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Rails

A Ruby web framework for building database-backed web apps using the MVC pattern.

GitHub Download v8.1.4
Stars
58.8k
Forks
23.8k
Licence
MIT
Language
Ruby
Last update
4 days ago
Type
Framework

What it is

Ruby on Rails is a web application framework that bundles what's needed to build database-backed websites and apps, organized around the Model-View-Controller pattern. Models hold data and business logic, views produce the HTML or other output, and controllers handle incoming requests. It also includes libraries for email, background jobs, WebSockets, file storage and rich text.

  • Build a database-backed web application with models, views and controllers
  • Send emails with Action Mailer
  • Run background jobs with Active Job on a queuing backend
  • Add WebSocket features with Action Cable
  • Attach cloud or local files to records with Active Storage

Great for

  • Developers building database-backed web applications in Ruby
  • Teams who want a full set of built-in components instead of assembling many libraries
  • Developers who want to follow a conventional MVC structure
  • Students learning MVC web development with Ruby

Not ideal for

  • Projects that must be written in a language other than Ruby, since Rails is Ruby-only
  • Very small static sites, where a simpler tool is likely enough (the README does not compare sizes, so this is a general judgment)
  • People who need a non-MVC architecture as their primary design
Step-by-step guide: how to use RailsInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
Rails alternativesPhoenix vs RailsRails vs Sinatra

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    You'll need: Ruby (version not specified in the provided README)

    Install Rails

    gem install rails

    Create a new app

    rails new myapp

    Start the web server

    cd myapp && bin/rails server
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install Rails with gem install rails
    • Create an app with rails new myapp
    • Change into the myapp directory and run bin/rails server
    • Open http://localhost:3000 in a browser to see the Rails bootscreen
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Run bin/rails server --help to see server options
    • Follow the Getting Started guide at guides.rubyonrails.org
    • Use the API documentation at api.rubyonrails.org when looking up class details
    • Explore the bundled libraries such as Active Job, Action Mailer and Active Storage as your app grows

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v8.1.4Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docsrubyonrails.org

Strengths

  • Includes many components (database access, email, jobs, storage, WebSockets) in one framework
  • Each core part such as Active Record or Action Pack can also be used on its own
  • Released under the permissive MIT License

Trade-offs

  • Requires understanding of Ruby and the MVC pattern before productive use
  • The README is truncated here, so detailed configuration and deployment guidance is not covered in this entry

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
rails (this)58.8kFrameworkintermediate4 days agoDevelopers building database-backed web applications in Ruby
phoenix23.2kFrameworkintermediate4 days agoDevelopers who already use or want to learn Elixir
sinatra12.5kLibrarybeginner4 months agoRuby developers who want a small, readable web app or API
framework11.7kFrameworkintermediate3.8 years agoDevelopers who want a framework that stays close to web platform standards
devise24.4kLibraryintermediate1 months agoRails developers who need standard email-and-password login quickly
milligram10.2kLibrarybeginner2 months agoDevelopers who want a light starting point for a simple website or prototype

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.