Datasheet

Throwing frameworks at the problem

By 2004, there wasn’t just one framework for solving the Web/database prob-

lem. There were dozens of frameworks. New frameworks, with names such

as Enterprise JavaBeans, Spring, Hibernate, and .NET, tackled pieces of the

problem.

But most of the aforementioned frameworks had a serious deficiency. They

didn’t lend themselves to agile software development. Software created with

one of these frameworks was fairly rigid. Planning was essential. Changes

were costly.

What the world needed was a different framework — a framework for agile

developers. The world needed a language that didn’t put programmers in

a box. The world needed software that could shift with a user’s shifting

needs. Let the major corporations use the older, heavyweight frameworks.

An entrepreneurial company thrives with a more versatile framework.

A small-to-medium-size company needs Ruby on Rails.

Along Comes Ruby on Rails

Think about your native language — the language you speak at home. Divide

the language into two styles. You use one style when you speak to a close

friend. (“Hi, buddy.”) You use another, more formal style when you write to a

potential employer (“Dear Sir or Madam . . .”).

Talking to a close friend is an agile activity. You listen intently, but occasion-

ally you interrupt. If your friend says something intriguing, you take time out

to ask for more details. You don’t try to impress your friend. You tune care-

fully to your friend’s mood, and the friend tunes to your mood.

In contrast, writing a business cover letter is not an agile activity. You don’t

get feedback as you write the letter. You try to guess what the potential

employer wants you to say, but you can never be sure. You use a formal

writing style in case the employer is a stodgy old coot.

Now imagine using a formal style to speak to your friend. “If you have any

questions about our next meeting at Kelly’s Tavern, please don’t hesitate to

call me at the phone number on this napkin. I look forward to hearing from

you soon. Yours truly,

et cetera, et cetera.” Using formal language with your

friend would slow the conversation to a crawl. You wouldn’t pop your eyes

open when you heard some juicy gossip. Instead, you’d plan each sentence

carefully. You’d think about subject/verb agreement, hoping you didn’t offend

your friend with an awkward phrase or with some inappropriate slang.

Chapter 1: Welcome to the World of Ruby on Rails

05_081204 ch01.qxp 11/30/06 11:09 PM Page 13