Working With Rails

...After a few years of Java, JSP and Struts, I began to crave a better way. One without so many stinking options, configuration possibilities and put simply: let me just begin writing code for my business problem related to a web app.

A fellow bar patron at P’cheen in Atlanta circa fall 2006 said check out Ruby on Rails. I had heard some mutterings on newsgroups, but was like: “sheesh, great another language, I just got used to Python’s indentations last year!” I relented and watched DHH’s stumbling video, but was impressed somewhat. Add to that, Why’s (poignant) guide to ruby was partly a deal-maker for me. I’d never seen such an odd and artistic diatribe about a language before and that gained my respect as I consider myself odd. Some folks are put off by this actually, but I presume they love re-writing databases from scratch.

A fear years later…

I don’t regret leaving behind Java or PHP for web development. I can be found at a bar or cafe from time to time showing someone scaffolding, ActiveRecord and the built in logical structure of a Rails app that allows me to come onsite to a project and start writing code on day 1. Moreover, I don’t think I can ever go back to commercial or “enterprise” software to pay my bills. Nor can I ever see something as wonderful in the near future, compiled or otherwise replacing the deceptively simple, Ruby.