Ruby on Rails (often simply referred to as Rails) is a popular open-source web application framework written in Ruby. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and allows developers to rapidly build robust and scalable web applications.

Easy to Learn and Use

One of the major advantages of Ruby on Rails is its simplicity and ease of use. The framework is designed to make developers’ lives easier by providing sensible defaults and conventions. Rails follows the principle of “Convention over Configuration,” which means that it automatically sets up and configures many parts of the application without the need for explicit configuration.

The syntax of Ruby, the underlying language, is clean and easy to read, making it simple for developers to understand and write code. Rails also offers a wide range of libraries and gems that can be easily integrated into the application, further simplifying the development process.

MVC Architecture

Rails follows the MVC architectural pattern, which separates the application into three main components: the Model, View, and Controller. This architectural pattern promotes modular and maintainable code by keeping the logic, data, and presentation layers separate.

• Model – Represents the data and business logic of the application. It interacts with the database and encapsulates the rules and relationships of the data.
• View – Handles the presentation layer of the application. It generates the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that the user sees and interacts with.
• Controller – Acts as an intermediary between the model and view. It receives requests from the user, calls the appropriate model methods to fetch or manipulate data, and renders the corresponding view.

The MVC architecture in Rails allows for easy code organization and promotes the reusability of components.

Convention over Configuration

Rails follows the principle of “Convention over Configuration” to eliminate the need for repetitive and explicit configuration. Many parts of the application, such as file structure, database table names, and route mappings, are automatically set up based on conventions. This reduces the number of decisions a developer needs to make and allows them to focus on writing business logic instead of spending time on boilerplate code.

For example, Rails expects database tables to be named in a specific way (e.g., pluralized form of the corresponding model name) and automatically infers associations between models based on naming conventions. This approach simplifies and speeds up the development process.

Active Record

Active Record is the Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) layer in Rails. It provides an easy-to-use interface for interacting with the database using Ruby objects. With Active Record, developers can perform common database operations like querying, inserting, updating, and deleting records using simple and expressive Ruby syntax.

Active Record also handles database migrations, which are used to manage changes to the database schema over time. Developers can generate and run migrations using simple commands, making it easy to evolve the database structure as the application grows.

Conclusion

Ruby on Rails is a powerful web application framework that promotes rapid development with its simplicity, conventions, and powerful features like MVC architecture and Active Record. It has gained popularity among developers for its ease of use and ability to quickly build robust and scalable web applications. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, Ruby on Rails can significantly speed up your web development process.

本文来自极简博客，作者：算法之美，转载请注明原文链接：Ruby on Rails: Rapid Development of Web Applications