Hire the Best Ruby Developers & Programmers

Clients rate our Ruby Developers & Programmers
Rating is 4.8 out of 5.
4.8/5
Based on 1,211 client reviews
Aliaksandr H.

Warsaw, Poland

$25/hr
4.9
87 jobs

Hello! I'm an AI engineer, full-stack iOS/Android/PHP/JavaScript/TypeScript/React/React Native developer and problem solver with more than 17 years of experience. Specializing in MERN and LAMP stacks, artificial intelligence (AI) and AI agents. I embrace modern AI-powered development workflows using tools like 🤖 Claude Code, 🧠 Cursor, 🏄 Windsurf IDEs and 🌀 Codex. What I do: 📱 Mobile apps, 🖥️ Desktop apps, 🌐 Websites, ⚙️ Web services, 👨🏻‍💻 Admin Backends, 🧩 API for them, 🤖 AI agents and ChatGPT/Claude integrations. 🚀 My own products: I don't only build for clients — I ship my own apps end to end, alone, from idea to the App Store, and keep them running. 🕰️ Insight Countdown is a countdown app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: SwiftUI, SwiftData, private iCloud sync, widgets, and an alarm that rings through silent mode and Focus. 📶 WiFi QR Studio prints WiFi QR cards at exact DPI. Both have multilingual marketing sites in Astro and Tailwind. So when I estimate your project, I'm estimating work I've done for myself — store review, crash reports, support and updates included. 🤖 AI agents: I've shipped an AI agent handling inbound marketplace leads for live paying customers. It acts on an external event with nobody pressing anything, takes real actions in the world (replies to a person in chat, sends SMS, starts a phone call), follows up hours and days later, keeps conversation state and changes its own later behaviour from what it reads. What separates that from a demo is predictability, and that's where the engineering goes: making bad output structurally impossible to send rather than asking the model nicely, idempotent delivery so a retry can't message someone eleven times, and switches that fail toward the safe side. Kinds of software I've created: 🛍️ Shopping & online stores, 🏃 Sports, 🎮 Games, 🧘 Medicine & well-being, ✈️ Travel, 💰 Bank systems, 📣 Ad networks, 🛡️ Insurance, 🛬 Landings. I have strong skills in the following programming languages: 📜 TypeScript, ☕ JavaScript, 🦅 Swift, 🎯 Objective-C, 🐘 PHP, 🐱 Kotlin, ☕ Java. Frameworks and technologies: 🦕 Deno & Node, ⚛️ React, ⚛️ React Native, 🤖 ChatGPT API, 🔮 Anthropic AI API, 🌟 Google Gemini API, 🅰 Astro, ⚡️ Vite, 🐻 Zustand, ⚛️ Electron, 🆁 Redux, 🆁 Redux Toolkit, 🐆 Nest js, 🅽 Next js, 🆅 Vue, 🐆 Fastify, 🥤 Fresh, 🅰 Apollo GraphQL Client and Server, 🔌 Relay, 🅼 MobX, 🌳 Koa, 🅴 Express js, 📈 GraphQL, 😎 Swagger, 💨 Tailwind, 🦅 SwiftUI, 💾 SwiftData, ☁️ CloudKit, ⏰ AlarmKit, 🧩 WidgetKit, 🎥 Lottie Files, 🥤 Cocoa Touch, 🥥 Cocos2D, 🅻 Laravel, 🎵 Symfony, 🆈 YII and YII2, 🔥 CodeIgnitor, 🆉 Zend Framework, 📍 CoreLocation, 🎥 CoreAnimation, 🏠 Apple HomeKit, ❤️ Apple HealthKit, 💰 Superwall, 💳 Stripe, ☎️ Twilio. Databases: 🍃 Mongo, 🐬 MySQL, 🪶 SQLite, 🍉 Watermelon DB, ⚡️ Supabase, 🔥 Firebase, 🐘 Postgres, 📄 TypeORM, ➡️ Doctrine, ⚪ DynamoDB/PartiQL, 🔴 Oracle, 🅲 CoreData, 🟣 Realm. I design the schemas too — relational and NoSQL, with indexing and query performance in mind. Cloud Computing: 🔺 AWS (Lambda, DynamoDB, SQS, EventBridge, S3, CloudFront, EC2), 🌥️ Google Cloud Platform, 🐳 Docker, ☸️ Kubernetes, ☸️ Google Kubernetes Engine, 🌊 DigitalOcean, 🅷 Heroku, 🆁 Render, ☀️ Netlify, ▲ Vercel, 🟠 Cloudflare, 🅰 Microsoft Azure. Serverless and edge functions, plus deployment and hosting on about half my projects. I have developed over 20 iOS apps, 15 React Native apps, several Android apps, APIs for some of them, over 20 websites, and shipped my own products to the App Store. I'm proficient in problem-solving, with a solid track record of fixing complex problems teams had struggled with on their own — usually performance issues or hard-to-track bugs. How I work: ⚡ I reply fast and I'm easy to reach — quick responses are what clients mention most. 🕒 Based in Europe: in sync with European clients, day shifted later for US ones, and I've worked across Asian time zones too. 🎯 I work autonomously: give me the goal and I'll plan it, ask what actually matters, and keep you posted. 💡 I don't just execute tickets — I treat your project as my own and tell you when I see a better way. 🧵 I've worked in around 15 teams, and can also deliver an app, API or server entirely on my own, turnkey. Languages: 🇬🇧 English C1, 🇷🇺 Russian and 🇧🇾 Belarusian native, 🇵🇱 Polish B1. I like to explore new technologies and build software of any complexity. I follow best practices, test thoroughly, and write clean, readable code any other developer can maintain.

  • Hybrid App Development
  • Objective-C
  • Swift
  • PHP
  • Java
  • MongoDB
  • React Native
  • Firebase
  • API Integration
  • iOS Development
  • Laravel
  • Database Development
  • Yii
  • UX & UI
Sanjeev S.

Kathua, India

$23/hr
4.7
204 jobs

👋 Hello, I’m Sanjeev. With 13+ years of experience, I help startups and established companies build reliable, fast, and user-friendly CRMs, enterprise solutions, and e-commerce platforms. 💻 Front-End Expertise Angular, React, Vue & Ember.js → portals, dashboards, and CRMs ⚙️ Back-End Systems Laravel, Node.js, Ruby on Rails, PHP 🏢 CRM Solutions Workflow automation, Client portals, Custom CRMs 🛒 E-Commerce Solutions Custom builds for WordPress, Shopify, and Magento 🤖 Automation & Integrations Third-party integrations, Chatbots, Reporting systems ✨ Why Clients Choose Me ✅ 165+ successfully completed projects ✅ 13,500+ Upwork hours ✅ 100% Job Success ✅ Top Rated Plus Long-term trust, reliable updates, and transparent communication 💬 What Clients Say “Provided a good solution ahead of schedule.” “One of the best independent contractors I’ve ever dealt with—a superb communicator and coder.” “Knowledgeable Ember.js developer, consistently delivers.” 👉 Please get in touch with me or schedule a meeting to talk about your project if you're searching for a trustworthy developer to realize your ideas. #FullStackDeveloper #Angular #EmberJS #Laravel #NodeJS #RubyOnRails #CRMDevelopment #EcommerceDevelopment #Shopify #Magento #WordPress #AIAssistedDevelopment #WebDevelopment #EnterpriseSolutions #APIIntegration #Automation - Ember.js Developers & Programmers - CRM Developers - E-commerce Developers - Drupal Developers - Adobe Commerce (Magento) Developers - Drupal Developers

  • PHP
  • Laravel
  • Node.js
  • Ember.js
  • Ruby on Rails
  • React
  • AI Development
  • Python
  • Shopify
  • Yii2
  • WooCommerce
  • Page Speed Optimization
Simaila B.

Noida, India

$18/hr
5.0
15 jobs

Top Rated Plus | 100% Job Success | Ruby on Rails Expert | Sharetribe | Shopify | DevOps I'm a Top Rated Plus Ruby on Rails Full Stack Developer specializing in Sharetribe marketplace development, Shopify custom apps & themes, and scalable SaaS platforms. With 100% Job Success and $40K+ in delivered projects, I help businesses build, launch, and scale production-grade web applications. Whether you need a Sharetribe marketplace customized, a Shopify store built from scratch, an MVP launched fast, or a complex Rails application maintained and scaled — I deliver clean, production-ready code with reliable deployments. 🔧 What I Build: • Sharetribe Flex & Go — Custom marketplace development, transaction flows, payment integrations, and platform customizations • Shopify — Custom Liquid themes, private/public apps, GraphQL & REST API integrations, headless commerce • Ruby on Rails Applications — SaaS platforms, APIs, admin dashboards, multi-tenant systems, e-commerce • React.js & Vue.js Frontends — SPAs, interactive dashboards, Hotwire/Turbo integration • Flutter Mobile Apps — Cross-platform iOS & Android applications • DevOps & Cloud — Docker, CI/CD pipelines, AWS, Oracle Cloud, zero-downtime deployments ⚙️ Core Technical Skills: • Ruby on Rails 5–7 (Expert) — ActiveRecord, Sidekiq, Redis, ActionCable, Hotwire • PostgreSQL — Query optimization, database design, performance tuning, Supabase • React.js, Vue.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, React.js • Shopify Liquid, Shopify APIs (GraphQL & REST), Shopify App Development • Sharetribe Flex SDK, Sharetribe Go Customization • REST & GraphQL API Development • Stripe, PayPal, and payment gateway integrations • Docker, AWS (EC2, S3, RDS), Heroku, CI/CD, Nginx, Puma • Decidim open-source platform customization • Git, RSpec/Minitest, TDD 🏗️ Specialized Experience: • Sharetribe two-sided marketplace development & customization • Shopify custom theme and app development • SaaS & multi-tenant application architecture • Legacy Rails upgrade (Rails 4/5 → Rails 7) • API integrations and third-party service automation • Performance optimization — slow query fixes, caching, background jobs • Full DevOps — server setup, deployment automation, monitoring ✅ Why Clients Choose Me: • Top Rated Plus — Top 3% on Upwork • 100% Job Success Score — Every client satisfied • $50K+ delivered on Upwork with excellent reviews • Full-stack ownership — I handle frontend, backend, database, and deployment. No coordination overhead • Fast turnaround — Available 30+ hrs/week, 0-4 hour response time • Clean, maintainable code — Tested, documented, built for production from day one 💬 Ready to start? If you need a Sharetribe marketplace customized, a Shopify store built, an MVP launched, or a Rails application fixed and scaled — invite me to your project or message me directly. Free consultation for all new clients.

  • Ruby
  • Framer
  • Jotform
  • Sharetribe
  • Full-Stack Development
  • Ruby on Rails
  • Vue.js
  • Flutter
  • Web Development
  • DevOps
  • API Development
  • Shopify Apps
  • Shopify
  • Web Application
  • React
  • Docker
  • JavaScript
  • Workato
Jacky V.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

$50/hr
4.7
101 jobs

TOP-RATED Ruby on Rails Expert from Upwork I am a full-stack Ruby on Rails developer with extensive experience with more than 8 years of working experience in a wide variety of business areas, including healthcare, real estate, cloud automation, and more. I write clean, modular, well-documented code with security and scalability in mind and help create simple, friendly, accessible user interfaces. My main passion is to build clean, robust software that solves the problem of users. I have good skills in API design, complex client/server interaction, and a well-tested codebase. I also have experience in UX, product, and project management, and I know how to be a part of a good team and how to be a leader as well. If you are looking for someone experienced and can do anything to make your business successful, you probably are looking for me. ==== My good skill set ==== * Ruby/Ruby on Rails * PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, DynamoDB, RethinkDB * jQuery, CoffeeScript, SASS, Twitter Bootstrap * ReactJS/AngularJS * HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6) * TDD: RSpec, MiniTest * Heroku, AWS EC2, DigitalOcean, OpenShift * Data Crawling/API Developing * Git, DevOps, Docker * Shopify Apps

  • Ruby on Rails
  • Stripe
  • AWS Lambda
  • Shopify
  • Spree
  • React
  • API
  • GitHub
  • PostgreSQL
Mauricio V.

Saltillo, Mexico

$15/hr
5.0
2 jobs

✅ Senior Ruby on Rails Developer ✅ Backend, APIs, PostgreSQL, Docker, AWS ✅ Experience building and improving production web applications ✅ Strong focus on clean architecture, performance, and maintainability I help startups and businesses build, improve, and maintain Ruby on Rails applications that are reliable, scalable, and ready for real-world use. My main focus is backend development with Ruby on Rails, including REST APIs, database design, background jobs, third-party integrations, bug fixing, refactoring, and performance optimization. I work on both new features and existing systems, always aiming for clean, maintainable solutions that support business growth. I’ve worked on production systems with high operational demands, including platforms that require solid backend workflows, job processing, monitoring, integrations, and stable deployments. What I can help you with: • Ruby on Rails backend development • REST API development and integrations • PostgreSQL design and query optimization • Background jobs with Sidekiq and async workflows • Refactoring legacy Rails applications • Performance optimization and bug fixing • Docker-based development and deployment environments • AWS and production support • RSpec testing and code quality improvements Tech stack: Ruby on Rails, Ruby, PostgreSQL, Sidekiq, Docker, Git, CI/CD, Linux, Amazon ECS, REST APIs, JavaScript I care about writing clean code, communicating clearly, and delivering work that is practical, stable, and useful for real business needs. Whether you need help building new backend features, improving an existing Rails app, integrating external services, or solving complex issues in production, I’m ready to help.

  • Ruby
  • Ruby on Rails
  • JavaScript
  • Microservice
  • Git
  • Docker
  • CI/CD
  • Amazon ECS
  • Tailwind CSS
  • jQuery
  • PostgreSQL
  • REST API
  • Linux
  • DevOps
  • RSpec
  • Test-Driven Development
  • Redis
  • API
  • Amazon Web Services
  • Terraform
Andrey S.

Tallinn, Estonia

$35/hr
4.9
26 jobs

I'm a Full Stack Developer React Node, SaaS Developer, and Node.js Developer with 15 years of experience, covering Full-Stack development, SaaS development, Mobile App Development, and AI Automation. A few facts about me: 🏆 100% Job Success score 🏆 125+ projects delivered from MVP to enterprise projects 🏆 10,000+ active users across delivered projects What I can develop: ✔️ B2B, B2C, AI-powered, Multi-tenant SaaS platforms as a SaaS developer with experience in 50+ SaaS Platform development ✔️ AI Automation, AI workflows, AI Chatbot and AI Agent Development that reduces manual operations by up to 70% ✔️ Prototype and proof of concept development saving 40% of budget as a Full Stack node.js react developer ✔️ Custom CRM and ERP systems, Internal tools and other management solution cutting admin costs by 40% as a Full Stack Developer React Node ✔️ Booking systems and booking platforms that boosting daily bookings by 30% ✔️ Marketplaces, E-commerce and fintech platforms that boosting sales conversions by 25% ✔️ Admin panel, admin dashboard, and analytics dashboard with charts that cutting reporting time by 60% ✔️ Custom scalable Web Application, website and other Web Development projects driving 40% more organic traffic as a Full Stack Web Developer ✔️ Mobile applications from design to iOS and Android App Development, covered by React Native developer and Mobile App developer ✔️ Code audit, Software Architecture & Design, production delivery, debugging, and production bug fixing, reducing errors by 40%. ✔️ role-based access, payment flows, billing and subscription logic, cutting failed payments by 30% ✔️ User Authentication, user management systems, system administrator, and business operations workflows for 10,000+ users Why clients choose me as a Technical partner: ✔️ SaaS MVP development in 4–6 weeks ✔️ AI-first approach using Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Lovable for up to 30% faster development as a Full Stack Developer React Node ✔️ AI Development and AI App Development experience across 35+ AI-powered projects ✔️ Improving page load speed by 55% as a Front End developer React ✔️ Increased database/API response speed by 5x as a Node.js backend developer and Node.js Developer ✔️ Built 120+ API endpoints, microservices, and serverless functions as a MERN Stack developer and javascript developer ✔️ Managed 500K+ records with Database Architecture, Database Design, Prisma, and RLS ✔️ Supported 99.9% uptime with cloud deployment and production deployment ✔️ Reduced deployment failures by 30–40% through CI/CD and release automation ✔️ Improved user experience, engagement, and visibility through dashboards used by 10K+ users As a Senior Full Stack Developer React Node and SaaS Developer, I have 15+ years of experience with: ⚙️ JavaScript, TypeScript, Python ⚙️ React, Next.js, App Router, Vite, Vue.js, Angular, Redux, jQuery, HTML, HTML5, CSS, CSS 3, Canvas ⚙️ Node.js, NestJS, ExpressJS ⚙️ Tailwind CSS, Material UI, Bootstrap, Shadcn/ui ⚙️ SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Supabase, Firebase, Firestore, Redis, Prisma, RLS, Auth ⚙️ Amazon Web Services, AWS S3, AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, Vercel, Railway, DigitalOcean, Cloudflare, Docker, Kubernetes ⚙️ Testing (Jest, Playwright), Monitoring (Sentry), Logging ⚙️ Git (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) ⚙️ LLM, LangChain, RAG, Artificial Intelligence ⚙️ Zapier, n8n, Make, GoHighLevel, GHL ⚙️ HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2 ⚙️ Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch As a Senior Full Stack Developer React Node and Node.js Developer I have deep experience in API integration: RESTful API, third-party REST API, webhooks, OpenAI API, Stripe API, Twilio API, Anthropic Claude API, ElevenLabs API, ChatGPT API, GraphQL API, WhatsApp business API, Google OAuth, and various Google APIs. As Full Stack Developer React Node and SaaS developer I experience in projects for: Hospitality, Travel, Healthcare, Fitness, Ecommerce, FinTech, Logistics, Finance, Education, E-learning, Retail, HR, Business Services, Media & Entertainment, AI, SaaS marketing, Real Estate platform, etc. 💪 As CTO of Malevich Studio, I can provide: ✔️ UX & UI / Web Design: UI UX Designer support with Figma, Responsive Design, Adaptive Web Design, Software Design, Graphic Design and Adobe Photoshop for 25–40% conversion improvement ✔️ Shopify, PHP or WordPress developer and cms developer for mobile friendly website support ✔️ Python developer and Full Stack developer Laravel Vue Other skills: Application Improvement, Software Development, Software Debugging, Software Consultation, Agile Software Development, Desktop Application, Software Testing, Standalone Application, CodeIgniter, Apache Hive, Jakarta Server Faces, Hybris, Cloud Computing, Java, Ruby on rails, Back-End Development Framework, Front-End Development Framework 🚀 Click “Invite” if you need a Full Stack Developer React Node, Full Stack AI SaaS Developer, or Node.js Developer.

  • JavaScript
  • Full-Stack Development
  • API
  • API Integration
  • React
  • React Native
  • Node.js
  • jQuery
  • HTML5
  • CSS 3
  • Responsive Design
  • Software Development
  • ExpressJS
  • Git
  • WordPress
  • Web Application
  • SaaS
  • MongoDB
  • Python
  • SQL

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How to Hire Top Ruby Developers

How to hire Ruby developers

From websites and domain-specific languages (DSLs) to desktop applications and IoT devices, a Ruby developer has the back-end programming expertise to bring your software projects to life.

So how do you hire Ruby developers? What follows are some tips for finding top Ruby development consultants on Upwork.

How to shortlist Ruby development professionals

As you’re browsing available Ruby development consultants, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the professionals you may want to interview. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:

  • Technology fit. Whether it’s mruby for IoT or Ruby on Rails for web development, you want a Ruby developer who is familiar with the type of software you’re trying to build.
  • Test-driven development (TDD). The best way to avoid pitfalls on launch day is to test frequently during development and gain feedback from end users.
  • Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular Ruby developer.

How to write an effective Ruby development job post

With a clear picture of your ideal Ruby developer in mind, it’s time to write that job post. Although you don’t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if they’re the right fit for the project.

Job post title

Create a simple title that describes exactly what you’re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample Ruby job post titles:

  • Back-end developer needed with Ruby on Rails experience
  • Full-stack Ruby on Rails developer needed.
  • Ruby programmer needed to build a domain-specific language (DSL)

Ruby project description

An effective Ruby job post should include:

  • Scope of work: From MVPs (minimum viable products) to full-featured SPAs (single-page applications), list all the deliverables you’ll need.
  • Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project.
  • Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, software, or developer tools, mention this here.
  • Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.

Ruby developer job responsibilities

Here are some examples of Ruby developer job responsibilities:

  • Translate technical requirements and UI/UX designs into code
  • Integrate UI to a Ruby on Rails back end
  • Handle database design and business logic layer of an application
  • Build, test, deploy, and maintain a Ruby-powered application

Ruby developer requirements and qualifications

Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in a Ruby developer. Here are some examples:

  • Ruby programming language
  • mruby for embedded systems such as IoT devices
  • Ruby on Rails for back-end web development
  • RESTful services, APIs, and third-party library integrations
  • Experience running unit tests
  • Version control systems such as GitHub
>

Ruby Developers FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Ruby?

Ruby, along with its framework, Ruby on Rails (“Rails”), is an incredibly efficient, high-level back-end programming language—a big draw for start-ups and small development teams that need to get complex, heavy-traffic applications up and running in a short time. Rails lightens the workload for developers with a library of “gems”—prepackaged code that streamlines development in a big way.

But what really sets Ruby apart—especially when stacked up against its biggest competitor, Python–is “programmer happiness.” Ruby is attracting lots of developers who prefer its elegant “do more with less” philosophy—and these developers are in demand.

How much does it cost to hire a Ruby developer?

The first step to determining the cost to hire a Ruby developer will be to define your needs. Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions. Learn about the cost to hire Ruby developers.

Common Ruby developer mistakes

Overusing method_missing: Nobody likes repetitive code, and metaprogramming with method_missing is one of those guilty pleasure catchalls we like to throw into our code to avoid errors at runtime and just make it work.

Need to allow one class to quickly use the methods available in another class?

Use method_missing.

Have numerous methods but don’t want to name them all explicitly?

Use method_missing.

Need to build lots of methods that are virtually identical except for a few slight differences?

Use method_missing.

There’s just one problem with method_missing: It’s slow. Every time you call method_missing, the Ruby runtime must climb up your class chain hierarchy to find the method that actually does the heavy lifting that allows your code to work. Most benchmark tests show that method_missing is significantly slower at runtime than if you were to use plain old Ruby methods. A faster metaprogramming tool for the example cases above is define_method, which allows you to dynamically define methods that load when your classes are loaded.

So when should method_missing be used? When you’re dealing with dynamically named methods based on a pattern and you can’t reasonably expect to be able to predict all the possible method name combinations. Ruby’s own Active Record dynamic finders are probably the best example of this. For example, if you wanted to find a user by email from a large data set of users, and your user has an email attribute, you could use User.find_by_email(‘john.doe@example.com’) even though you never explicitly defined that method under the User or ActiveRecord::Base classes.

Relying too heavily on gems: Every new Rails developer reaches a certain point in their careers where they fall prey to the siren song of the RubyGems repository. And how can you resist? Ruby’s extensive catalog of gems is supported by a vibrant open-source community. Need help with authentication? Try Devise. What about authorization? CanCanCan’s got you covered. If there’s a task that you need help with, chances are good that there’s a gem for that.

Unfortunately, as with all other things in life, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. As powerful as gems are, there comes a point where you’ll begin to notice a trade-off between programmer productivity and performance with every new gem. Too many gems can slow down performance, drain resources, and make tests take longer.

A bloated Gemfile can become a nesting ground for future application-breaking bugs. Higher-quality gems try to minimize dependencies as much as possible, but if you aren’t careful you could find yourself managing hundreds of gems. At that point, whatever productivity you gained from having to write less code is eaten up in managing dependencies, chasing hidden bugs, and keeping your application up-to-date.

What’s the solution? Moderation. Before you download a gem, ask yourself whether you can justify its use of resources and whether you need all the functionality that it has to offer. Being selective about your gems can help keep your application lean.

Application logic seeps into the view: Ruby on Rails follows the MVC (model-view-controller) pattern, where the model is responsible for data, the view is the visual representation of that data, and the controller forms the bridge between the two. The goal of this pattern is to decouple the major roles of an application in order to promote efficient code reuse and allow parallel development. Realizing that goal becomes difficult when you start to deviate from those roles.

Views should be concerned only with visual representation. However, it can be tempting to sneak application logic into your ERB templates like so:

<h2>
Congratulations
<% if winning_player %>
<%= winning_player.name %>
<% else %>
Contestant
<% end %>
</h2>

Not only can the inefficiency of placing application logic into individual views lead to repeating code, but managing a large jumble of Ruby and HTML code can make maintenance more difficult as your application scales. It is far better to encapsulate that logic into a reusable helper function, presenter, or decorator.

Taking “fat model skinny controller” too far: Controllers do a lot of things, from session handling to rendering and redirecting—but it basically boils down to a middleman between the model and the view, receiving requests and providing the appropriate output. By default, the controller already has a lot on its plate. To prevent the temptation of stuffing model or view logic in the controller, the “fat model skinny controller” principle was born. Problem solved, right?

Not really. Now the problem of bloat has just been moved to the model. Every model should correspond to a data table in the database. The model’s corresponding data table should be its single responsibility. In a bid to keep views and controllers lean, it can be tempting to toss anything that doesn’t quite fit into the MVC paradigm into the model. It turns out that many of the maintenance issues that plague bloated views and controllers also extend to the model. The solution is to use POROs (plain old Ruby objects) to encapsulate things that don’t quite fit in any of the MVC categories.

Leaving your code vulnerable to SQL injection: It’s one of the oldest tricks in the hacker playbook—SQL injection, which involves taking advantage of user input fields to gain direct access to a SQL database. In Rails, this vulnerability is found where user input is required (for instance, typing in a search field) to query data from a database. The traditional approach to handling a query for a username would look something like this:

user.find_by(name: params [:name])

This approach is vulnerable to SQL injection. Fortunately, in Rails we have Active Record dynamic attribute-based finders, which work as parameterized queries that can properly handle the passed argument, avoiding SQL injection.

user.find_by_name(name)

Besides using dynamic finders, it helps to only accept and construct values from external inputs such as search queries and forms. Never construct SQL commands like INSERT and DELETE, and don’t send untrusted inputs to methods in the Active Record library that accept raw SQL queries, table names, or columns.

Tips and best practices

Take advantage of the Ruby developer community

Ruby may not be the most popular back-end scripting language, but those who use it love it. Ruby was created with programmer happiness in mind, something that is readily apparent when you look at Ruby’s huge library of gems—ready-to-use solutions for common software development problems. If you need to rapidly prototype a project, you can virtually assemble an app from gems and boilerplate code in a snap.

Use symbols instead of strings in hashes

Ruby has a special data type called a symbol for storing the name of a variable that does not have to be changed. Symbols are prefixed with a colon denoted like so, :symbol. Unlike strings, which are mutable, symbols are immutable and take up only one spot in memory.

Immutability is perfect for hashes because you don’t want your hash keys to change. Hashes are similar to arrays, except they can use any object as an index.

shopping_list = { :cinnamon => 1, :butter=> 2, :soda => 6}

Symbols are also more space efficient than strings, as setting multiple variables equal to the same symbol will access the same spot in memory.

Test your code often

Test-driven development famously takes a test-first and code-later approach to software development that looks something like this:

  • Red: write a test for a software feature that fails
  • Green: write the minimum code needed to pass the test
  • Refactor: rewrite your passing code to best practices

Unless you already practice TDD, it may seem difficult to see regular software testing as anything more than a necessary evil to catch as many bugs as you can before you push to production.

Thankfully, Ruby tries to make TDD easier by giving you everything you need to practice it within its standard library: minitest/unit and test/unit. Between these two testing frameworks you should be able to get into the habit of writing safer code by regularly creating unit tests. Once you get comfortable writing unit tests, practicing TDD in its entirety isn’t so daunting.