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In the 1990’s, Ruby was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto from Japan with the purpose of making programming more fun. His goal? To make it truly object-oriented and easy for coders to use.
Ruby is an open-source programming language and is centered around being simple with a syntax that is both easy for programmers to read and write. Because the code is simple and does not require much repeated code, this code is relatively fast to write. Even people who aren’t professional coders are often able to understand parts of the syntax. It’s that readable.
Because of its ease of use, supportive and vast community, and wide array of uses, Ruby continues to maintain a large following. Redmonk ranked it the 9th most popular programming language. Additionally, the TIOBE index moved it up an incredible 4 spots in May 2021 to the 11th most popular language based on lines of code written. Fullstack Academy even named it one of the “9 Best Programming Languages to Learn,” especially for back-end web development. While the language’s popularity continues to remain steady, it is clear that proficiency in Ruby and its framework, RoR, will continue to be an in-demand skill.
With a well-loved framework like RoR and its corresponding libraries combined with an easy to learn and user-friendly language, this a no-brainer for developing dynamic web applications. Since it’s free, it is great for startups and companies with varying budgets. It is estimated that when using this and RoR to program, software development teams can create web applications 30-40% faster than when using comparable languages.
The language is perfect for heavily visited apps and sites. For this reason, Twitter utilizes the code to maximize its services. Airbnb and Couchsurfing also find it beneficial since it can quickly manage the large amounts of transactions and bookings that they oversee.
Since it is easy to use and free, Ruby is great for testing design ideas and exploring different versions before committing to an end result.
Libraries are already established that can be used for SEO tools to ensure that the best content is published for ranking purposes. Ready-made features help developers make the best site for clients. This language is a fantastic choice for sites that need to share content with their users.
Libraries (gems) include established resources for everything from help desks to email platforms. Coding for payment portals is another capability of Ruby for e-commerce sites.
The language can work with data management systems so platforms like Bloomberg, for financial solutions, and Github, for Git hosting, utilize this syntax.
Ruby and its associated libraries or “gems” provide many more capabilities for software developers. Libraries exist not only for frameworks but for web servers, testing tools, concurrent processing, database adaptors and more. With these “gems”, the language can be used for backups, automations, servers, report generators, and API clients. One indirect benefit is that since it is easy to read, teams can collaborate in Ruby and use it to write helpers, command lines, and scripts that can be used in other languages. Even if the end result is not fully written in Ruby, the object-oriented syntax can be used to help developers communicate and practice their designs. Ruby truly levels the playing field when it comes to programming.
Some uses aren’t so traditional. NASA and Motorola employ it for conducting simulations. Google Sketchup chooses it for its API which helps create 3D models.
With a community that is supportive, full of resources, and always looking to improve the language, Ruby will undoubtedly keep climbing popularity charts. The use of web apps, e-commerce, and social media only continues to grow. Since it lends itself so well to these areas, Ruby will surely remain integral in the coding world. For beginner coders, this can be a great first language. For experienced coders, learning the code is a way to upskill, especially in the fields mentioned above. It is clear that Ruby and RoR will continue to improve and remain prominent in the coding world.
Learn Ruby from an online Ruby tutorial or from a coding bootcamp that covers this language in the curriculum.