The popular Ruby programming language is used in various areas of development. It is most often used to write code for web applications and mobile games. Compared to other languages (C or Java), Ruby is more flexible. It is much easier to learn due to its understandable syntax. That is why many IT beginners choose Ruby as their first language. Let’s take a look at the features of Ruby and the Ruby on Rails framework, as well as the pros and cons of using Ruby for programming.

Ruby appeared in the mid-1990s. Japanese programmer Yukihiro Matsumoto, the author of this language, was an expert in several others — Perl, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Lisp, and Ada. In Ruby, he tried to combine the best elements of everything he knew. Matsumoto believed that a programming language should:

• be syntactically simple;
• have iterators and closures;
• be truly object-oriented;
• have a high level of portability.

In 1998, the programmer created a simple Ruby homepage in English. However, the new language was still only known in Japan. To expand its reach, the first English-language Ruby mailing list, Ruby-Talk, was created. This is how Ruby began to spread beyond Japan.

In 2001, the first English book on Ruby was published, and in 2005, it became known around the world. This was due to the emergence of Ruby on Rails. The tool has made a significant contribution to the history of web development. Rails has a Model-View-Controller structure, which focuses on “agreement over configuration.” Thanks to it, small teams could quickly create large-scale applications. Some of them — Shopify, Instacart, Twitch, SoundCloud, GitHub — still use Ruby on Rails today.

The Ruby programming language

Ruby is a general-purpose object-oriented programming (OOP) language. It is characterized by dynamic typing, flexibility, and conciseness.

Common uses for Ruby:

• Web development — the Ruby on Rails framework helps run simple commands, generate template code, and create the right file structure.
• Task automation — Ruby’s clear syntax and ability to quickly perform operations in the system are suitable for automating various projects.
• Rapid prototyping — developers can “hack” and quickly create functional prototypes to test concepts.
• Data analysis — libraries and frameworks (Rubygems and SciRuby) facilitate the analysis process.
• Game development — suitable for creating indie games and 2D games. Libraries have tools for implementing graphics capabilities.
• Test automation — RSpec and Cucumber can be used to write automated tests. This simplifies them.

Ruby is often compared to Python. Both are high-level server-side scripting languages and can be used to develop web applications. Ruby and Python are supported by Emacs modes, work with built-in documentation tools, and are used in GNU debugger styles.

One of the main differences between Ruby and Python is ease of use. Python is considered a high-level programming language, while Ruby is more of a general-purpose language. The Python community is mainly focused on Linux. Ruby supporters, on the other hand, are deeply involved in web development.

Features

Ruby is a general-purpose programming language. It was not created for use in specific areas. It can be used to write any type of program. For programmers, entities act as objects. All calculations are performed using methods called for objects.

Dynamic languages use dynamic typing, which allows programmers to pass data types or parameters directly during execution. This increases development speed.

Programming languages can be interpreted or compiled. When compiled, data is placed in a separate block and only then executed. Interpretability allows the source code to be executed in real time. Interpreters execute code line by line. Thanks to them, you can track changes and fix errors faster.

Ruby’s syntax is convenient for developers. It is intuitive and similar to English. Ruby uses abstraction and follows the principles of English language structures, making it easy to understand. Programmers do not need to spend a lot of time memorizing structures.

In 2024, Ruby was ranked among the top ten most popular programming languages by RedMonk.