Why You Should Learn Ruby Programming in 2023 and 5 Best Learning Resources

If you’re wondering, “Should I learn Ruby Programming?” Don’t worry. You are not alone in your confusion.

Although the Ruby programming language receives mixed reviews, it developed many well-known websites like Twitter, Github, Shopify, Airbnb, Hulu, Basecamp, and Twitch.

The list certainly lives up to the saying, “Ruby is a programmer’s best friend.”

Ruby is perfect if you want a well-rounded, high-level language for web servers, web applications, and other forms of DevOps and Automation.

In this article, we’ll discuss the numerous benefits of learning Ruby programming language and some of its best learning resources.

What Is Ruby Programming Language?

Ruby is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language with simple and written English syntax. It has a strong focus on productivity.

Ruby comes with a dynamic type system, automatic memory management, and an object-oriented design. Thus it becomes a valuable tool for cutting-edge web development, automation scripts, data analysis, system utilities, and similar applications.

It treats basic data types like strings and numbers as objects. So, the object-oriented structure makes Ruby adaptable and extensive, able to create classes and objects whenever necessary.

Ruby provides plenty of frameworks. Ruby frameworks offer numerous packages and prepared codes to accelerate your development. Out of all the Ruby frameworks, Ruby on Rails (RoR) is the most popular one.

Code Example:

def sum_eq_n?(arr, n)
  return true if arr.empty? && n == 0

  arr.product(arr).reject { |a,b| a == b }.any? { |a,b| a + b == n }
end

Brief History of Ruby

Japanese computer scientist Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto believed that Perl smelled like a toy language and Python wasn’t genuinely object-oriented.

Thus, Yukihiro developed his ideal object-oriented programming language Ruby in 1993 and released it on December 21, 1995.

Out of his two proposed names, “Coral” and “Ruby,” he picked Ruby because it was the birthstone of one of his coworkers.

Ruby became popular in Japan in the late 90s. Then became a leading web development tool after the Ruby on Rails framework was released in 2004.

Alternate to Python: A True OOP Language

ruby vs python comparison with their logos on the photo

Considering their nature and architecture, Ruby and Python can go side by side all day. However, in some cases, they take different paths and leave a narrow margin for you to choose the best one for your needs.

Let’s explore some of the key differences between Ruby and Python:

Features	Ruby	Python
Object Orientation	Fully Object Oriented	Mostly Object Oriented
Syntax	Flexible, versatile, and human-readable	Simple
Metaprogramming	Flexible, versatile, and human readable	Limited
Environment	Supports only EclipseIDE	Supports multiple IDEs
Flexibility	Amazingly flexible	Strict and one way to do something
Data types	All object	Primitive and Objects
Web frameworks	Ruby on Rails	Django
Functions	Not much	Numerous functions
Tuples	Supports tuples, Set, Dictionary, and List	Vast library for developers, academics, and data scientists
Libraries	Limited but properly focused on professional development	Focuses on academics, data science, ML, and web
Community	Focuses on web development with a diverse ecosystem	Focuses on academics, data science, ML and web
Users	Github, Apple, Twitter, Airbnb	Google, Dropbox, Instagram, Youtube

Also read: Ruby on Rails vs. Django: The Right Framework for You

Why Should You Learn Ruby Programming?

How can Ruby compete with Python, GoLang, and JavaScript?

If you recall, Ruby was initially developed to fill a niche that Python didn’t.

The main reasons to learn Ruby programming:

Versatile: In an object-oriented framework, Ruby combines dynamic and strongly typed static languages. So, Ruby on Rails allows you to achieve the same goals with significantly less code than other languages.

Cloud Computing: Cloud apps are the future. Ruby on Rails’ fast and application development performance will likely make it worthwhile in cloud computing. Thus, learning Ruby programming will empower you to explore the potential job market.

Use in Automation: The rise of AI, Machine Learning, and the cloud proves automation is the future. Ruby’s array-based language performs better with ordered datasets, making it a unique tool for automation. Therefore, the market for Ruby developers will likely increase.

Great Job market: There is a robust job market for Ruby developers. Since the technology comes with futuristic and cost-efficient features, it increases the value of Ruby and Ruby on Rails developers. So, you can get a lucrative salary for Ruby Engineer jobs.

The Benefits of Using Ruby Programming Language

Ruby’s simple syntax and extensive library support make it a handy web technology for rapid development. Hence, building applications is a breeze if you use Ruby on Rails.

Some core benefits of using Ruby programming language:

Intuitive Syntaxes: Ruby’s syntax is both straightforward and flexible. It uses simple English. Ruby allows more expressions than Python as functional languages like Lisp and Scheme.
Ruby on Rails: Ruby on Rails is responsible for Ruby’s popularity boom. It’s built on the model-view-controller (MVC) framework and Convention over Configuration (CoC) viewpoint that simplifies development. Simply put, Ruby on Rails adds extraordinary benefits to web development, outperforming similar frameworks in speed and simplicity.
Metaprogramming: Ruby’s powerful metaprogramming and dynamic code generation capabilities allow it to define methods and classes during runtime. Likewise, it has functions like define_method that auto-detects and generates prospective code based on your runtime information or logic. So your code becomes clean and doesn’t repeat.
Use cases: Ruby is most commonly used in web development, DevOps, web servers, API development, data processing, and cloud computing. However, you can also use it in e-commerce, content management systems, social and business applications, and other relevant areas.
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Rapid prototyping: Ruby has a flexible syntax and dynamic nature. With its massive library support, you can start developing anything quickly. Besides, its metaprogramming ability lets you advance your prototype and make rapid customizations. So, you save both time and effort in prototyping.
Testing: Ruby’s behavior-driven development (BDD) with RSpec and Cucumber compares your codebase to a list of developer-created requirements. Therefore, it allows you to witness the test and receive clear, readable guidelines for the code’s expected behavior.
Learning Curve: Learning Ruby programming is easy as it optimizes programmer happiness. It provides you with several ways to complete the same task. So, you can pick the approach that meets your coding preferences. For example, you can do looping with different looping constructs like for, while, each, and until.

Also read: Best Ruby IDEs for Developers

When Should You Use Ruby Programming Language?

Ruby has numerous applications as a general-purpose language. Likewise, you can use Ruby programming for all stages of development, from the web to the cloud to DevOps and even mobile app development.

Let’s look at some scenarios where you can use Ruby programming for the most efficient results:

Rapid Prototyping: Use Ruby for web development due to its fast prototyping and development.
E-commerce Friendly: Ruby on Rails is significantly efficient for e-commerce platform development to manage sales, inventory, and customers.
CMS Development: Ruby on Rails sparkles at building content management systems (CMS).
Server-side Scripting: Use Ruby for server-side scripting and server configuration.
Mobile App Development: Rubymotion allows cross-platform mobile app development.

Tech Giants Who Use Ruby

Top global companies who use Ruby and Ruby on Rails.

GitHub: GitHub is entirely built with Rails framework and running strong.
Shopify: E-commerce engine Shopify running millions of businesses worldwide, powers itself with Ruby on Rails.
Dribble: Ruby on Rails has been powering the design networking titans backend since 2009. Over 20 million users use it without issue.
Coinbase: The cryptocurrency platform began as a Ruby on Rails application. Coinbase runs the Ruby on Rails Monolith despite switching to Goland as their primary language.
Twitter: Originally built on Ruby on Rails, Twitter migrated its core to Scala due to rapid expansion. But it still uses Ruby on Rails for many aspects.
Airbnb: The Airbnb stack relies heavily on Ruby on Rails. The platform handles thousands of requests simultaneously, exhibiting Rails scalability.
Basecamp: The same developers created the Ruby on Rails framework and then built Basecamp. Basecamp continues to serve millions of developers using Rails at its core.
Twitch: Twitch used Rails frameworks to create a monolithic codebase.

Growing Career Opportunity for Ruby Developers

Top companies rapidly prototype new product ideas, and startups strive to develop products fast to draw market attention.

Excelling in agile development, Ruby on Rails holds firm in both use cases. Thus, the need for Ruby on Rails developers is growing in this fast-changing tech world.

Ruby’s job market and salary are ever-growing despite tech industry rumors.

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for Ruby and Ruby on Rails developers ranges from $81k to $135k in the US.

ruby-on-rails-developer-salary-glassdoor

Another top website, ZipRecruiter, reports a similar national average salary of $119k annually for Ruby and Ruby on Rails developers in the US.

Also read: Frequently Asked Ruby on Rails Interview Questions and Answers [2023]

The Best Sources to Learn Ruby

Let’s look at the best online resources and courses for learning the Ruby programming language.

#1. Learn to Code with Ruby

Udemy’s Learn to Code with Ruby Course is one of the most in-depth online Ruby learning resources. This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced programmers.

The course begins by teaching you the basics of Ruby, such as Strings, Arrays, Methods, and Variables. Eventually, you’ll solve problems and dive deep into real-world object-oriented programming.

You’ll have access to 30+ hours of video lessons and 300+ lectures to assist you in learning the Ruby programming language.

#2. Comprehensive Ruby Programming

If you’re a programming enthusiast looking to add Ruby to your coding arsenal, Udemy’s Comprehensive Ruby Programming course fits your interest.

It will teach Ruby syntax, program construction, algorithm design, data analysis, metaprogramming, and Ruby project management. Besides, every section ends with a quiz to test your learning.

Most importantly, the course teaches rapid web development and prototyping using Ruby on Rails and Sinatra.

Notably, both beginners and advanced coders can take the course.

#3. The Complete Ruby on Rails Developer Course

The Complete Ruby on Rails Developer Course is a comprehensive resource for those who want to learn Ruby programming. Since it teaches Ruby from basics, anyone can enroll.

It covers everything you need to become a professional Ruby on Rails developer, from rapid prototyping to designing and developing a web app.

The 430+ lecture course includes 45+ hours of tutorial videos to help you build your web application ideas with Ruby on Rails.

#4. The Ruby Programming Language: Everything You Need to Know

The Ruby Programming Language: Everything You Need to Know is a comprehensive book for existing Ruby programmers who want to dive deep. The book begins with a quick-start tutorial and explains the language in detail.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	The Ruby Programming Language: Everything You Need to Know	No ratings yet	$27.49	Buy on Amazon

Yukihiro Matsumoto, the creator of Ruby, wrote the book with David Flanagan. Thus, it contains Ruby’s creator’s perspective on syntax, data types, blocks, methods, classes, and other Ruby language elements.

The book is your go-to guide if you want to learn Ruby programming language at the next level.

#5. Polished Ruby Programming

The book Polished Ruby Programming covers the common programming situations, trade-offs, inherent approaches, and other qualities required to become an advanced Ruby programmer.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Polished Ruby Programming: Build better software with more intuitive, maintainable, scalable, and…	No ratings yet	$51.99	Buy on Amazon

It’s an advanced programming book that modifies your Ruby basics, covers higher-level programming principles, and teaches you how to use the advanced database, web framework, and security features.

So, if you’re a Ruby developer looking to enhance your skills and career, this book can be your friend on hand.

#6. Ruby Programming for Beginners

As the title suggests, Ruby Programming for Beginners is a beginner-friendly Ruby learning book with simple step-by-step instructions for writing your first Ruby scripts.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Ruby Programming for Beginners: An Introduction to Learning Ruby Programming with Tutorials and…		$7.99	Buy on Amazon

The book contains comprehensive guidelines to help you learn the Ruby programming language, starting with basic concepts, statements, code blocks, methods, and other elements.

So, if you are starting from the root, it’s a suitable pick.