Ruby on Rails and Its Various Frameworks

As an open source, full stack, cross platform framework, Ruby on Rails (RoR) is used widely by developers to create complex web applications on time and budget. RoR is divided into several standard packages including ActiveRecord, ActiveResource, ActiveSupport, ActionPack and ActionMailer. Further, web developers have options to extend these existing packages by creating plug-ins. At the same time, the Ruby developers can use several web development frameworks to curtail both development time and efforts.

7 Widely Used Web Frameworks for Ruby Developers

1) Sinatra: Sinatra is defined by the developers as a domain-specific language (DSL) that enables Ruby programmers to create rich internet applications quickly. The micro framework for Ruby is often described as a library that can perform a set of specific functions. However, Sinatra is used widely by Ruby developers to structure the internet application according to the project goals. Despite being simple, Sinatra has inspired the design of several Ruby frameworks.

2) Padrino: Despite being built upon Sinatra, Padrino is a full-stack Ruby frameworks. It comes with the features required for creating real time web frameworks. Padrino also supports several templating, testing, mocking and database libraries. The programmers also have option to create Padrino applications by using tag helpers, asset helpers, form helpers and tag helpers. They can further access a built-in admin interface, along with a fast and simple option to send emails.

3) Ramaze: Ramaze is designed as a simple and straight-forward web application development framework. Along with supporting the MVC pattern, Ramaze also allows Ruby programmers to accomplish complex tasks without putting extra time and effort. The developers can avail the support and assistance of a large community to deploy all aspects of the internet app within a single script.

4) NYNY: As a Ruby framework, New York, New York (NYNY) comes with the core features required to get a project running. But it also requires the internet application to acts as the framework. The developers, however, have option to use its extension interface to extend NYNY. As a Rack middleware, the NYNY apps can be used inside other Rack-based frameworks like Sinatra and Rails. However, NYNY does not support all Sinatra extensions. The programmers have to create custom extensions by targeting the NYNY apps.

5) Grape: Grape is designed specifically as a Generalized Rapid API Erector to facilitate the development and working of APIs. The REST-like API micro-framework can further complement the requirements of existing internet applications by providing a simple domain-specific language (DSL). The programmers can use the DSL to replace the functionality of Rails, Sinatra and similar bigger frameworks.

6) Cuba: Cuba is hugely popular among Ruby developers as a micro framework for creating internet applications. The design of Cuba is inspired by Rum, a micro but powerful mapper for Rack applications. So Cuba aims to enable programmers to create web applications by using minimum amount of files, while keeping all these files global. Along with being an elegant Ruby framework, Cuba also enables developers to run tests by supporting clean coding. Cuba can be used for developing ecommerce applications, landing pages and other real-time applications.

7) Nancy: The Ruby community refers to Nancy as “Sinatra’s Little Daughter”. Despite being based on Sinatra and Cuba, Nancy is incredibly fast. It also allows programmers to use route functionality of Sinatra. At the same time, Ruby programmers can also use the framework enable mounting rack applications through map.

Despite being a powerful and dynamic programming language, Ruby is not designed exclusively for web development. So it lacks some of the features required to complement the most recent trends in web application development. But the web programmers have to use the right Ruby framework to avoid writing lengthy and complex code. To get maximum benefits of ROR development, you may consider hiring services of a Ruby on Rails development company.

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