ROR development - Few things that developers should be aware of

RoR is a pure web domain specific language framework combo: The basic thing about ruby on rails is that it is a web domain specific technology and a software developer must be aware of this. Here we have mentioned ROR is a technology instead of language, this is because ROR is not a language rather it is a combination of ruby language and rails framework. So it is more than just a language and hence a web developer must expect something extra from this technology. Due to inborn combination, there is a tremendous compatibility between ruby and rails and that relation helps a ruby developer in developing high standard scalable web application without any fear. As a framework, Rails has all the features that a web developer may expect in building enterprise standard high performance web applications in less time effort. Features like IDE, plugin support, extensions and many basic features are present in ROR platform. Hence this platform reduces the effort of ruby developer in developing quick web applications. Moreover it also ensures better quality of end product due to its unmatched track record.

ROR and its recent enhancements

ROR – A deadly combo of web language and framework: Some technologies are destined to write history in the IT industry and Ruby on Rails is one such burning example. It is not more days, when the technology came to the industry; but in this less time span, it has reached to every heart of the world. It is super soft, super easy and extremely productive. Everyone loves this technology both fresher and experienced professionals. Fresher loves to learn this technology to kick start their career as a web developer in the industry; while experienced professionals wants to learn this technology due to its simple nature that can help them in avoiding unnecessary stress. Now, the web development process becomes more of funny task than a stressful one due to the simple and efficient approach of Ruby on Rails. The best part is that RoR is a combo; yes it is a combo of Ruby language and Rails framework. So, we can expect extra ordinary compatibility between the two and this feature helped in bringing overnight popularity of the language.

Ruby on Rails development has gained popularity these days – Reasons

In the era of web application: If we say we are in the web era, it will be not at all an over statement because in past decade if something has crossed all the limits of human expectation that is none other than web application services. Almost all the sectors and domains are heavily influenced by the web application industry. May it be IT, education, finance, tourism or garments industry etc all are taking the help of web services to expand their business to a next level. In this phase, we have seen a number of new languages that are web domain specific in nature have entered into the industry to help the web developers in developing industry standard web applications. Ruby is such a language which is highly motivated to develop enterprise standard web applications for modern platforms efficiently.

Testing Frameworks for Ruby on Rails

As an open source and full stack framework, Ruby on Rails (RoR) is used widely by developers to rapidly create a variety of web applications. RoR supports some of the widely used software engineering patterns and principles. So it becomes easier to easily accomplish several tasks. The web application development framework is further designed with integrated testing support.

The developers can easily write test by using the skeleton test code produced by RoR. Along with ensuring that the code adheres to the predefined functionality after major modifications, Rails also allow developers to test the application’s response by simulating browser requests. However, the developers can still use testing frameworks for Ruby on Rails to effectuate application testing.

5 Widely Used Testing Frameworks for Ruby on Rails

1) Cucumber
Despite being written in Ruby, Cucumber can be used effectively to test web applications written in several programming languages like C#, Java, Ruby, Python. So the testing framework can be used by QA engineers without knowing Ruby programming in detail. Cucumber is designed with features that execute plain-text functional descriptions as automated tests. Along with being an efficient testing tool, Cucumber also supports behavior-driven development (BDD). Thus, it becomes easier for both technical and non-technical stakeholders to verify the test code written before the original testing starts. You can use the testing framework after installing and activating the Cucumber gem inside your project.

2) RSpec
Like Cucumber, RSpec is also a testing tool that supports behavior-driven development. So the domain experts and business analyst can analyze the test code according to the features and use of the application. The testing framework for Ruby also comes with a set of features to make test driven development more productive. While testing a Ruby application using RSpec, the testing professional can avail rich command line program, flexible and customizable reporting, extensible expectation language, textual descriptions of examples and groups along with built-in mocking/stubbing framework.

3) Test::Unit
You can always use Test::Unit to test web applications by implementing the xUnit testing framework for Ruby. Once you started writing Ruby code, you will surely come across Test::Unit. Despite being bundled with Ruby, the unit testing framework is not a static part of RoR. The professionals writing new test code are further recommended to use MiniTest instead of Test::Unit.

4) Shoulda
Shoulda was originally designed as a unit testing tool. But it can be used to test Ruby applications by attaching the shoulda gem to the project. Thus, the Shoulda tests need to be added on to the Test::Unit framework. The shoulda gem is a meta gem with two dependencies, i.e., shoulda-context and shoulda-matchers. While testing Ruby applications, testing professionals can use these distinct dependencies to write test cases according to the requirements of the project.

5) Spork
Spork is used widely as a testing server to evaluate the Ruby applications. Each time you run a test, a copy of the server is forked. Thus, you can use RoR to reload your files without uploading them constantly. Further, Spork runs in a solid way, without being corrupted over time. Also, the testing server is compatible with several Ruby testing frameworks including Cucumber, RSpec and Test::Unit. Likewise, it also supports a number of application development frameworks. So it becomes easier for you to test different modules and meta programming.

On the whole, programmers have option to choose from a variety of testing frameworks for Ruby on Rails. Most of these frameworks are designed with features to facilitate a certain type of testing. So the developers must decide the Ruby on Rails testing framework according to the needs and objectives of the project.

You can hire developers from top ROR development companies in India who can help you build Ruby applications within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide Rails development services. If you would like to hire certified Rails developers from our team, please get in touch with us.

Top 3 Ruby On Rails Based CMS For Commercial Use

Ruby on Rails, which is at times simply referred to as Rails, is actually an open source WAF or Web Application Framework, that runs through Ruby – a premium programming language. Rail is a full-stack framework, that facilitates creation of pages as well as applications that collate information from web servers, query databases, and most importantly, create innovative, creative templates. The framework comes up with a unique routing system that does not depend upon the functionality of the server.

CMS, frankly speaking is one of the most adorable computer systems, that helps in seamless publication, editing, as well as modification of contents from a particular central interface. CMS is highly user-friendly. Besides, it also allows the end users in seamless management of contents. PHP based Content Management Systems like Joomla, Drupal, WorkPress are playing pivotal roles at present in the web world.

Ruby on Rail has also impacted the world of CMS or Content Management System in a great way as well. The CM System based Rails are getting more and more popular, as these tools are extremely durable as well as robust, with a wide range of functionality in the world of Content Management System.

Let us deal with three most popular Ruby On Rails based CMS, that are specifically designed for commercial use.

Refinery CMS

Top in the list of Rail based CMS, is the Refinery CMS. Truly, it is the most popular CMS that is based on version 3.2 of ROR. It is free of cost and is an open source software. That means, it can be downloaded for free and the users do not need any license for downloading.

It helps the users to have a complete control over designing, making the layout, and JavaScript through core extensions. This CMS architecture helps the user with an array of highly advanced as well as state of the art tools that help the users to add or change the functionality or getup of the front-end in a perfect and effortless way.

By default, this particular Rail based CM System comes with a wide array of views to the site front-end. It also gives the users the option of customizing designs as well as layouts with the simple process of overriding. The architecture of Refinery CMS offers a string of extremely easy ways when it comes to adding extensions for managing a variety of sections in a website.

This particular CMS is highly easy to install and the users can start posting in hardly any time. This user interface is extremely attractive as well as bright and catchy. It can easily attract the attention of the users.

Browser CMS

It is based on ROR version 3.2 framework and is the second best in terms of popularity. This ROR Content Management System offers a string of features that can only be detected in the commercial Content Management System. This ROR based Content Management System comes up with an architecture that provides a free hand to the users in terms of designing pages. The UI is extremely user-friendly, so much so that even someone who is technically not that sound, can manage it without any difficulty whatsoever.

The CM System comes up with a string of developer-friendly features that include templates that contain more than one editable area along with a standard CRUD interface for managing different types of contents as well as core modules. The section based safety or security feature in the Browser CMS would allow 2 secured access levels – CMS users and the public users.

The Browser CM System would support the functionality of page caching, that would decrease the load on the server. The Direct in Context Editing feature will allow the users to browse contents and make modifications to the pages.

Locomotive CMS

This is the third most popular ROR based commercial CM System. It comes up with Wagon, which is an extremely powerful command line tool, that helps to develop the site in a seamless way. This system offers a wide range of developer-friendly attributes like in-line editing, perfect multi-site management, Liquid templates along with customized content types.

It also helps in effortless multi-site handling and all the user needs to do is to point the name of the domain to the server of the Locomotive CM System. Copying files or setting up new database is not needed. The UI of this system is extremely user-friendly. It also gives the liberty of adding as well as editing the contents without even interfering into the design or the getup of the site.

You can hire developers from top ruby on rails development company in India who can help you build Ruby applications within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide rails development services. If you would like to hire ruby on rails developers from our team, please get in touch with us.

Striking Features of Ruby on Rails and why you should choose it

Ruby on Rails has been out in the web development market for quite a long time, but recently its popularity has become considerably high. This open-source web application framework is optimized to ensure programmer delight and sustainable productivity. Ruby on Rails lays stress on convention rather than configuration and hence beautiful codes can be written with great efficiency. The striking features of this framework go a long way in enhancing developer productivity. In this article we will discuss some of the major features of Ruby on Rails before we understand why it has become a preferred choice.

Prime features of Ruby on Rails

• MVC architecture: This framework is founded upon the Model View Controller or MVC architecture which facilitates separation of presentation from data.

• Database Access Library: There is a data access library (known as Active Record) associated with Ruby on Rails that simplifies the process of data handling within databases. Automatic mapping of rows to objects and tables to classes is possible with Active Record.

• Libraries to facilitate common tasks: This web application framework has an array of libraries which help in code simplification in case of regular programming tasks like sessions management, validations and so on.

• AJAX Library: The Rails framework comes with a comprehensive AJAX functions library. Ruby code can be conveniently leveraged for generation of AJAX code, as there is automatic generation of the associated JAVA scripting needed for AJAX.

• Convention rather than configuration: No XML configuration files are associated with Ruby on Rails. Uncomplicated programming conventions are present which can be used to denote the configuration parameters.

• Customized URL: Search Engine Friendly or Custom URLs are convenient to design utilizing the Ruby on Rails web application framework.

• Debugging: Comprehensive error logs are obtained, which makes it more convenient to debug applications.

• Components: With the aid of components, reusable codes can be stored and templates can also be modularized.

Reasons for Considering Ruby on Rails

• The Ruby language itself: The language is quite impressive and incorporates some of the notable aspects of dynamic languages as well as static languages blended across an object-oriented paradigm.

• Code-oriented data model: In case of Ruby on Rails, data model is defined with the help of code. Once the preliminary data model is prepared, any kind of changes to the same is done through scripts that operate the model. This implies that it is a trivial task to reproduce a Rails project on a different server or even aim it against a different database.

• Well documented: This web application framework is very well documented. There are a number of free or paid video tutorials that can be accessed through the web. These tutorials are most of the times very good in terms of quality and also highly interesting.

• Swift development model: Convention is what drives the development model of Ruby on Rails. This means that once you are thorough with the way Rail works, it will do most of the tough job on your behalf. This is applicable for a range of development tasks which can be completed swiftly.

• Direct Access to CSS, JavaScript and HTML: Through Ruby on Rails you get complete control over your code’s presentation layer. This means that you can easily associate the application’s logic with AJAX’s front ends. This allows you to work in co-ordination with design experts, in order to come up with brilliant sites which are hard to develop in systems that are less flexible.

• Tool options: The comparative simplicity of this framework implies that there are a great many quality IDEs available for Rails development. Moreover, the Rails system comprises outstanding tools that cater to a number of needs and many of these are open source or free. Ruby on Rails is indeed a great option if you wish to operate within an ecosystem that provides high class tools support.

This web application framework is the perfect choice for those who think in terms of codes and prefers to work with scripts. Those who have worked with Ruby on Rails will indeed vote for this framework.

We provide Ruby on Rails development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert Rails developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.