Ruby on Rails Vs JavaScript: Which Framework is best for you?

Creating a software product always leaves developers with the question: Which framework to use? While the question may seem easy, as what aligns with the requirements should be chosen, it’s not that simple. The reason why choosing one framework over another is not as simple as the close competition between many languages.

Two such frameworks are Ruby on Rails and JavaScript. Yes, you are right. JavaScript is not a framework, but when it comes to adding extraordinary features to your web products, it gives close competition to Ruby on Rails, a framework popular for server-side development of web applications. So, let’s do a Ruby on Rails vs. JavaScript comparison in this blog to understand which one is best for you.

Ruby on Rails — Overview

Ruby on Rails, often referred to as Rails, is a web application framework written in the Ruby programming language. It follows the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which helps organize application programming. Rails is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it popular among developers for building web applications quickly and efficiently.

Javascript — Overview

JavaScript is a versatile, high-level programming language essential for web development. It is primarily known for adding interactivity to web pages, but it has evolved to be used for both front-end and back-end development. Hence, there are frameworks that allow for the development of web applications totally based on JS.

Ruby on Rails Vs JavaScript — Pros

1) Ruby on Rails

• Quick Development

One of Rails’ many benefits is its ability for quick development. This framework allows you to build applications very quickly. It does this because it gives you many pre-written codes, so you can save plenty of time as you don’t have to write everything from scratch. Besides, Ruby on Rails provides you with many amazing features like ORM, routing, and middleware. These features further increase your development rate

• Convention Over Configuration

Ruby on Rails follows some very standard practices which will benefit you greatly. For instance, it has conventions for file structure, naming, and configuration. All this helps you to reduce the need for a lot of configuration. In addition, it helps you to maintain a clean and organized codebase. Moreover, these conventions also help you to focus more on writing business logic. By doing so, you will be able to avoid wasting your time in configuring applications.

• Built-in Testing

Ruby on Rails has many built-in testing tools that promote good testing practices. It also ensures that your code works as expected. Moreover, it decreases the number of bugs in your code. Ruby on Rails also has integrated testing frameworks like RSpec and Minitest. These frameworks help you by automating the testing process. Also, with the help of these codes, you can easily maintain high-quality codes.

2) JavaScript

• Versatile and Flexible

JavaScript tends to be more versatile and flexible than Ruby on Rails. This is because you can use JavaScript for both front-end and back-end purposes. This means you can use it for both client and server development. You can use Javascript on the server because of its frameworks like Node.js. Also, unlike Rail, Javascript can easily work across several major platforms. Additionally, you can use it across several major browsers as well.

• Rich Ecosystem

The libraries and frameworks of JavaScript can offer you a very rich ecosystem. You can get help from libraries and frameworks like React, Angular, and more. As a result, you can simplify and speed up your development process. Besides, NPM provides you with a huge repository of reusable code packages. These codes are easy to integrate into your project and make things easier.

• Highly Interactive

Javascript proves to be very helpful when creating highly interactive web pages. Unlike Rails, where you can face performance issues, JavaScript can do it easily. It can manipulate HTML and CSS to update your content dynamically. Javascript can even respond to your inputs and events like clicks, mouse movements, etc. As a result, it can enhance the experience of your clients.

Good to Read:- List of Top Backend Technologies

Ruby on Rails Vs JavaScript — Cons

1) Ruby on Rails

• Speed and Performance

One of the cons of Ruby on Rails is that, unfortunately, it is not the fastest web framework. Other languages like Java or frameworks like Node.js will offer you better performance. You may notice most speed or performance issues while doing CPU-intensive tasks. Besides, the Rails application tends to consume more memory. Hence, this can be a concern if you are creating high-traffic apps.

• Scalability

If you want to scale Rails, you will need more resources than lighter frameworks. Hence, Ruby on Rails can be very resource-intensive for you and your company. While small to medium applications can scale smoothly, you may face performance issues in large applications. To solve this, you will need complex solutions like background jobs, caching, or even load balancing.

• Hosting and Deployment

Regarding deployment, it is easier for PHP or Node.js apps than Rails applications. However, you can solve this issue with management tools like Capistrano or Docker. These tools can easily simplify this issue. Another issue is that not all hosting providers can support Rail as easily as PHP or other sites. So, this can limit your choice of hosting providers.

2) JavaScript

• Security Issues

Since Javascript can be executed on the client side, you may have to deal with many security threats. Moreover, as compared to Rails, your code can be read by anyone when you use Javascript. This can be done by using the browser’s developer tools, further exposing your logic and even some sensitive information.

• Browser Compatibility

There are some inconsistencies while interpreting JavaScript code on different browsers. In fact, it can even lead your code to face compatibility issues. Hence, your developers may have to run and test their codes on several browsers. This drawback is barely observed in Rails. Besides, some older browsers may not even support the latest features of Javascript.

• Complexity with Large Applications

Like Rails, JavaScript can also face some complexity in large applications. As your JavaScript apps grow, it can become difficult to maintain and debug. However, you can solve this issue through good practices and management tools. Also, you need to be careful with your structure and discipline. This is because your code can turn into a tangled mess without proper structure and discipline.

• Loose Typing

You also need to be careful while typing code in JavaScript, as it is loosely typed. Loose typing can lead you to create type-related bugs that become harder to catch. Hence, it affects the reliability of your code. However, you can solve this issue using TypeScript, which adds static typing to JavaScript.

Good to Read:- List of The Most Popular Java Frameworks for Your Project

Conclusion

In summary, while the performance of Ruby on Rails is slower than that of JavaScript, the development time is quite the opposite. So, if you want to create a less complex product faster, then Ruby on Rails is best. But, if you look forward to scaling your product, then JavaScript is a better option from this POV. This is also the reason why JavaScript is popular among developers and companies. So, with these points in mind, you can choose any of these two as per your preference

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Originally published at https://www.devstringx.com on June 18, 2024