Ruby on Rails Software Development: How to Speed it Up - All You Need to Know

Ruby is a concise language with a lean codebase contributing to faster development and integration. Rails was created with many built-in libraries, and starting a new project with Rails automatically includes lines of skeleton code that are common across most applications. The built in features of Rails, such as scaffolding and an extensive library of Ruby Gems, mean that rails makes development faster and more efficient.

As a business, you want these features for your development to lower your time to market and receive a lot of audience feedback. These factors increase a startup’s probability of success and validate existing ideas.

RoR shows us how rapid software development can be and, in the process, cut down development costs and improve the user feedback cycle. Rails enables building applications quickly with less code, which not only boosts productivity but also contributes to developer happiness by making the development process more enjoyable.

Speed plays a crucial role in software development, as it impacts the time-to-market, cost, customer satisfaction, and overall agility of businesses in responding to changing market demands and customer needs.

In particular, software development can be an expensive part of a startup journey and the period from the first noticeable change to production delivery should be as short as possible.

The technology choice is important from the stakeholder’s perspective.

Here comes Ruby on Rails that is known for its ability to facilitate fast software development due to its convention over configuration approach, agile development principles, expressive Ruby language, rich ecosystem, and built-in testing framework, making it an excellent choice for businesses seeking to develop software quickly and efficiently. The rails philosophy, centered on convention over configuration and "The Rails Way," shapes development practices to maximize productivity and code simplicity.

Ruby on Rails enjoys strong rails popularity as a full stack framework, consistently ranking among the top web frameworks in 2024 and being used by many developers and major companies worldwide.

Ruby on Rails is a frequent choice to build prototypes or create the MVP version of a product. There are many factors which make web development in Rails fast: many developers are already familiar with Rails, making it easier to hire a skilled rails developer with the right skill set for your team. The robust ruby community and experienced software engineers also contribute to the ongoing improvement and support of the framework.

For those looking to learn a new language, Ruby is accessible and beginner-friendly, making it a great entry point into programming languages and the Rails ecosystem. Resources like the rails tutorial and learn ruby are invaluable for new developers starting their journey with Rails.

Complete framework

It is a “battery-included” framework in which many essential, out-of-the-box tools and solutions are available, for example,

• Database communication (Rails models automatically map to a database table)

• Schema migrations

• Email sending/receiving (uses templates and template files for emails and views)

• WebSockets (Action Cable enables real-time web functionalities)

• Internalization

• Caching

• API mode (with built-in support for web services such as JSON and XML)

• Excellent security defaults.

• File and image uploads and management with Active Storage (handles files and file uploads)

• View rendering with templates (template files are automatically rendered by controller actions)

• RubyGems as the core package manager for managing gems and dependencies

Knowing your rails version is important for compatibility and accessing the latest features.

Using them is always faster than developing these features from scratch. Though the time-save depends on what you need to build, Ruby developers have shared that building with Rails cuts down development time in half when comparing this to building from scratch.

Layered structure

The MVC (Model–View–Controller) software architectural pattern is a simple and easy way to split application logic into separate layers with their respective responsibilities. Ruby on Rails follows MVC, organizing rails code into models, views, and controllers within the application directory—the main folder where all application files are stored and managed. This structure helps developers focus on what needs to be done instead of making decisions over code organization (at least in the early stages of a project). Rails automatically loads and manages these files, enabling features like autoloading and efficient code reloading.

This combined with Ruby on Rails’ convention over configuration approach and built-in testing framework, make it an excellent choice for developing software quickly and efficiently.

Numerous third-party components

By utilizing the Ruby programming language, Rails has access to a large repository of third-party components (gems), which greatly accelerates application development by providing pre-built functionalities, eliminating the need for developers to create these features from scratch. Gems are managed and installed through RubyGems, the primary package manager for Ruby. When you install a gem, it may add or modify files in your Rails application, such as configuration files, controllers, or assets, to enable its features.

For example, authentication packages (registration, login pages, or through social media providers like Facebook or Google) are very easy to set up, thanks to Devise gem. Building the administration panel is simple with ActiveAdmin.

Convention over configuration

The convention over configuration strategy saves dozens of configuration lines and boilerplate code. Rails encourages developers to structure their code in the same way across projects, promoting consistency and maintainability. For example, Rails uses conventions where the file name of a controller corresponds directly to its class name, enabling automatic loading and reducing manual setup. Favoring sets of rules that come with the Rails framework can cut the number of decisions that need to be made, keeping code simplicity and flexibility simultaneously.

Strong support from DevOps services

Many hosting and CI/CD (continuous integration and continuous delivery) services have prebuilt Rails support, such as.:

• CircleCI

• Codeshi,

• Semaphore

• Heroku

• DigitalOcean

• Cloud66

These deployment tools help teams efficiently ship ruby applications and keep up with the latest developments in deployment and infrastructure. This speeds up development given that DevOps automates many of the business processes, and a 2019 Accelerate report highlights lead time, deployment frequency, change failure, and time to restore. Availability has all improved when a DevOps platform was integrated into the software.

Good frontend tools support

JavaScript and CSS preprocessors, such as Webpack or SCSS, can be integrated into an application in just a few steps. There are also lots of true gems that support all popular frameworks like React.jsVue.js, Angular, or CSS tools. Rails makes it easy to build a robust user interface, ensuring smooth data validation and a seamless user experience.

Apps created with Rails 7+ come with Hotwire, a new toolkit for building front-end apps. It integrates well with Rails and thus provides a good development experience across the stack. This contributes to faster development.

Strong community support and a longstanding history bode well for businesses looking to work with Rails. The Rails community is especially helpful for new developers, making it easy for them to get started and onboard quickly. A large Rails community means issues regarding the framework had already been previously solved, and solutions to your problems have likely been created. This facilitates faster, bug-free development by reducing the number of hours or days developers might mull over their problems.

Code scaffolds

Code scaffolds are auto-generated code snippets that can provide reasonable basic defaults for new app components. They are ready to use in a few seconds. Scaffolds help quickly create basic web pages for the application, including an index page that lists records and serves as a central hub for navigation. Their main benefit is that they make developers more productive in their day-to-day work.

Can you prototype fast with Ruby on Rails?

When choosing Ruby on Rails to build a web application, what can we expect regarding speed development?

It mainly depends on team velocity - however, assuming that an application is built from the ground up, it’s easy to create staging, beta, and production environments in a couple of days.

To get started, you can generate a new rails application by running the following command in your terminal:

rails new myapp

After generating the rails application, navigate to the application directory and start the rails server with the following command:

rails server

This will launch the web server (such as Puma) and serve your application locally.

Creating a basic Rails app is a matter of minutes, so presenting the first working version of a product after a few days of development is expected. A few months might be enough to build the MVP so that the business can start validating its goals

The factors that can help speeding up the RoR software development process

An efficient setup and workflow for your team

Building an in-house team can be quite a challenge and that’s why companies often use the services of Ruby on Rails consulting agencies – it’s an attractive alternative, but if you want everything to go smoothly, make sure that you prepare yourself before you start cooperation. This includes familiarizing yourself with the application directory, where you will manage essential files and run important commands during setup.

Communication and transparency are crucial in Ruby on Rails consulting and development. Following certain rules will help you solve all potential problems, manage workflow, and keep all issues under control. Before the setup, you should learn a little about the technology to understand your team better and streamline the process, including how files are organized and managed within the application directory.

The cooperation between a client and a development company is both very individual and generic at the same time. From the development’s team point of view, the goal of the cooperation is to create a product and possibly maintain it in the future. That’s why wrong assumptions, approaches, plans, and the execution of those plans can lead to different expectations and results at many stages of a product’s creation.

Rule #1: Find time to meet with the Ruby on Rails consulting team

As a client you will have a particular vision for the product and must remember to communicate that to the Ruby on Rails consulting company. So the first thing you should remember is to make time in your calendar for regular meetings with the development team. Discussions should occur at least once a week for several reasons.

• Meetings constitute an excellent opportunity to present the progress of the product made by the development team in each sprint. From my experience, clients tend to have many questions about developers' work following the workflow, layout, and business logic during sessions. At such meetings, called stand-up meetings, many edge cases are very often targeted and clarified.

• You can be sure that the project aligns with the assumptions, budget and the timeline.

• Frequent meetings adhere to the lean management approach to creating web products. This approach guarantees delivering more value with less waste in the context of a project.

Rule #2: Get acquainted with the tools and crucial project details

No matter what programming language you use for web development, you should be familiar with all our vital information. You should have full access to the following:

• Code repository (including managing project files)

• Staging servers

• Domains

• Hosting

• Communication channels

• Tickets in project management tools

• Documents such as readmes, plans, and mockups

Rule #3: Be present

Creating a web application presents multiple challenges, variables, and edge cases that will occur during cooperation with a development agency, even those with the most experienced rails developers. Such a complex ecosystem requires being present in many ways.

• Use staging and beta servers after the consulting team finishes work on new functionalities. It is essential because the faster you test functionalities, the quicker you can spot the discrepancies between the client's vision and the product.

• Slack is a great communication tool. You can ask questions on dedicated Slack channels, so the developer that created the functionality or PM can respond.

• At Netguru, we use JIRA for our Ruby on Rails consulting services to track project progress.

The effective collaboration checklist

When working with a Ruby on Rails development company, you have to manage the work with people, not only with software. Agencies understand that their client’s success is their success too, and they will do everything possible to make this success a reality. Rails also offers built-in internationalization (I18n) support, making it easy to adapt applications for other languages and collaborate with global teams. You should adhere to a few principles to work efficiently with an agency, and everyone will be happier.

Rule #4: Prepare yourself for the cooperation

Before the Ruby on Rails consulting collaboration starts, you should do a few things to make everyone work more efficiently.

• Check whether the company is responsive to the business and marketing changes suggested by the client.

• Check the internal procedures of the agency you're about to choose.

• Check whether the agency has a talented team of Ruby developers responsible for delegating the right people to the right job.

• Talk with other clients of the agency you've chosen and ask about their experience.

When you start the collaboration:

• Prepare and provide access to repositories, mockups, and graphic designs.

• Put together a list of ideas and user stories.

• Write down the questions about your project as a list.

• Describe the market and identify your target group.

During the cooperation, you need to:

• Specify the requirements for your MVP.

• Set up all the necessary communication channels.

• Always ask questions when you don't understand something.

• Identify the following steps to be taken.

After the launch of the product or at the end of the collaboration:

• Make sure you keep the agency close to hand.

• Check whether the code you've been given is well-documented.

• Ask about maintenance services for your product.

Database Management: Streamlining Data Handling in Rails

Efficient database management is at the heart of successful web development, and Ruby on Rails makes this process remarkably straightforward for rails developers. Thanks to the powerful Active Record pattern, developers can interact with databases using simple Ruby code, eliminating the need for complex SQL queries. Active Record allows for seamless creation, reading, updating, and deletion of records, making it easy to manage data as your web applications grow.

Rails also streamlines database management through features like migrations and schema management. Migrations enable developers to evolve the database structure over time in a controlled and versioned manner, ensuring that changes are consistent across all environments. This means that adding new tables, modifying columns, or updating relationships can be done quickly and safely, supporting agile development practices.

Additionally, Rails offers tools for query optimization and database indexing, helping developers maintain high performance even as their applications scale. By abstracting away much of the complexity of database operations, Rails empowers developers to focus on building robust and scalable web applications, confident that their data layer is both reliable and efficient.

Routing and Controllers: Accelerating Application Flow

In the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture that Ruby on Rails champions, routing and controllers are essential components that drive the flow of web applications. Routing in Rails is designed to be both powerful and intuitive, allowing developers to map incoming URLs to specific controller actions with just a few lines of code. This clear and concise routing syntax means that adding new features or endpoints to your application is fast and straightforward.

Controllers serve as the central hub for application logic, handling user requests, processing data, and coordinating responses between models and views. By organizing business logic within controller actions, Rails ensures that web applications remain maintainable and scalable as they grow. The framework’s conventions guide developers to structure their code in a way that is both logical and efficient, reducing the time spent on configuration and decision-making.

Together, Rails’ routing and controller mechanisms enable developers to build responsive web applications that deliver a smooth user experience. By accelerating the flow from user request to application response, Rails helps teams ship features faster and keep users engaged.

Security and Authentication: Building Fast and Safe Applications

Security is a top priority in web development, and Ruby on Rails provides a comprehensive set of tools to help developers build secure and authenticated web applications. Rails includes built-in support for popular authentication protocols like HTTP Basic Auth and OAuth, making it easy to implement user authentication and protect sensitive information right out of the box.

Beyond authentication, Rails offers robust security features to guard against common web vulnerabilities. The framework automatically protects against threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), giving developers peace of mind as they build and deploy new features. Rails also encourages secure coding practices through its conventions and provides helpful warnings and guidance when potential security issues are detected.

By leveraging these built-in security and authentication mechanisms, developers can focus on delivering value to users without sacrificing safety. Rails makes it possible to build fast, reliable, and secure web applications that users can trust.

Testing and Deployment: Ensuring Quality at Speed

Delivering high-quality web applications quickly is a hallmark of successful development teams, and Ruby on Rails provides all the tools needed to achieve this balance. Rails comes with built-in support for popular testing frameworks like RSpec and Minitest, making it easy for developers to write comprehensive tests for their applications. Automated testing ensures that new features work as intended and helps catch bugs early in the development process, reducing costly errors down the line.

When it comes to deployment, Rails offers seamless integration with leading cloud platforms such as Heroku and AWS, allowing developers to deploy web applications with minimal effort. The framework’s conventions and deployment tools streamline the process, enabling teams to push updates and new features to production quickly and reliably.

By embracing Rails’ testing and deployment features, developers can maintain a rapid development process without compromising on quality. This approach not only speeds up time-to-market but also ensures that web applications remain stable and performant as they evolve.

The best practices in Ruby on Rails ecosystem - maximize the cooperation with the agency

Every ecosystem follows a set of guidelines. You should know them to maximize the gains from collaborating with an agency. In the case of RoR, the procedures are as follows.

• Use gems. Gems are open-source libraries that you can reuse in many projects. When you add a gem, it often generates or modifies files in your project, such as configuration files, initializers, or assets. If you need to implement user registration, image uploads, or automatic e-mail distribution in your application, use an open-source library. You don’t need to write it from scratch.

• Consider using an external API. Your development team doesn’t need to write everything from scratch. They can use an external API to save time and money to focus on solving other, more pressing issues. You don’t need to write software for converting currencies, posting messages on Facebook, or using Google Maps. All major companies worldwide have an API available that you can use for a small fee or free of charge.

• Follow the best RoR and programming patterns to keep your software maintainable and easy to develop. The acronyms DRY, KISS, and SOLID should be no mystery to you. Use the correct design patterns, keep your software and libraries up-to-date, and use useful database features such as indexes, views, Postgis, or full-text search if needed. Proper organization and management of files in your project also help maintain code quality and enable features like autoloading and asset management.

• Use continuous delivery tools to save time in the delivery process. Use tools that make this process as painless and automatic as possible.

Common Challenges in Ruby on Rails Development and How to Overcome Them

While Ruby on Rails offers many advantages for web application development, rails developers may encounter some common challenges along the way. For newcomers, the learning curve can be steep, especially when adapting to Rails conventions and the MVC architecture. Performance issues may arise as applications scale, and compatibility problems can occur when integrating with other technologies or upgrading to new Rails versions.

To overcome these challenges, developers should actively seek guidance from experienced members of the rails community, which is known for its helpfulness and wealth of resources. Utilizing performance optimization tools, following best practices, and keeping up-to-date with the latest Rails releases can help address technical hurdles. Engaging with community forums, reading documentation, and exploring tutorials can also accelerate learning and problem-solving.

By leveraging the collective knowledge and support of the Rails community, and by adopting proven strategies for optimization and maintenance, developers can navigate common obstacles and continue building fast, efficient, and scalable web applications with Ruby on Rails.

Ready to start a RoR development project?

While working with a remote team might have downsides compared to in-house developers, having the proper preparation and management principles in place means you won't feel the difference. The primary guideline to follow is to treat all the members as if they were employees of your own company. They need to understand your vision to follow and execute it.