Rails 1.1

Rails web framework is a full-stack framework for developing database-backed web applications according to the Model-View-Control pattern.

From the Ajax in the view, to the request and response in the controller, to the domain model wrapping the database, Rails gives you a pure-Ruby development environment. To go live, all you need to add is a database and a web server.

Everyone from startups to non-profits to enterprise organizations are using Rails. Rails is all about infrastructure so its a great fit for practically any type of web application Be it software for collaboration, community, e-commerce, content management, statistics, management, you name it.

Rails works with a wealth of web servers and databases. For web server, we recommend Apache or lighttpd running either FastCGI or SCGI. For database, you can use MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, or Firebird. Just about any operating system will do, but we recommend a nix-based one for deployment.

If you need hosting, TextDrive is the official Ruby on Rails host, offering fantastic plans with a knowledgeable staff. Whether you need shared or dedicated hosting, these guys are experts in Ruby on Rails.

Creating a weblog in 15 minutes

In 15 minutes, we go from scratch to complete weblog engine: with comments and an administrative interface. But since the actual application only took 58 lines to complete, we also have time left over to do unit testing, examine the logs, and play around with the domain model.

Putting Flickr on Rails

Ruby on Rails is not just for playing with your local database, its for taking on the web. So in 5 minutes, we create a web-based search engine for Flickr using their public API with all the fades and glamour of Ajax. Hows that for a low-tech alternative to something fancy like Flash.

Evolving your database schema without a sweat

Before you know it, youll have data that you care about in your application. Which makes adding, removing, or changing the schema an error-prone, time-consuming, and frustrating process. That is, unless youre using Ruby on Rails. In 20 minutes, youll learn all about how database migrations can make your schema as flexible as your code with no fear of data loss.