If you’re a software developer, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Ruby. The Ruby programming language has been steadily gaining in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason: Ruby is powerful, versatile, and easy to learn. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at What is the Ruby programming language used for and why so many developers love it. Stay tuned!
The Ruby Programming Language: Explanation and its Background
Ruby is a programming language that was created in the 1990s by Yukihiro Matsumoto, also known as “Matz.”He started working on the language in 1993 and released it to the public in 1995.
It’s a versatile and powerful language that is easy to learn and use. Ruby has gained popularity in recent years due to its simplicity and flexibility; it can be used for everything from developing web applications to creating games.
Another reason why Ruby is so popular among software developers is that it’s an open-source language, which means that anyone can use and modify the code for free. This has made it possible to develop several toolkits, libraries, frameworks, etc., making development easier than ever before!
Why is Ruby Language Popular with Developers?
One of the things that makes Ruby so unique and appealing to developers is its flexibility. For instance, with some programming languages such as Python, there’s a fixed structure for organizing code. This can make it difficult to reuse sections or include them in other projects. Ruby, on the other hand, doesn’t have a fixed structure; developers are free to organize their code in any way they choose. Apart from that, there are numerous reasons why developers love Ruby is because:
- It’s a versatile and powerful language: Ruby was built for developer productivity. It has a wide range of capabilities, allowing developers to write simple code that does complex things (this is known as “Being Ruby”).
- It’s easy to learn: Because it doesn’t have rigid rules about how the language should be written and organized, new coders can quickly become familiar with the basics. There are plenty of resources available online if you need more help!
- It has an active community: The popularity of this language in recent years means there’s a strong support network out there; you’ll never feel alone when learning or using Ruby! One great resource for beginning users is r/ruby, where members often share questions and answer them as well.
- It’s open-source: Ruby is an open-source language, meaning that the code is freely available for anyone to use and modify. This has led to the development of a number of libraries, toolkits, and frameworks that make Ruby even more powerful and easy to use!
- It’s used in a wide range of industries: Ruby is popular among developers because it’s a language that can be used for a variety of purposes. It’s not tied to any one specific industry, which gives developers the freedom to use it in whatever way they want. The various uses of Ruby programming language can be seen in a wide range of industries including finance, e-commerce, blogging, and gaming.
Pros and cons of using Ruby as a programming language
Like any other Backend Development Language, Ruby also has some positive and negative aspects. Thus, it’s better to know whether you should know if you should learn this language or not. We hope that a quick overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the Ruby programming language will help you make your decision easier. Let’s begin with the Advantages of the Ruby programming language.
Pros
- Ruby is a popular programming language, so it’s easy to find help and tutorials on the web. If you’re stuck on a problem, simply Google it! Ruby has an active community of users who love to help others.
- This language is easy to learn, especially for beginners. If you’re new to the world of programming languages and want something simple, Ruby is a great option.
- Ruby has been around for a long time, so there are many libraries available for doing complex tasks. If you’re looking to build a complicated program, Ruby offers many useful libraries and frameworks that can make development faster.
- Ruby is open-source and free to use. This language is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to code without spending any money.
- The syntax of Ruby is simple and intuitive – some people say that it’s easier to learn than other languages. The simplicity of this language means that it’s not as confusing for new coders.
- If you’re already familiar with another programming language like Python or Java, then learning Ruby will be relatively easy. This is a great option for experienced developers who want to learn something new.
- There are lots of jobs in the field of software development that require knowledge of Ruby as a programming language. In fact, compared to Laravel and Django, Ruby programmers get more preference.
- The Ruby programming language uses a comprehensive structure, meaning developers can write code in any format they want. Whereas some languages, like Java, have a specific structure that must be followed, Ruby gives developers the freedom to write code in any way they choose.
Cons
- Ruby is not as widely used as some other programming languages. If you’re looking to work in a specific industry, you may want to learn a language that is more common in that particular field. For example, if you’re interested in working as an iOS developer for an iPhone app, you’ll need to know Objective-C or Swift.
- Ruby is not always the best option for high-performance applications. If you need a language that is fast and efficient, Ruby may not be the best choice.
- Some people find the syntax of Ruby to be confusing or difficult to learn. Although this language is relatively simple, it can be challenging for beginners.
- The community of Ruby developers is not as large as the community for some other programming languages. If you’re looking for a lot of support and help, Ruby may not be the best language to learn.
- This programming language is not as widely used in the corporate world. If you’re looking for a good career in the corporate world, you may want to choose a language that is used more often in business.
- Ruby is not the best option for writing mobile apps. If you’re looking to build an app, Ruby may not be a good choice. Hence, It is one of the disadvantages of the Ruby programming language
How to know whether you should learn Ruby?
Ruby is the perfect language for developers who:
- Want to learn how to code on their own?
- Need a versatile language that can be used for many different purposes, from developing full-scale applications to writing a simple script.
- Like to work as an independent contractor or freelancer, since it’s easy to find work with Ruby.
- Require a hands-on language that will allow them to learn by doing.
Conclusion
No doubt that with Ruby you can do anything you want. Plus, it’s a simple yet powerful language with many libraries and frameworks available to help you build your project quickly. It has global acceptance, as companies like Twitter, Hulu, Shopify, Groupon, Goodreads, and more are using it. Since it’s open-source, it is easy to learn as well, but that’s not enough.
Like other programming languages, it has some limitations, and it’s always better to know each aspect of any language before you learn it.