What tools do you use to develop Ruby On Rails?

I believe, no one can simply deny the importance of Ruby programming language in web app development. It is been powering top brands like GitHub, Airbnb, Shopify, and others. 

Not only just brands, it also drives the popularity of a prominent framework- Ruby on Rails. Today, more than 4,029,294 websites use Ruby on Rails in their tech stack. From manufacturing to fintech, Ruby on Rails has been a game-changer in the web app development landscape.

It is known for its simplicity, and easy-to-use toolkit, not only improving business experience but also developer’s experience in developing next-gen RoR web applications. 

But, if you are using Ruby on Rails Development Services, then you should equip yourself with its extensive toolset for better development experience. 

The best part, you will get tools for every development need, from creating clean code to deploying applications on the cloud or simplifying the app development process. Using these tools will help you unlock the true potential of Ruby on Rails capabilities. 

In this guide, you will get to know Ruby on Rails extensive tool set or “RubyGems” information. 

Let’s get started.

Ruby on Rails- A Quick Introduction

Ruby on Rails is a popular web application framework built on top of Ruby. 4.7% of developers use it for developing innovative web applications with the power of ruby.

It is known for its simplicity, making it a preferable choice for beginners. It follows Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and convention-over-configuration approach to streamline web development using an extensive toolset.

Core Features:

• MVC Architecture: Organizes code into models, views, and controllers for better separation of concerns.

• Convention over Configuration: Minimizes configuration by using sensible defaults.

• Active Record: It has an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system that simplifies database interactions.

• Scaffolding: it generates code to automate basic CRUD operations.

• RESTful Design: Promotes the use of REST principles for routing and web services.

• Extensive Toolset: Includes built-in tools for tasks such as database migrations, testing, debugging, and asset management.

What are RubyGems?

RoR offers a package manager, named RubyGems for managing and distributing Ruby libraries and applications. It improves developer’s experience and allows them to easily install, update, and manage gems (libraries or plugins). Using RubyGems you can add functionalities to your basic web application to meet modern-age requirements.

Core Features:

• Gem Management: Simplifies installing, updating, and removing Ruby libraries.

• Dependency Resolution: Automatically handles and resolves dependencies between gems.

• Gem Repositories: Provides access to a vast repository of pre-built gems via RubyGems.org.

• Versioning: Supports version control for gems to manage compatibility and updates.

You can also connect with Ruby on Rails Outsourcing Company for a better understanding and implementation of RubyGems.

Reasons for Using RubyGems

RubyGems makes life easier for developers in a few key ways:

1. Easy Library Management: It simplifies the process of installing and updating libraries, so you don’t have to manually handle dependencies.

2. Automatic Dependency Handling: It takes care of figuring out and installing any other libraries your gems need, which means fewer headaches with conflicts or missing components.

3. Vast Library Repository: You have access to a huge collection of gems, so you can quickly find and use existing tools and solutions instead of building everything from scratch.

4. Version Control: You can specify and manage exact gem versions, helping keep your environment stable and predictable.

5. Consistent Development Environment: Ensures that everyone working on a project has the same gem versions, reducing “it works on my machine” problems.

6. Easy Sharing and Collaboration: This lets you easily share and use libraries created by others, fostering collaboration and saving development time.

7. Smooth Tool Integration: Works well with tools like Bundler to manage and lockdown gem dependencies, making the setup process more straightforward.

In short, RubyGems makes managing dependencies and libraries straightforward, letting you focus more on coding and less on configuration.

Also read- Ruby on Rails vs Javascript

Top Ruby on Rails Tools for Simplified Web App Development

1. RubyMine

RubyMine is a popular IDE for Ruby on Rails. It supports Ruby, ERB, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. It also has a visual debugger for JavaScript, Ruby, and CoffeeScript. Note that it is a paid tool and requires a license.

• IDE for Rails: Provides a comprehensive environment for Ruby on Rails development.

• Language Support: Includes support for Ruby, ERB, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

• Graphical Debugger: Features a visual debugger for JavaScript, Ruby, and CoffeeScript.

• Paid License: Requires a subscription for use.

2. Atom Editor

Atom is an open-source editor from GitHub. It is known for its customization and improving productivity for Ruby on Rails development. It integrates seamlessly with Git and GitHub for version control and simplifies development by minimizing reconfiguration.

• Open-Source: Free and customizable editor developed by GitHub.

• Integrated Version Control: Automatically integrates with Git and GitHub.

• Customization: Highly flexible with numerous plugins and themes.

• Streamlined Workflow: Reduces configuration complexity and speeds up the development process.

3. NetBeans

NetBeans is a flexible IDE for Ruby on Rails. Its simplicity and easy interface make it a favorite among many developers.

• Cross-Platform: Compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.

• Versatile IDE: Supports development for web, desktop, and mobile applications.

• Optimized Performance: Fast and efficient for Rails development.

• Complete Ecosystem: Offers end-to-end application development capabilities.

4. Rubocop

Rubocop is a useful tool for Ruby on Rails. It checks your code for style problems and bugs. It also ensures your code follows Ruby's best practices.

• Code Analyzer: Checks code for style issues and adherence to Ruby best practices.

• Bug Detection: Helps identify and fix bugs and errors in code.

• Style Enforcement: Ensures consistent coding style across the project.

• Customizable: Allows configuration to fit project-specific guidelines.

5. Pry

Pry is an interactive console for Ruby on Rails that offers features like structure highlighting and a robust plugin system. It provides a flexible environment for developers to customize and interact with their code more effectively.

• Interactive Console: Provides a powerful console for runtime code interaction.

• Customizable Environment: Features plugins and documentation for flexible development.

• Structure Highlighting: Improves code readability and debugging.

• Efficient Input Handling: Processes commands quickly and returns results promptly.

6. Bullet

Bullet improves Rails application performance by reducing database queries and suggesting when to use techniques like eager loading. It helps in scaling applications and optimizing query performance.

• Performance Enhancer: Reduces database queries to improve application speed.

• Cache Optimization: Advises on when to use counter caches.

• Eager Loading Guidance: Recommends using eager loading to handle scaling issues.

• Query Monitoring: Tracks and analyzes the number of queries being executed.

7. Sinatra

Sinatra is a lightweight framework ideal for building small, customized web applications quickly. It offers great flexibility and runs applications faster due to its minimalistic design.

• Lightweight Framework: Ideal for building small, fast applications with minimal overhead.

• Customizable: Offers extensive personalization options for domain-specific apps.

• Documentation: Well-documented, making it easy to deploy and use.

• Performance: Runs applications faster due to its minimalistic design.

8. Omniauth

Omniauth simplifies user authentication by allowing logins through multiple providers like Facebook and Google. It handles authentication redirects and returns user data in a hash format.

• Authentication Simplified: Supports multiple authentication providers like Facebook and Google.

• User Data Handling: Provides user data in hash format after authentication.

• Middleware Integration: Operates as rack middleware for easy integration.

• Fast Integration: Quick setup for handling multiple authentication methods.

9. Opal

Opal is a compiler that converts Ruby code into JavaScript, enabling Ruby to run in web browsers. It enhances the interactivity of web applications by translating Ruby into JavaScript.

• Ruby to JavaScript Compiler: Converts Ruby code into JavaScript for browser execution.

• Enhanced Interactivity: Improves user experience by translating Ruby into JavaScript.

• Server and Browser Support: Allows Ruby code to run both on servers and in browsers.

• Core Library Utilization: Part of essential libraries used in Rails development.

10. Guard

Guard automates repetitive tasks in Ruby on Rails development, such as relaunching services or running tests when files are modified. It speeds up the development process by reducing manual work.

• Automation: Automates repetitive tasks like relaunching services or running tests.

• File Monitoring: Watches for file changes and executes tasks based on rules.

• Workflow Optimization: Enhances development efficiency by replacing manual tasks.

• Task Management: Supports custom tasks for various development needs.

Also read- Ruby Vs Python: Which Will You Choose for Your Next Project?

Build Scalable Ruby on Rails Apps with OnGraph

Ruby on Rails has evolved and offers extensive tool sets for a streamlined development process. In this guide, we have covered the top most commonly used RoR tools and libraries that will improve your development experience.

However, to streamline Ruby on Rails app development, you need a leading Ruby on Rails Development Company. One of the leading companies is OnGraph. It is a top Ruby on Rails web app development company. When you work with our RoR developers, you can trust that we’ll use the best Ruby tools to create top-quality web and mobile applications.