, and security. Ruby on Rails also has a large and active community that supports its development and offers many gems and resources.

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6 How to get started with Ruby and Ruby on Rails?

If you want to get started with Ruby and Ruby on Rails, you will need to install them on your computer. You can use various methods and tools to do this, such as Ruby Version Manager (RVM), Ruby Installer, or Homebrew. You will also need a code editor, such as Visual Studio Code, Atom, or Sublime Text. You can then create your first Ruby or Ruby on Rails project by using the command line or a graphical user interface (GUI). You can also follow online tutorials, courses, or books to learn more about Ruby and Ruby on Rails.

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Oleksii Kudriashov

IT Consulting | Team lead | Full-stack Developer
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Yeah! Many years ago I asked the same question! I found the book "Ruby on Rails Tutorial: Learn Web Development With Rails". And it led me to the fairy world of Ruby on Rails! Many years later, I know that this language and framework can help us to create powerful applications which can bring a lot of benefits for their owners.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What is Ruby on Rails and how does it differ from Ruby?

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1 What is Ruby?

2 What is Ruby on Rails?

3 How do Ruby and Ruby on Rails differ?

4 Why use Ruby?

5 Why use Ruby on Rails?

6 How to get started with Ruby and Ruby on Rails?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Web Development

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What is Ruby on Rails and how does it differ from Ruby?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 What is Ruby?

2 What is Ruby on Rails?

3 How do Ruby and Ruby on Rails differ?

4 Why use Ruby?

5 Why use Ruby on Rails?

6 How to get started with Ruby and Ruby on Rails?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Web Development

Rate this article

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