This document contains information about Ruby on Rails and comparisons to .NET from an independent consultant. It includes code samples in both Ruby on Rails and C#/.NET, as well as recommendations for learning resources. Quotes from developers discuss benefits of Ruby like test-driven development and less restrictive coding.

1. by Jon Kruger

2. Independent consultant in Columbus, OH
.NET, Ruby on Rails, Agile
Email: jon@jonkruger.com
Twitter: @JonKruger
Blog: http://jonkruger.com/blog

4. public void Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}

7. “Sometimes I want to do Ruby
because it means that I’m more likely
to be able to do TDD.”
-- Greg Malcolm

8. “I feel like the shackles have been
taken off.”
-- Leon Gersing

9. public interface IGetObjectService<T> where T : EntityBase
{
public T Get(int id);
public IList<T> GetAll();
}
public class GetObjectService<T> : IGetObjectService<T>
{
public GetObjectService(IRepository<T> repository) { }
public T Get(int id) { ... }
public IList<T> GetAll() { ... }
}

13. ASP .NET MVC and Rails are very similar

14. Learning the Ruby/UNIX way

15. You can do more with less code

16. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

17. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

18. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

19. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

20. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

21. create table Users
(
id int,
name varchar(100),
user_status_id int,
created_at datetime,
updated_at datetime
)
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :user_status
has_many :roles, :through => :user_roles
validates_length_of :name, :maximum => 100
named_scope :active,
:conditions => ["user_status.id = ?", UserStatus::ACTIVE]
end

22. If it’s hard, you’re probably doing it wrong

23. Innovation is everywhere

24. Patterns and “best practices” are
different between static and dynamic
languages

25. public class Employee
{
public static Employee Load(int id) { ... }
public bool Save() { ... }
public bool Delete() { ... }
}
 How do I stub out the Load method in a test?
 How can I implement cross-cutting concerns (e.g.
caching when saving) without duplicating code?

26. In Ruby, I can stub out class methods (i.e. static
methods)

27. class Employee < ActiveRecord::Base
include Cacheable
end
module Cacheable
def save
Cache.save(self)
super
end
end
 In Ruby, I can mix in modules that will modify the
class

30. Twitter Github
Hulu Groupon

31.  Rails for .NET Developers
 by Jeff Cohen and Brian Eng
 Agile Web Development With Rails
 by Sam Ruby, Dave Thomas, David Heinemeier Hansson
 Programming Ruby 1.9 (aka the “Pickaxe” book)
 by Dave Thomas, with Chad Fowler and Andy Hunt
 All found at http://pragprog.com

32.  Ruby Koans
 http://rubykoans.com
 Railscasts
 http://railscasts.com
 Why’s Poignant Guide To Ruby
 http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/

33.  Email: jon@jonkruger.com
 Twitter: @JonKruger
 Blog: http://jonkruger.com/blog