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Ruby on Rails companies in 2023 – which growing businesses use Ruby on Rails and why?

Over the past decade, Ruby on Rails has become one of the most popular frameworks for developing web and online applications.

There are currently over 3 million websites built using Ruby on Rails framework. From small businesses to tech giants, companies that use Ruby are quite vocal on why they stick to this technology. 

Ruby on Rails is especially famous for its convention over configuration approach, which allows for more rapid development: developers don’t need to spend time configuring every aspect of an app. There is also built-in support for testing. Those are only examples of why Ruby on Rails is used by million users in many growing businesses. 

Who keeps sticking to Rails and why? Let's check out this list of the top Ruby on Rails companies.

Why use Ruby on Rails for your project

Before we speak of our roundup of the top companies using RoR, let's see why companies decide to use Rails in their projects.

1. It speeds up the development process: Ruby on Rails (RoR) excels at accelerating the development process. With its elegant syntax and powerful frameworks, RoR makes creating prototypes a breeze. This means you can quickly transform your ideas into functional prototypes and present them to potential investors or stakeholders. The simplicity and reliability of the Ruby language allow developers to focus more on building the application's core functionality rather than getting caught up in complex programming challenges.

2. Ruby allows for full-stack development: One of the major advantages of Ruby on Rails is its ability to facilitate full-stack development. With RoR, you don't have to worry about finding and integrating separate technologies for front-end and back-end programming. The framework provides a cohesive environment that seamlessly integrates both aspects of development. This unified approach allows developers to work on the entire application stack, from the user interface to the database, using a single language and framework.

3. The active community continuously improves it: Ruby on Rails benefits from a vibrant and active community of developers who continuously contribute to its improvement. The community-driven nature of RoR ensures that the framework evolves rapidly, with each new version introducing outstanding features and enhancements. By staying up-to-date with the latest developments, you can take advantage of new functionalities, performance improvements, and security updates to build even better applications.

4. Reusable code: Ruby encourages developers to follow the "Don't Repeat Yourself" (DRY) principle by promoting code reusability. With Ruby on Rails, you can easily create reusable code components, modules, and libraries, which can significantly reduce development time and effort. By leveraging existing code and building upon well-established conventions, developers can focus on implementing unique features and customizations rather than reinventing the wheel. This approach enhances code maintainability, readability, and overall development efficiency.

5. Efficiency: Ruby on Rails follows the "convention over configuration" principle, which promotes efficiency and productivity. By adopting sensible conventions and defaults, RoR minimizes the need for extensive configuration and boilerplate code. This convention-driven approach allows developers to work in a familiar environment, where they can focus on writing application-specific code rather than getting bogged down in tedious setup tasks. As a result, development teams can streamline their workflows, iterate faster, and deliver high-quality applications within shorter timeframes.

6. Ruby on Rails is a flexible and adaptable framework: Another key advantage of Ruby on Rails is its flexibility and adaptability. The framework provides developers with the freedom to redefine or remove elements according to their specific needs. This flexibility extends to various aspects of the application, including data modeling, routing, and view rendering. By leveraging the power of Ruby, developers can mold the framework to suit their unique requirements, creating highly customizable and tailored solutions.

7. Maturity: Ruby on Rails has reached a level of maturity that ensures high stability during the development process. Over the years, the framework has grown beyond its initial capabilities, undergoing extensive testing, refinement, and real-world usage. This maturity translates into a reliable and battle-tested environment for building robust applications. With a vast number of successful projects and a strong ecosystem of libraries and resources, Ruby on Rails provides a solid foundation for your app development endeavors.

In summary, Ruby on Rails offers a wide range of benefits that make it an excellent choice for developing your next mobile or web application. It accelerates development, supports full-stack development, benefits from an active community, promotes code reuse, embraces efficiency through conventions, provides flexibility and adaptability, and offers high stability due to its maturity. By leveraging the power of Ruby on Rails, you can streamline your development workflow, create scalable and maintainable applications, and tap into the extensive resources and expertise of its thriving community.

World's top tech companies using Ruby on Rails

Many growing tech companies have extensively used Ruby on Rails to build a wide range of apps. Be it a small businesses or innovative brands appearing in top Bloomberg rankings: Rails developers are using it everywhere, and for good reason!

Digital services built with Ruby on Rails can be anything from ad posting sites to social network platforms. Let’s present 6 top Ruby companies using this efficient framework!

1. GitHub 

The most popular software hosting service with a library used by almost 2 million active businesses relies on Ruby on Rails to process high volumes of requests quickly and efficiently. This technology company was founded in 2008 and the RoR framework has remained its foundation right through its development.  The main reason why the company decided to build the service with Ruby and then stick to this programming language is that the language allows developers to shape a lot of functionality at a high quality. Ruby helps to keep the code consistent when you develop complex software.

2. Shopify 

Shopify might be the reason your favorite ecommerce local businesses survived on the market. It's and incredibly successful ecommerce online marketplace with its headquarter in Canada, that has used Ruby on Rails to speed up the web development of online stores. It offers easily customizable ecommerce websites working within the same environment and renders retail point-of-sale systems to trade goods online. The company is a serious contributor to Ruby. The main reason is that the language allows Shopify to adjust to various technologies without having to rewrite everything from scratch. There is a ton of code they don’t need to write if they just stick with Ruby. Also, the language makes it easy for Shopify retailers who aren’t technically advanced to build their e-commerce websites and seamlessly connect them to Shopify. This in turn can help to rise customer engagement and improve the customer relationships in general. 

3.    Zendesk

Zendesk is one of the most famous customer service software providers in the IT world. It was built on Ruby on Rails from scratch. As the programming language allows companies to develop software quickly, as well as build prototypes effectively and seamlessly, Zendesk decided to stick with it for many years and it seems that it will not change in the future. Ruby on Rails ensures that Zendesk is able to quickly iterate on its product. From the business perspective, this helps the featured company remain at the forefront of customer service innovation.

4.    Cookpad

Cookpad is an important recipe-sharing platform used by millions of users all over the world. It’s been using Ruby on Rails for over ten years now. Cookpad developers utilize Ruby on Rails mostly because of the language’s ease of integration with other tools and services. One example is Amazon Web Services, the other can be ElasticSearch. This functionality of Ruby on Rails makes it possible to build amazing user experiences across multiple platforms.

5. Airbnb

Headquartered in San Francisco U.S, Airbnb is an online community / ecommerce platform enabling hosts to rent their apartments to travelers. It comes with a brilliant UX/UI design and excellent performance. It’s mostly possible thanks to Ruby on Rails, which was used for back-end development. Ruby is a major part of the platform’s stack due to its awesome capabilities that speed up development and reduce costs and time to market. Being a platform with as much as 100 million users every month, it has served as a resource of know-how for a lot of wev development projects. 

6. Coinbase 

Coinbase is one of the biggest and most important cryptocurrency exchanges. It has high trading volumes and around 73 million verified active users. The platform was launched as a Ruby on Rails mobile app. It uses Ruby Gems that significantly speed up development without bugs.

7. Hulu

Hulu, the popular streaming service, utilizes Ruby on Rails for various aspects of its platform. Ruby on Rails allows Hulu to handle the backend infrastructure, including user authentication, content delivery, and data management. The framework's convention over configuration approach enables Hulu to streamline its development processes, iterate quickly, and deliver a seamless streaming experience to its millions of users. Additionally, Ruby on Rails provides flexibility and scalability, enabling Hulu to efficiently manage and scale its vast library of TV shows, movies, and original content. This in means users can browse the library with ease on all kinds of devices.

8. Twitch

Twitch, a leading live video streaming platform primarily focused on video game content, leverages Ruby on Rails to power various components of its platform. Ruby on Rails enables Twitch to handle user authentication, chat functionality, and content management efficiently. The framework's ease of development and code organization allows Twitch developers to rapidly build and iterate on features, ensuring a smooth and interactive user experience. With the scalability and flexibility offered by Ruby on Rails, Twitch can handle the high traffic and real-time demands of its live streaming ecosystem. 

9. Kickstarter

Headquartered in New York City, Kickstarter is a renowned crowdfunding platform & it utilizes Ruby on Rails to provide a robust and secure infrastructure for its users. Ruby on Rails enables Kickstarter to handle user registration, project management, payment processing, and interactions on social media platform. The framework's emphasis on code reusability and simplicity allows Kickstarter to iterate quickly, test new features, and maintain a smooth user experience. By leveraging Ruby on Rails, Kickstarter can facilitate the funding of creative projects while ensuring security, scalability, and reliability for its community of backers and creators.

10. SoundCloud

SoundCloud, an online audio distribution platform allowing musicians to share their music, relies on Ruby on Rails to power its expansive ecosystem of music sharing and streaming. Ruby on Rails handles various aspects of SoundCloud's backend, such as user authentication, file storage, and content delivery. The framework's flexibility and adaptability enable SoundCloud to customize and optimize the platform according to the unique needs of its users and artists. Additionally, Ruby on Rails' robust ecosystem of libraries and plugins provides SoundCloud with the necessary tools to help them make better advanced features and ensure a seamless music streaming experience for millions of users worldwide.

11. Fiverr

Fiverr, a popular online marketplace connecting freelancers and businesses, has embraced Ruby on Rails (RoR) as its technology framework. Fiverr's decision to use RoR stems from the framework's ability to handle the platform's complex functionality and facilitate rapid development.

In the early stages of Fiverr's growth, RoR played a crucial role in the platform's success. Ruby on Rails enabled Fiverr to rapidly prototype and iterate on their ideas, allowing them to quickly bring their platform to market. The simplicity and elegance of Ruby's syntax, combined with Rails' conventions, allowed Fiverr's developers to focus on implementing unique features and enhancing user experience, rather than grappling with complex technical challenges.

Today, Fiverr continues to leverage Ruby on Rails as the foundation of its platform. RoR's maturity and stability provide a robust environment for Fiverr's ongoing development efforts, allowing them to focus on innovation and meeting the evolving needs of their users. Additionally, RoR's scalability and performance optimizations enable Fiverr to handle the increasing demands of their growing user base, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for both freelancers and clients.

When is Ruby on Rails better than Javascript?

Ruby on Rails (RoR) and JavaScript are both powerful technologies, each with its own set of advantages. While they are often used together in web development, they serve different purposes and have distinct competitive advantages:

1. Development Speed: One of the key competitive advantages of Ruby on Rails is its emphasis on convention over configuration. RoR provides a streamlined development experience with sensible defaults and well-defined conventions. This allows developers to build Ruby on Rails app quickly, reducing the time and effort required for setup and configuration. On the other hand, JavaScript, being a versatile programming language, offers flexibility but requires more explicit configuration and decision-making, potentially adding complexity and development time.

2. Code Readability: Ruby, the programming language used in Ruby on Rails, is renowned for its clean and readable syntax. This readability makes the code easier to understand and maintain, facilitating collaboration among developers. JavaScript, while flexible and widely used, can be prone to more verbose and complex code structures, potentially making it more challenging to comprehend and debug.

3. Rapid Prototyping: Ruby on Rails has a strong focus on simplicity and ease of prototyping. It provides a robust set of features and tools that enable developers to quickly build functional prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). This rapid prototyping capability is particularly advantageous for startups and businesses looking to validate their ideas and gather feedback from stakeholders. JavaScript, as a language, is also suitable for prototyping, but it may require additional libraries and frameworks to achieve similar rapid development capabilities.

4. Convention-driven Development: Ruby on Rails follows a set of conventions that guide developers in structuring their applications. This convention-driven approach enhances code organization, reduces the need for explicit configuration, and fosters a consistent development style across projects. In contrast, JavaScript offers more flexibility, allowing developers to make their own choices and design patterns. While flexibility can be beneficial in certain scenarios, it can also lead to variations in code structure and organization, potentially making maintenance and collaboration more challenging.

5. Ecosystem and Community Support: Ruby on Rails boasts a mature and thriving ecosystem with a vast array of libraries, plugins, and gems available. The RoR community actively contributes to its development, providing updates, bug fixes, and improvements. This well-established ecosystem ensures access to a wide range of resources, tutorials, and community-driven solutions. JavaScript, being a widely adopted language, also has a vibrant ecosystem with numerous libraries and frameworks. However, Ruby on Rails' ecosystem is specifically tailored to web application development, providing a more focused and cohesive experience.

It's important to note that while Ruby on Rails offers competitive advantages in certain areas, JavaScript shines in others, especially when it comes to client-side interactivity, dynamic user interfaces, and real-time applications. Both technologies have their strengths and are often used together in modern web development to leverage the best of both worlds. Ultimately, the choice between Ruby on Rails and JavaScript depends on the specific requirements of the project, the development team's expertise, and the desired outcome.

Building Your App with Trusted Ruby on Rails Specialists: Mitigating Risks and Ensuring Success

When embarking on the development of your app, it is essential to work with trusted Ruby on Rails (RoR) specialists who possess the necessary expertise to navigate the intricacies of the framework. In this regard, staff augmentation can be a valuable approach, and iRonin.IT is a company that has excelled in gathering a group of senior-level specialists with extensive experience in RoR development.

  • By choosing to partner with iRonin.IT, you gain access to a team of skilled professionals who have successfully completed numerous projects. Their comprehensive understanding of RoR's best practices, conventions, and optimizations ensures that your app is built with a solid foundation, minimizing the risk of code quality issues, performance bottlenecks, and future maintenance challenges.
  • The advantage of staff augmentation lies in the ability to tap into a pool of highly qualified and vetted specialists who can seamlessly integrate with your existing team. This approach allows for flexibility in scaling your development capacity, accommodating fluctuations in workload, and ensuring timely project delivery. With iRonin.IT's team of RoR specialists, you can rest assured that your project will be handled by seasoned professionals who possess a deep knowledge of the framework and its ecosystem.
  • The expertise of iRonin.IT's team extends beyond technical proficiency. They bring a wealth of experience in building robust applications, implementing complex features, and delivering successful projects. Their problem-solving abilities, honed through their involvement in diverse projects, enable them to navigate challenges effectively and provide innovative solutions tailored to your specific requirements.
  • Moreover, iRonin.IT's senior-level specialists undergo a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most skilled professionals join their team. This dedication to assembling a highly competent workforce guarantees that you are working with experts who have the expertise to handle the intricacies of your app development project.
  • By partnering with iRonin.IT and leveraging their staff augmentation services, you can harness the collective knowledge and experience of their RoR specialists. This not only mitigates the risks associated with inexperienced teams but also provides you with the peace of mind that your project will be developed using industry best practices, adhering to security standards, and optimized for performance.

In summary, entrusting your app development to best Ruby on Rails specialists, such as those found at iRonin.IT, through their staff augmentation services, is a strategic decision that minimizes risks and maximizes the chances of success. Their team of senior-level specialists, with a track record of successfully delivering dozens of projects, offers the expertise, problem-solving abilities, and technical proficiency necessary to build your app to the highest standards, ensuring its long-term success.

Conclusion

Ruby on Rails continues to maintain its position at the forefront of the most widely used frameworks, with numerous startups and tech companies relying on its capabilities. Despite the vast array of frameworks available for Ruby on Rails website development, it stands out as one of the most efficient and effective choices, particularly for enterprise software development companies. Its remarkable performance, reliability, and speed make it an excellent option for a wide range of applications. At iRonin.IT, we have accumulated extensive experience working with Ruby on Rails over the years, specializing in constructing code that is not only highly readable but also scalable and robust. Our team of developers is well-equipped to undertake the development of your product from scratch or seamlessly integrate with your existing in-house team.

If you are interested in harnessing the power of Ruby on Rails for your next project, we invite you to get in touch with us.  Contact us and together, we can embark on an incredible journey to create something truly exceptional!

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